Quote:
Originally Posted by T. Sketo
Very nice "Sabak" or "Sabeek Taweel" (Taweel=Long) as they are kown is Saudi.
I was born, raised, ived and worked in Saudi for over 35 years and have
traveled he country from one end to the other.
The region were these are originally from and which still retain this type of long knife is in the Suthern Hejaz region near the Yemen border and is inhabited by the Bani Malik and other tribes.
Very good pictures and dscriptions of these knives can be seen in the
1980's era book by the French photographer Thierry Mauger entitled "Flowered Men of Arabia".
The tribes say that they traditionlly needed these longer sword type Janbiya's for the leopards and wolves that used to inhabite the area a long tima ago.
These are of very good quality as Saudi "Sabak or Sabeek" usually go. A lot of early ones in the 40's, 50's & had a lot of brass on them and not a lot had blades with the medial strenghtening ribs in them as these do.
I would imagine that these were made in either Taif (reknowned silver center), Kahmis Mushayt or maybe in Baha region.
I saw very few of them actually made in either Ryadh (Nejd province) or the Eastern province of Al-Ahsa (Dammam or Hofuf) where I grew up.
Respectfuly yours,
Ted Seto
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Thanks very much Ted, for your insight. I feel HEAPS better about them now, although I did think the silverwork was very well done.
I have several other Sabiki and maybe should post a collective pic of them all for comment!
Regards Stuart