A FINE LARGE INDO-PERSIAN KHYBER KNIFE,

A FINE LARGE INDO-PERSIAN KHYBER KNIFE,
third quarter of the 18th century, 25 5/8in. single-edged watered steel blade decorated on each side at the forte with a gold-damascened sunburst, the right side with four gold-damascened panels containing inscriptions, the left side with a single gold-damascened panel containing a further inscription, the back-edge (small chip to one edge) chiselled with flutes and foliage, the hilt decorated with gold-damascened foliage (worn on the grip-straps, back grip-strap missing), and shaped dark horn grip-scales, in original cloth-covered wooden scabbard (covering worn) with highly ornate pierced locket and chape, the locket with nielloed silver panels surrounding silver-gilt foliage with a pierced silver-gilt top heightened with a band of flower-heads formed of turquoise beads (minor loss to beads, top loose), chape en suite with a large silver-gilt ball finial set with further turquoise beads, the nielloed silver (minor blemishes) panels on both the locket and chape decorated with scenes involving hunters, farmers and various creatures, both hunter and hunted including tigers, blackbucks, ducks, birds of prey, fish and herons.