Afghan belt for comment

Berkley · 8th January 2012, 12:46 AM

Although John Powell's legendary kukri collection has long been dispersed to lucky collectors around the globe, he occasionally comes across a forgotten tidbit stashed away in some drawer or closet. This Afghan belt is one such. The composite photos of the overall belt and accessories were taken by John. When the set arrived I discovered an unusual item in one of the larger pouches, which is shown in my less professional photo. The scans show this item in closeup. It is a thin pouch with a heavy blunt iron blade across the bottom, and contains a dry powdery substance - perhaps old tinder? Is it a flint knapping tool, or what purpose does it serve?

AJ1356 · 8th January 2012, 01:31 AM

A very nice and complete weapon accessary belt, does not look governmental to me but one someone took some time to make, mostlikely for a snider or a martini rifle...

kahnjar1 · 8th January 2012, 02:14 AM

Hi Berkley and Happy New Year. Nice old belt. As far as the mystery item is concerned.....and assuming that it is L shaped??? Not on my opinion a flint knapping tool but COULD be a container for holding flints and with a steel/iron surface to knap them on. Any knapping tools I have seen are T shaped as per atached pic from an earlier post on Afghan belts.
Regards Stuart

archer · 8th January 2012, 06:29 AM

Hi Berkley,
Definitely a rather unique fire starting kit. Indian Ebayers often have metal starters mostly like steel brass knuckles. I've taken a photo from Oriental-Arms site that shows a similar Tibetan one. and a small index finger length one I have.

Yours, as Stuart says may well have carried flints. The powder may be mushroom punk, used to hold a spark, or a poppy resin. The striking blade on yours could even be used to shred dry bark for tinder. I like your all in one kit. Steve

AJ1356 · 8th January 2012, 12:18 PM

The picture from the book is one for old flintlock muskets, the one OP has is for rifles much newer than flintlocks. The little puoch with the blunt metal peice at the bottom of it, I honestly don't know what it is. Flintlock belts had all the little peices as shown in the picture with the multi tool for sizing and shaping flints and untighting or tighting the flint holder peice of the lock.

Berkley · 8th January 2012, 03:32 PM

AJ, you are right - the apparent care lavished on these items was what attracted me to them, and the cartridge box easily accommodates Snider or M-H rounds.
Stuart, a slightly belated Happy New Year to you too!
And my thanks, archer, for posting the pic from Artzi's site - it certainly answers the question.

8th January 2012, 12:46 AM	#1
Berkley Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, Texas USA Posts: 257	Afghan belt for comment Although John Powell's legendary kukri collection has long been dispersed to lucky collectors around the globe, he occasionally comes across a forgotten tidbit stashed away in some drawer or closet. This Afghan belt is one such. The composite photos of the overall belt and accessories were taken by John. When the set arrived I discovered an unusual item in one of the larger pouches, which is shown in my less professional photo. The scans show this item in closeup. It is a thin pouch with a heavy blunt iron blade across the bottom, and contains a dry powdery substance - perhaps old tinder? Is it a flint knapping tool, or what purpose does it serve? Attached Images

8th January 2012, 02:14 AM	#3
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,728	Hi Berkley and Happy New Year. Nice old belt. As far as the mystery item is concerned.....and assuming that it is L shaped??? Not on my opinion a flint knapping tool but COULD be a container for holding flints and with a steel/iron surface to knap them on. Any knapping tools I have seen are T shaped as per atached pic from an earlier post on Afghan belts. Regards Stuart Attached Images

8th January 2012, 06:29 AM	#4
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	Fire Starter Hi Berkley, Definitely a rather unique fire starting kit. Indian Ebayers often have metal starters mostly like steel brass knuckles. I've taken a photo from Oriental-Arms site that shows a similar Tibetan one. and a small index finger length one I have. Yours, as Stuart says may well have carried flints. The powder may be mushroom punk, used to hold a spark, or a poppy resin. The striking blade on yours could even be used to shred dry bark for tinder. I like your all in one kit. Steve Attached Images Last edited by archer; 8th January 2012 at 08:20 AM.

8th January 2012, 01:31 AM	#2
AJ1356 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Nashville Posts: 314	A very nice and complete weapon accessary belt, does not look governmental to me but one someone took some time to make, mostlikely for a snider or a martini rifle...

8th January 2012, 12:18 PM	#5
AJ1356 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Nashville Posts: 314	The picture from the book is one for old flintlock muskets, the one OP has is for rifles much newer than flintlocks. The little puoch with the blunt metal peice at the bottom of it, I honestly don't know what it is. Flintlock belts had all the little peices as shown in the picture with the multi tool for sizing and shaping flints and untighting or tighting the flint holder peice of the lock.

8th January 2012, 03:32 PM	#6
Berkley Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, Texas USA Posts: 257	AJ, you are right - the apparent care lavished on these items was what attracted me to them, and the cartridge box easily accommodates Snider or M-H rounds. Stuart, a slightly belated Happy New Year to you too! And my thanks, archer, for posting the pic from Artzi's site - it certainly answers the question.