Jambiya Gusbi from Hadramaut
 

Got this Jambiya from Artzi a few years ago. His description:

One of the rarest forms of the Arab Jambiya is the Gusbi from Hadramaut, an arid coastal area in the south of Yemen along the Arabian see. Although the blade and handle are similar to those on common Arab Jambiya, the Gusbi is characterized by the considerably up-curving scabbard tip, with the chape (scabbard tip) sometimes higher than the pommel.

Here is such a beautiful example of a Gusbi. 8 inches curved blade of good quality steel. I shaped grip of Rhino horn (see the close up showing the typical fibrous structure of the horn) set with silver rosettes. The wood scabbard is covered with leather and mounted with silver locket and chape set with Carnelian, Corals and Agate stones. This item comes with the original leather belt. Very good condition, only minor pitted spots on the blade.

It seems that Osama bin Laden ancestral home is the village of al-Rubat, in the Hadramaut region of Yemen.


http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...0927Medium.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...0933Medium.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...0935Medium.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...0938Medium.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...0935Medium.jpg

And some photos of people wearing a Jambiya like this. Elgoods book Arms & Armor of Arabia, as scanned by Kahnjar1.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...auction002.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...auction004.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...auction001.jpg

Bill

Nice jambiya and great old pics. :)



Lew