New jambiya for comment
 

Here is a new jambiya that just came in the mail. Hilt of silver and toe, scabbard of leather covered wood. I think it was for an arab in India or at least with Indian influence.

Nice one Battara I was looking at that one on ebay. I have a similar one that I picked up from Artzi last year at the show. I think it is Yemen or Omani and not Indian.

Lew

A Yemeni jambiya I believe, (Omani has some attaching rings on the scabbard). Nothing indian, but the scabbard indeed looks almost like a kukri one. Nice piece. :)

The Indian influence to which I refer comes from the type of leather scabbard that is typical of India. This is not unusual since there have been Indians trading on the coast of the Arabian penninsula and Arabs on the Indian coast.

Oh, very desirable piece! :) Were full silver hilts traditional? Because nearly all pieces I've seen comes with horn hilts. A rare few comes with wooden or suspected amber hilts.

Actually, silver hilts are common, although not of this quality. Oman and Yemen make a lot of silver hilts.

The more I look at this, the more I get this "I want one too" feeling. :D Have to keep reminding myself I'm a keris collector... :)

well see :)
here from my collection
- Yemeni Jambiya
- Omani/Emirati Khanjar

OOPPSS! Looks like you folks are right on the money. :o It is Yemen after all (though the leather scabbard is exactly like some of those in India). It once belonged to Artzi and he describes it as 19 century:

http://www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=1519

Here is a picture sold long ago:

I think i see what Battara means about the scabbard.
When i bought my yemenite silver mounted jambyia, i went look for info at the Web and, the inumerous silver hilted jambyias out there, also have the scabbard made of silver, with the same or similar decoration patterns. Rather than an export piece, could it be that the scabbard is a replacement ?
Sorry for so basic question, is there any inscription in the back of the grip ?

Fernando

The scabbard is a standard for that region of Yemen it is not a replacement. Here is one from my collection note the scabbards are of the same material and design.



Lew

Quite Right, Lew.
Thank you.