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Old 16th January 2012, 11:14 AM   #1
Andy Stevens
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Default Go on...show us your Choora!!

Hello all! We have a real love for the Afghan Choora and thought it would be interesting to have a thread specifically devoted to these often beatufully crafted weapons. It would be interesting to compare the styling and artistic elements encountered and try to pin point definite tribal affiliations. Does anybody know for instance where the pin studded hilts are manufactured? An afghan friend and former member of the Northern Alliance, told us that during his fighting days he saw very few older weapons carried, they being superseded by modern bayonets or bowie type affairs. In fact, our friend was genuinely interested in seeing some of our collected examples and was actually rather lacking in knowledge on such an historic element of his culture. So if you have a favourite old warrior, post a picture and give the spot light to these elegant and often overlooked weapons. We have started the ball rolling with a couple of our old blades, both we think date from the early 20thC.
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Old 16th January 2012, 12:29 PM   #2
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Default choora

Here is my only one ...
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Old 16th January 2012, 03:36 PM   #3
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Here is one I picked up at a show about 5 years ago. Good quality throughout and a crystalline wootz blade.
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Old 16th January 2012, 05:08 PM   #4
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Aren't these daggers called Pesh Kabz ?

I don't want to Karud this thread up, but this is as close as I have to a Choora .
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Old 16th January 2012, 05:27 PM   #5
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Here is mine:
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Old 16th January 2012, 05:50 PM   #6
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Yes, I think this would be considered the Afghan version of a karud, or straight blade pesh kabz. I am not even sure "choora" is an operable Afghan term.

There is a rather famous story about Stone being shown knives from that part of the world and he heard and used the term "choora" which was not the name of a knife, but simply meant "next", as in "next example please".

I cannot confirm the story, but interesting.
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Old 17th January 2012, 12:30 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stan S.
Here is mine:

Stan,
Can you show close up pic of the chape? I am interested in it's decorative motives.
Thanks.
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Old 16th January 2012, 07:55 PM   #8
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Here are mines!! Bring back from Afghanistan by a friend. One with leather sheath, seems more older than other 2, from recent manufacture.
best regards
carlos
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Old 16th January 2012, 09:16 PM   #9
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mine: (top)


more detail:


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Old 24th January 2012, 02:15 AM   #10
DaveA
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Default My Choora / Pesh Kabz

Early 20th C. The blade is 8 3/4 inches long. Horn grips. Wooden scabbard leather covered but some now missing, otherwise good condition. Overall, 13 inches long.
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Old 25th January 2012, 01:10 PM   #11
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Hi Dave,
Thanks for posting another great looking dagger. We've had a few with these painted hilts and have often wondered when this style of decoration became popular and why? As ever all comments welcome and a big thanks to all who have shown there babies.
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Old 25th January 2012, 01:19 PM   #12
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Nice examples gents. Shall we have similar threads for Pesh etc?
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Old 29th October 2014, 03:48 AM   #13
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Default I tried to..

These are my two, of different eras. No one commented.
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Old 29th October 2014, 04:41 AM   #14
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Some more (must have missed this thread first time around)

Roy
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Old 8th June 2015, 05:59 PM   #15
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Here is my contribution for the discussion.
I am not sure, i think it is from Afghanistan, a very long blade (14,4" blade only), made from fine low contrast wootz.
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Old 8th June 2015, 06:15 PM   #16
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It is not what we would call a "choora". It is rather a small khyber: they could be 14-15 inches up to 25 inches or more, ranging in their function from a dagger to a full-blown cleaver.

With wootz and ivory I would bet on India, but who knows? North-West Frontier was and still is full of ethnic Pushtuns...
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