Jambiya and Khanjar

[Johan van Zyl]

Friends, these two items have undergone repeated comparison in my mind. I have read up a LOT about these knives and once more my head is spinning. So I am going to offer you the pics of the Yemeni jambiya and the Omani khanjar I have acquired, with guarded comments by me. But I eagerly await your contributions please!

I bought the jambiya at a souk in Dubai in 2012, after very long consideration of the hundreds available. It was expensive for a tourist item, but I was impressed by the scabbard quality. The blades were all of the split type, so I let myself be led by the scabbard. It is truly beautiful and very well made (to my mind at least - my compliments to the craftsman). The blade is not worth commenting on, and the hilt is horrendous. I can only assume the hilt material is a kind of translucent resin. But I really admire the scabbard and I understand that the maker of the scabbard is not the same as the knife's maker.

I got the khanjar in a trade. It seems to be an honest khanjar of not too recent make. The metal covering on the hilt I understand to be silver, and the handle itself horn. The scabbard is covered by silver embellishments. I believe the silver is pure in the region of 90%. The blade seems to be forged steel, solid, causing a dull thump when banged. (Some rust has set in, so I have got it in time to prevent further damage.) The horn hilt is not too well finished, as well as the silverwork, but it is acceptably well done, as I said, an honest, original khanjar. I hope you all agree (but I have much to learn).

I trust the two pics will come out well enough and you are able to discern enough detail.

Regards
Johan

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams Johan van Zyl,
I hope you may have looked at The Omani Khanjar thread. lt will give you a good grounding for detail on your Omani Khanjar at Forum Library on~

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=14878

The blade is always considered first and as you point out it is fairly standard but you note it is fixed tight..good ! The hilt looks like cow horn..again a standard material though nowadays they often use a plastic dense compound..Typical on a bovine hilt is a full silver plate.The scabbard is nice with fine silver stitching all over..indicating a Baatinah weapon and tipped at the Quba with a silver crown.Nice big terrs like shields above the rings are always good to see..Souks in the region inter trade with each other frequently and you have Sanaa, Muttrah and Sharjah all providing weapons to the tourist trade all the time..Usually these weapons have a belt and other additions ..but you may want to gather those up as you go along..My workshop on the Baatinah makes Khanjars all the time and actually specialises in the UAE variant.

[Johan van Zyl]

Thank you, Ebrahiim! I had previously read your fine thread, but I have re-read it now at your advice. The man I traded the Omani khanjar from, told me that he got it from a guy who received it attached to the inside of a deep glass-fronted portrait frame. There is still a round spot 2 centimetres wide in the centre of the scabbard back that shows it had been glued in place.

Looking at my pic, are you able to give an idea as to the approximate age of this khanjar, Ebrahiim? And do you think it is Oman-made, or could it be an Indian copy?

I appreciate your comments.

Johan

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams Johan van Zyl ~!In my view it is Omani... Not sure where from as it could be Nizwa since it is quite small compared to the usual Baatinah weapons .. It's Omani for sure. Probably 20 or 30 Years old.

[Johan van Zyl]

Salaams Ibrahiim. I thank your for your kind advice and willingness to comment!

Regards
Johan.