Yemeni Jambiya for restoration....but is it worth it?

katana · 22nd October 2007, 10:23 PM

Took a risk on this Jambiya from the Yemen. needs restoration on the scabbard. The blade is described as 3mm thick (not including the central ridge) evidence of sharpening but described as 'bluntish' and is 9" long (OAL 13")
The grip seems to have some 'translucence' ....could it be Rhino horn?
The leather on the wooden cored scabbard needs repair, uncertain as to whether the hilt / scabbard decoration is silver/white metal/pewter ?

This is 'out of my area' .....but is this a reasonable example? Could this be late 19thC to early 20th C ?

I would appreciate comments or advice....thank you

Regards David

fernando · 22nd October 2007, 11:03 PM

(??) rhino horn would no be translucid (??)

Robert · 22nd October 2007, 11:09 PM

Maybe amber?

fernando · 22nd October 2007, 11:16 PM

Hi Robert
Amber was my first thaught too. Only i browsed for janbiyyas with such material hilt, but spelling ambar like in Portuguese. Now i see there are amber hilted janbiyyas. So it could well be.
Being the case, isn't that an added value ?
Fernando

Lew · 22nd October 2007, 11:27 PM

Hi Katana

Your jambiya seems circa 1970s-80s the quality is ok for that time period. The silver work is not as nice as the the ones seen prior to 1948. Many of the skilled Yemeni silversmiths were Jewish and most of them immigrated to Israel after 1948. So you do see a decline in over all silverwork quality after that time. As far as the hilt being made of rhino horn you will need to look for those tightly packed fiber bundles at the top of the hilt. Here are two older 19th century ones for comparison the top one is rhino horn.

Lew

Battara · 23rd October 2007, 12:10 AM

Also some rhino horn can be translucent.

fernando · 23rd October 2007, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Also some rhino horn can be translucent.

Yes, with the coming of age. But maybe not so bright as David's example(?)

spiral · 23rd October 2007, 12:46 AM

Rhino horn can be translucent & bright in sunlight etc at any age. Depends on the individual horn. Goat,cow or buffalo horn can be translucent to on occasions.

At least it looks like a real blade as well.

The amber jambiyas dont seem to be real amber to me. More a plastic resin mix.

Spiral

22nd October 2007, 10:23 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Yemeni Jambiya for restoration....but is it worth it? Took a risk on this Jambiya from the Yemen. needs restoration on the scabbard. The blade is described as 3mm thick (not including the central ridge) evidence of sharpening but described as 'bluntish' and is 9" long (OAL 13") The grip seems to have some 'translucence' ....could it be Rhino horn? The leather on the wooden cored scabbard needs repair, uncertain as to whether the hilt / scabbard decoration is silver/white metal/pewter ? This is 'out of my area' .....but is this a reasonable example? Could this be late 19thC to early 20th C ? I would appreciate comments or advice....thank you Regards David Attached Images

22nd October 2007, 11:27 PM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi Katana Your jambiya seems circa 1970s-80s the quality is ok for that time period. The silver work is not as nice as the the ones seen prior to 1948. Many of the skilled Yemeni silversmiths were Jewish and most of them immigrated to Israel after 1948. So you do see a decline in over all silverwork quality after that time. As far as the hilt being made of rhino horn you will need to look for those tightly packed fiber bundles at the top of the hilt. Here are two older 19th century ones for comparison the top one is rhino horn. Lew Attached Images Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 23rd October 2007 at 04:00 PM.

22nd October 2007, 11:03 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	(??) rhino horn would no be translucid (??)

22nd October 2007, 11:09 PM	#3
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Maybe amber?

22nd October 2007, 11:16 PM	#4
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Hi Robert Amber was my first thaught too. Only i browsed for janbiyyas with such material hilt, but spelling ambar like in Portuguese. Now i see there are amber hilted janbiyyas. So it could well be. Being the case, isn't that an added value ? Fernando

23rd October 2007, 12:10 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	Also some rhino horn can be translucent.

23rd October 2007, 12:46 AM	#8
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Rhino horn can be translucent & bright in sunlight etc at any age. Depends on the individual horn. Goat,cow or buffalo horn can be translucent to on occasions. At least it looks like a real blade as well. The amber jambiyas dont seem to be real amber to me. More a plastic resin mix. Spiral