Afghan/Khyber Knife

[Norman McCormick]

Hi,
Some close-ups of the hilt which may help. Looking at the blade with a loupe I don't see anything to indicate to me that it might be wootz.
Regards,
Norman.

[mahratt]

I agree it's not a walrus or an elephant, either. The handle is made of bone from the leg of a hoofed animal (cow, buffalo or camel)

[Jens Nordlunde]

Even I can see that now - I am glad to say - but does anyone have a guess from which animal it could be?

[mahratt]

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

Even I can see that now - I am glad to say - but does anyone have a guess from which animal it could be?

Hi Jens
I am a biologist by profession and work at the Museum of Natural History. One of the collections that I oversee (keep) in the museum is a collection of osteology (that is, a collection of bones)
I wrote a guide to identify bones and horns in items (including on the handles edged weapons). If we are talking about the leg bone of an animal that was used in some kind of artifact (for example, a hilt), unfortunately, it is impossible to visually identify this animal to a species.
But I like Ren Ren's idea of bone thickness.

[Ren Ren]

Originally Posted by mahratt

Hi Jens
I am a biologist by profession and work at the Museum of Natural History. One of the collections that I oversee (keep) in the museum is a collection of osteology (that is, a collection of bones)
I wrote a guide to identify bones and horns in items (including on the handles edged weapons). If we are talking about the leg bone of an animal that was used in some kind of artifact (for example, a hilt), unfortunately, it is impossible to visually identify this animal to a species.
But I like Ren Ren's idea of bone thickness.

It is difficult to argue with a recognized specialist in the field of osteology. But I'm not trying to argue. I propose once again to pay attention to the structure of the camel's bone (especially with a longitudinal section). It was once difficult to distinguish ivory from an elephant and from a mammoth

P. S. Mahratt spoke very modestly about himself. He is not only the curator of the collections of the Museum of Natural History, but also an expert whose help leading museums and government agencies seek.

[mahratt]

Originally Posted by Ren Ren

I propose once again to pay attention to the structure of the camel's bone (especially with a longitudinal section). It was once difficult to distinguish ivory from an elephant and from a mammoth

That is why I said that I like your idea.

Originally Posted by Ren Ren

P. S. Mahratt spoke very modestly about himself. He is not only the curator of the collections of the Museum of Natural History, but also an expert whose help leading museums and government agencies seek.

Thank you for your words I considered it not modest to write this information about myself

[Kubur]

Arms and armour collectors are not stupid brutes in fact... interesting....

Kubur

[Ren Ren]

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

Hi,
Some close-ups of the hilt which may help. Looking at the blade with a loupe I don't see anything to indicate to me that it might be wootz.
Regards,
Norman.

Thanks for these pics, Norman!
They reinforced my opinion that the hilt of your knife is made of camel bone.

[Jens Nordlunde]

Ren Ren, thank you for the explanation, which I find quite interesting.
I admit that I was guessing, when I wrote that camel bone was harder than ivory.