The Pashtun tribes living around the
Khyber Pass traditionally use this type
of Khyber knife.
The Khyber Pass is the most important
mountain pass in the Hindu Kush.
Because it has played a strategic role in
military and trade for over 2,000 years,
the Khyber knife is found throughout
Afghanistan, Pakistan and Northern
India.
The so-called Khyber Knife (presumably
called Salawar Yataghan locally) is an
example of a typical Afghani bladed
weapon. Both terms, - Khyber Knife and
Salawar Yataghan, - are though
unsatisfactory. Nevertheless, native
Afghans themselves cannot explain the
connection of this term with any of the
3 main languages: Pushtu, Dari or
Farsi. Moreover, one is hesitant to use
the adopted word “yataghan” for a
traditional Afghani weapon. The name
“Khyber” is also unsatisfactory. It
derives from the locality where this
weapon was regularly observed. The
only explanation for this term is its
simplicity: short and convenient, and
most importantly, traditional. In its
classical variant, the Khyber has
massive, straight, T-reinforced blade of
substantial length, widened at the basis
(root), so that the latter actually plays
the role of a guard. The back of the
blade is as a rule straight and
undecorated. The hilt normally consists
of two horn or bone slabs, as in the
present case. When the hilt is made out
of bone, then it can often be assembled
out of separate pieces. Scabbards are
generally of conical shape, made of
wood and covered with leather or fabric.
- (CB.2055)
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