Khyber Knife (Salawar/Charay)

The Khyber is more properly called a Charay (equivalently, charas, churea, salawar yatagan). Also referred to as a “Khyber”, in reference to the treacherous mountain pass to Afghanistan where the Pashtun tribes reside, the salawar is well known to every army that has attempted to conquer the tribes of Afghanistan. With its distinctive T-shaped blade, it is exceptionally strong all along its length and ideal for piercing armor as well as cutting attacks. This style of blade can also be found in the salawar’s small cousins, the choora and pesh-kabz. Khyber swords and the smaller knife variant, the Choora, typical of the Pashtun tribes of the Khyber pass region of Afghanistan. The scabbard is worn thrust, unsecured, in a number of positions under a belt with blades ranging from 14” to 30” in length.



1) A'Khyber knife', as used by the Pashtun (or Pathan) tribes in the area of the Khyber Pass in the border region between eastern Afghanistan and the Northwest Frontier Province of Pakistan. 2) A kris dagger from Bali, Indonesia



Khyber Knife, Afghanistan


19th Century Khyber knife