The “ regulation Khyber Knife” in the Afghani Army at end of the 19th – beginning of

Gavin Nugent · 20th August 2013, 07:38 PM

I would like to add that the regulation hilt type with the guard has also been seen on Shamshir blades and perhaps other types of wapons held in these manufacturing plants that we have not yet seen

Gavin

AJ1356 · 21st August 2013, 02:47 PM

Good write up, the Afghan government also had Gurkha knives made for the military, even though there are no Gurkhas in Afghanistan. I think all these were some what of test weapons to see what worked better.
I just wanted to correct some of the terminology used by the OP.
It is not called mashin khana, but rather Kaar Khaana, Kaar Khaana e Jangalak is the complete name located in Kabul.

The local name for the so called Khyber knife is saylaawa, there are no words in Farsi or Pashto as salwar, yataghan or dussak, they are Turkish or whatever words. Thus never used in country to describe what is so wrongly called a Khyber knife. So just to clarify the locals have a name for it and is called Saylaawa سیلاوه .

And as mentioned is some other posts, there never was a mazar e sharif arsenal, and the stamp represents mehrab and munbar.

Useful info otherwise, good job putting it all together

Emanuel · 21st August 2013, 03:22 PM

Great article! I always wondered about these swords.

When I worked in Hyderabad, India, I lived close to Karkhana Road. My understanding is that it means factory/workshop and it referred to arsenals that were located on that road in the past.

So it makes sense now.

Emanuel

mahratt · 21st August 2013, 07:39 PM

Dear forum members, thank you for your kind words and for clarification of my inaccuracies.

I have a huge request to all. If you have some sort of information on the Afghan interesting items, please let me know. In addition, I am interested in purchasing Afghan unusual items. I was particularly interested in the Afghan shashka

Jim McDougall · 23rd August 2013, 09:50 PM

Thank you so much for the very kind recognition Dmitry, it was of course my pleasure to offer any assistance. I would like to congratulate you as well on a brillantly composed article on these intriguing edged weapons, which truly have deserved far more attention than they have ever received.

I would like to thank those who have responded with added observations and detail to further advance our knowledge toward better identification and understanding of these arms. I sincerely hope others reading here will continue that course.

Very best regards,
Jim

Sajen · 23rd August 2013, 10:24 PM

Thank you very much for your research. It's not my area of collecting but I have read it with great interest!

Detlef

mahratt · 25th August 2013, 09:15 AM

Many thanks to all for the nice words for me! I appreciate your opinion, dear forum members! Thank you again!

20th August 2013, 07:38 PM	#1
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	I would like to add that the regulation hilt type with the guard has also been seen on Shamshir blades and perhaps other types of wapons held in these manufacturing plants that we have not yet seen Gavin

21st August 2013, 02:47 PM	#2
AJ1356 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Nashville Posts: 317	Good write up, the Afghan government also had Gurkha knives made for the military, even though there are no Gurkhas in Afghanistan. I think all these were some what of test weapons to see what worked better. I just wanted to correct some of the terminology used by the OP. It is not called mashin khana, but rather Kaar Khaana, Kaar Khaana e Jangalak is the complete name located in Kabul. The local name for the so called Khyber knife is saylaawa, there are no words in Farsi or Pashto as salwar, yataghan or dussak, they are Turkish or whatever words. Thus never used in country to describe what is so wrongly called a Khyber knife. So just to clarify the locals have a name for it and is called Saylaawa سیلاوه . And as mentioned is some other posts, there never was a mazar e sharif arsenal, and the stamp represents mehrab and munbar. Useful info otherwise, good job putting it all together

21st August 2013, 03:22 PM	#3
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Great article! I always wondered about these swords. When I worked in Hyderabad, India, I lived close to Karkhana Road. My understanding is that it means factory/workshop and it referred to arsenals that were located on that road in the past. So it makes sense now. Emanuel

21st August 2013, 07:39 PM	#4
mahratt Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Russia Posts: 1,042	Dear forum members, thank you for your kind words and for clarification of my inaccuracies. I have a huge request to all. If you have some sort of information on the Afghan interesting items, please let me know. In addition, I am interested in purchasing Afghan unusual items. I was particularly interested in the Afghan shashka

23rd August 2013, 09:50 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,454	Thank you so much for the very kind recognition Dmitry, it was of course my pleasure to offer any assistance. I would like to congratulate you as well on a brillantly composed article on these intriguing edged weapons, which truly have deserved far more attention than they have ever received. I would like to thank those who have responded with added observations and detail to further advance our knowledge toward better identification and understanding of these arms. I sincerely hope others reading here will continue that course. Very best regards, Jim

23rd August 2013, 10:24 PM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,269	Thank you very much for your research. It's not my area of collecting but I have read it with great interest! Detlef

25th August 2013, 09:15 AM	#7
mahratt Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Russia Posts: 1,042	Many thanks to all for the nice words for me! I appreciate your opinion, dear forum members! Thank you again!