Pesh-kabz knife scabbard, presented to Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief in India

Pesh-kabz knife scabbard made of red leather with silver chape and mouthpiece, inscribed, 'To Sir Claude Auchinleck C-in-C in India Presented by Subedar Major Allah Jan, IDSM 218 Coy RIASC (Gen Tpt) on Behalf of the Mahsud Maliks'.

The scabbard and pesh-kabz knife were presented to Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief in India, by Subedar Major Allah Jan, 218 Company, Royal Indian Army Service Corps.

The pesh-kabz is an Indo-Persian knife used extensively in northern India and Afghanistan. It has similarities to the Khyber knife, or choora, but has a significantly shorter blade. Designed as a stabbing weapon, the pesh-kabz had a sharp, tapering single-edged blade which was designed to penetrate mail armour and thicker textiles. Easily portable, the weapons were popular souvenirs for British soldiers serving on the North West Frontier of India.