EL6999 - A high status 19th century Northern Indian choora, or khyber knife, also known as a pesh kabz. With a T-section single-edged blade of 18 inches, of typical Afghan form, this is almost certainly a Northern Indian-made example, featuring copper-alloy hilt components, which were originally entirely gilded, now with just remnants of the gold. The spine of the tang is especially thick, and this is a substantial piece. Everything and is solid and secure with no movement. The blade is rather pitted, but structurally sound - it is possibly of wootz, but would need to be polished and etched to find out. There is a small hole in one of the guard plates, as pictured.
