Karud
Karud
Pashtun
Emirate of Afghanistan (Afghnistan) - Punjab Province, British Raj (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan)
Last half the 19th century (ca. 1870 - 1900)
Steel, horn, brass, iron, leather, wood
Blade: 32,1cm
Hilt & Blade: 44,1cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 49,3cm
Collection Date: 2025
Ex. St. Louis, Missouri, USA Private Collection (2025)
A very good karud dagger from the region of Southern Afghanistan into Pakistan around the Khyber Pass region, dating to the last half of the 19th century.
The single- edged steel straight blade has chamfered edges that extend to the acute point. Pronounced T-shaped cross section spine. The blade exhibits a light watered crystalline pattern throughout. White brass bolster and iron back strap. The hilt of ribbed horn scale grips fastened by three iron nails on each side. An iron pendent loop is attached to the pommel.
The sheath with a wooden interior, completely covered in iron mounts. The top having engraved linework while the chape ends in an iron spherical finial bulb. The central segment shows a leather section between the two iron mounts. An iron suspension ring is attached to the top of the sheath.
A very good quality karud dagger, complete with the original sheath in traditional Afghan styling, dating to around the second Anglo- Afghan War period.
Photograph 25: Two Afghan warriors of the second Anglo- Afghan War, identified as Kohistani and Hazara men. Photograph taken by photojournalist John Burke, ca. 1879 - 1880, Kabul, Afghanistan.
[1] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=5819
[2] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=3095
[3] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=3123
[4] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=3132
[5] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=2867