To a naked eye this might appear to be just another record (younger generation might wonder, what a record is ) ... want to know more about it ??? Who initially owned it ? How was it passed on to me ? etc., ....
This dagger is known as a Khyber Dagger, and this once belonged to Eric Sharpe (Dehradun) ... and there is a story behind it. Anyone interested to hear about it, more in details ???
The Pesh-kabz is of Persian and Central Asian origin and was introduced into India by the Mughals (reigned 1526-1858).[3] The name means 'fore-grip' in Persian (Farsi), and is believed to have been created sometime in the 17th century. Developed specifically to overcome the mail armor worn by mounted and foot soldiers of the day, the knife was widely distributed in central Asia and what is now Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern India.[1]
ReplyDeleteAfter armor ceased to be worn by modern armies, the Pesh-kabz retained its utility as a close combat knife, and many Pashtun tribesmen, particularly the Mahsud, Afridi, and Shinwari clans, continued to use the design, along with the Chura and Karud. During their period of colonial rule in India, the British frequently referred to all Afghan knives and swords of this pattern collectively as Afghan knives or Khyber knives[8][13], after the Khyber Pass that marked the transition from British India to the nation of Afghanistan. In India, manufacture of the Pesh-kabz was centered in the northern city of Bhera[13], now part of Pakistan.
During the First and Second Anglo-Afghan wars, the Pesh-kabz along with the Afghan knife was frequently the weapon of choice for finishing off wounded British and colonial troops, as the Afghan tribesmen did not take prisoners except for use as hostages.[14][15]
The Pesh-kabz is still used today as a personal weapon as well as a ceremonial badge of adulthood for Pashtun and other Afghani hill tribes. During the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, this knife was again the weapon most often used to execute captured or wounded prisoners, this time Soviet and Afghan army soldiers, pilots, and tank crewmen.
Please tell us how to received in your possession this knife. These are very expensive knives, if it is old from that time. Can't wait to hear from you.
ReplyDeleteWonderful piece of information indeed, this is a Pesh Kabz dagger.
ReplyDeleteEric Sharpe was in the army and he once refused to grant a leave to a sepoy. The irritated attacked him with this dagger and stabbed him on the left shoulder. It was good that it was winter time and Eric Sharpe was wearing heavy wollens, a heavy woolen overcoat that had a well padded shoulders. This dagger tip almost touched his heart. The injured Eric Sharpe overcame the sepoy and then fainted.
The army officials, gave this dagger to him as a remembrance of this incident.
Once I visited Dehradun with my nana, Eric Sharpe himself told me about this incident, and he gave me this dagger !
Sounds like stories straight out of a Bollywood movie!
ReplyDeleteHa Ha Ha Ha !!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is my prized possession now. I repaired it myself, cleaned it and I will post a better picture tomorrow...
ReplyDelete