ID & Discussion: Afghan Folding Lohar (Banochie Tribe) — 2009 In-Country Bringback

[Jim McDougall]

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=lohar

Great post Oiluj!!!
Thank your brother for his service, my son; son in law and grandson all served in Afghanistan as well, but unfortunately did not bring back souvenirs.

There have indeed been numerous discussions on these curious weapons over the years, and naturally for our purposes we would like to see the historic and traditional perspectives on them. While examples were of course produced which ended up in local bazaars (Chicken Street etc) in modern times, it must be remembered that not all were specifically for commercial purposes. Often weapons were produced by local artisans intended for tribal use and following traditional conventions long established in making these.

The utilitarian use of these as picks for sugar etc. has been suggested over the years, particularly with the more modern folding examples. I think Ian in his post has perfectly described the general consensus that has become the established perspectives on these.

As he has noted, the British soldiers had developed a particular affinity for souvenir arms and exotica from the regions on campaign after Omdurman especially. These peculiar axes were certainly among them in some degree, and in my opinion, their presence might have had potential for use by the mysterious cult of the 'THUGGEE'. (as described in the link from the thread I posted a while back).

This admittedly tenuous suggestion was perpetuated in the film "Gunga Din" in the 30s, and part of the plot focused on this cult, with one scene showing the commander holding and emphasizing the 'axes' used by them.

Naturally the prop used was hardly accurate, and a workmans pickaxe, while the actual forms used by them was small, and indeed ceremonial. In the work by the British officer who subdued them (Sleeman) these axes were personally fashioned by the members, with notable ritual, and among the decorative (symbolic) features were a number of RED DOTS.
These pickaxes were NEVER used as weapons, but purportedly used in the burial of victims in ceremonial sense.

As Stone (1934) describes, and perhaps from some of the 'lore' surrounding these, the Banochie of the Khyber tribes were known for these pickaxes known as 'lohar'. The lohar term is likely from the Indian language dialect of the tribes from Northwest Indian regions which included itinerant smiths and metalworkers who likely made these. Stone suggests these axes were made by the men of the Banochie tribes personally with their own individuality apparent.
This again suggests the same ritual perspective of the Thuggee.

Personally, I think these axes were indeed a small version of the zaghnal battle axe (pictured), which in turn evolved IMO from early Chinese dagger axes, and may have been used in deadly blows through turbans or heavily padded fabric.
They were small, as weapons were of course prohibited by British during occupation, and the later folding versions (likely copied from folding knives as noted) were even more concealable.