Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Jim McDougall · 12th January 2010, 06:16 PM

Hi Devadatta,
An excellent subject, and one that has brought profound discussion and debate from time immemorial among weapons collectors and scholars.
It would be virtually impossible to try to catalog many weapons accurately using the often collective terms that have become associated with many of them, and often it is necessary to use qualifying terms in conjunction.

It is good to focus on a particular weapon form as you have done here, as the countless other instances of conflicting terminology with other weapons would be quite overwhelming all at once.

As you have well pointed out, in Oman the dagger with dramatic curved scabbard that quite honestly, I have always thought of as janbiyya is indeed termed khanjar by Omanis. According to Robert Elgood, in "Arms & Armour of Arabia" , al Hasa, the Emirates, Oman, Muscat and parts of Hadhramaut all use the term 'khanjar' for thier traditional daggers.
It is stated that the temporal line of demarcation for use of that term stands at Dhufar in Southern Arabia, and the Yemeni term 'janbiyya' takes its place.

As might well be imagined, cultural diffusion plays havoc with terminology and with the presence of Omanis in other regions, the terms become used of course simultaneously.

In the north in the Najd, while the khanjar term is used, the Badu use the term 'giddamiyyah' or 'sibriyyah' denoting the size of the blade, but whether used conjunctively is unclear.

While the Wahhabi term is used, often incorrectly for Central Arabian types of these daggers, it is actually referring to the very large traditional forms that are used in Yemen, Hijaz and Asir of Western Arabia. In Hijaz, these are termed 'sabak; in Asir, 'sabik'; and more to the south by Yemen border, 'sabiki'.

In Hadhramaut there are apparantly more localized terms, 'abdi' and in the northern part and Yemen, 'gusbi'. Further detail on these is unclear as to any distinction, but that would require a detailed typology.

In Rwala, a broad and long version is 'gdaimi', while broad and short remains 'khanjar'.

In Syria and Iraq, the khanjar terms prevails.

In Albania, Egypt and the Balkans along with Turkey there must be local terms in various dialects and languages. Interestingly in Turkey and the Balkans, the term khanjar is more associated with the yataghan, and in Persia with a pistol grip curved double edge dagger.

In India, the forms there are in the Arab regions in the west with the more familiar Arab type dagger and known as janbiyya, as well as those with the more Iraqi type hilts .
The Persian pistol grip type daggers in India are known as khanjars.

In North Africa, the well known janbiyya with the lunette form pommel and distinct shaped blade is known as a koumyya, and indiginous to Morocco.

Didn't Shakespeare say something like, a janbiyya by any other name, is it still a janbiyya????

I hope this offers some help, and that the others, far more informed than I can fill in with regional and localized terms they have found.

All best regards,
Jim

P.S. In determining terms applied regionally, it is important to note that much of this will depend on which ethnic or otherwise specified group is being considered as clearly there will be variations.

12th January 2010, 06:16 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Hi Devadatta, An excellent subject, and one that has brought profound discussion and debate from time immemorial among weapons collectors and scholars. It would be virtually impossible to try to catalog many weapons accurately using the often collective terms that have become associated with many of them, and often it is necessary to use qualifying terms in conjunction. It is good to focus on a particular weapon form as you have done here, as the countless other instances of conflicting terminology with other weapons would be quite overwhelming all at once. As you have well pointed out, in Oman the dagger with dramatic curved scabbard that quite honestly, I have always thought of as janbiyya is indeed termed khanjar by Omanis. According to Robert Elgood, in "Arms & Armour of Arabia" , al Hasa, the Emirates, Oman, Muscat and parts of Hadhramaut all use the term 'khanjar' for thier traditional daggers. It is stated that the temporal line of demarcation for use of that term stands at Dhufar in Southern Arabia, and the Yemeni term 'janbiyya' takes its place. As might well be imagined, cultural diffusion plays havoc with terminology and with the presence of Omanis in other regions, the terms become used of course simultaneously. In the north in the Najd, while the khanjar term is used, the Badu use the term 'giddamiyyah' or 'sibriyyah' denoting the size of the blade, but whether used conjunctively is unclear. While the Wahhabi term is used, often incorrectly for Central Arabian types of these daggers, it is actually referring to the very large traditional forms that are used in Yemen, Hijaz and Asir of Western Arabia. In Hijaz, these are termed 'sabak; in Asir, 'sabik'; and more to the south by Yemen border, 'sabiki'. In Hadhramaut there are apparantly more localized terms, 'abdi' and in the northern part and Yemen, 'gusbi'. Further detail on these is unclear as to any distinction, but that would require a detailed typology. In Rwala, a broad and long version is 'gdaimi', while broad and short remains 'khanjar'. In Syria and Iraq, the khanjar terms prevails. In Albania, Egypt and the Balkans along with Turkey there must be local terms in various dialects and languages. Interestingly in Turkey and the Balkans, the term khanjar is more associated with the yataghan, and in Persia with a pistol grip curved double edge dagger. In India, the forms there are in the Arab regions in the west with the more familiar Arab type dagger and known as janbiyya, as well as those with the more Iraqi type hilts . The Persian pistol grip type daggers in India are known as khanjars. In North Africa, the well known janbiyya with the lunette form pommel and distinct shaped blade is known as a koumyya, and indiginous to Morocco. Didn't Shakespeare say something like, a janbiyya by any other name, is it still a janbiyya???? I hope this offers some help, and that the others, far more informed than I can fill in with regional and localized terms they have found. All best regards, Jim P.S. In determining terms applied regionally, it is important to note that much of this will depend on which ethnic or otherwise specified group is being considered as clearly there will be variations.