Name/Title
Khanjar - Sakela, AshwamukhiEntry/Object ID
306; Full Code: 306.74.46-DG-IATags
Dagger, Silver workDescription
This is an exceptional Antique Khanjar, featuring a rare and highly prized Sakela steel blade and a masterfully restored silver-clad hilt in the form of a horse's head. This specimen represents a pinnacle of the Indo-Persian martial aesthetic, where elite metallurgical "processes" meet the refined decorative arts of the 18th or 19th-century princely courts.
Core Components & Historical Engineering
The Blade (Sakela Steel): The blade is forged from Sakela, a legendary variety of Indian steel known for its high elasticity and vibrant mechanical "water" pattern.
In your professional framework of "Process reliant" excellence, Sakela is the mechanical sibling to Wootz. While Wootz is valued for its crystalline hardness, Sakela is valued for its resilience and tensile strength. The blade features a recurved "S" profile and a reinforced central ridge (mid-rib) with double fullers. These fullers act as structural beams, allowing the blade to remain slim and lightning-fast without sacrificing longitudinal rigidity.
The Hilt (Restored Silver Horse-Head): The hilt has been meticulously restored with an overlay of fine silver. It is shaped as a stylized horse’s head, a symbol of speed, loyalty, and noble status.
Chased Ornamentation: The entire surface of the grip and the "cross-guard" area is covered in dense floral and foliate engravings (Munnabat style), characteristic of North Indian (likely Rajasthani or Lucknawi) metalwork.
Scabbard: The dagger is paired with a wooden-core scabbard wrapped in smooth crimson leather. The minimalist finish of the scabbard ensures that the visual "intent" remains focused on the intricate silver work of the hilt.Made/Created
Manufacturer
Unknown ArtisanDate made
circa 1700Time Period
18th CenturyDimensions
Dimension Description
17"Length
11-1/2 inMaterial
Sakela (Pattern Welded)Acquisition
Acquisition Method
PurchasePlace
City
Amritsar, PunjabState/Province
Punjab
