Afghan regimental straight sword

Built under contract at the  Mazar-i-Sharif arsenal during the Second Anglo-Afghan War between 1878 and 1880. 

These swords have a massive bi-fullered blade 26 inches long with a 10 inche sharpened back edge. 

It is a very distinctive form, and was produced in limited numbers in Kabul, and is struck with the Mazar-i-Sharif mark at the forte.  Original wooden grips are long lost, replaced with poorly mounted pierced and inlayed bone that fell apart in use and is currently sporting a mocked up wooden grip.   The knucklebow is pierced and recurved, and the langet carries an Afghan alphanumeric designation.