Arab (Yemeni) sword from Djibouti

Martin Lubojacky · 1st March 2020, 10:41 AM

Hello.
I am just posting a few pictures for pleasure (and any comment is warm welcome). The saber was bought in Djibouti, but it is of Yemeni origin for sure. It was used a lot ...,

Length: 88 cms, width 3.8 cms, thickness at the base 0.5 cms. There probably was something written on the blade. The blady is made if a good steel, I think (it is flexible and straight).
Martin

David R · 1st March 2020, 12:48 PM

Nice to see. I do like these type of swords, made for use rather than display.

Kubur · 1st March 2020, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Lubojacky

There probably was something written on the blade. The blady is made if a good steel, I think (it is flexible and straight).
Martin

Very nice Yemeni sword, good catch!
Mmmm to me, i's not writting but drawing, probably clouds and wind like on some European blades...

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 1st March 2020, 06:06 PM

Reference.
A. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=karabela
B. THE AMAZING PICTURE AT #1 OF A KARABELA AT http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...5&page=1&pp=30

We normally view this form as Karabela.. These are quite common appearing from Yemen centres like Sanaa with blades probably from Solingen. I wonder what you mean by straight...? These blades are slightly curved usually and this one appears to be such. Flexible to what degree...? I would think it bends to a few degrees but is quite rigid with a thick back blade. They are often found around Yemen; in neighboring countries and often in Oman and The Zanj...as well as into The Gulf. Often hilts were stripped off weapons and the expensive items re cycled onto Jambia etc... and less expensive hilts matched onto these blades and pushed across the middle Easts souks especially since about 1970 where they were often seen in souks like Muttrah and Salalah..who purchased them from Sanaa....and on and on... where you will still find loads of these still... and in souks up the Gulf like Sharjah et etc...

kahnjar1 · 1st March 2020, 09:46 PM

Hi Martin,
Here is another which I have. Very similar but this has original scabbard.
I just noticed that this was the subject of Ibrahiim's "A" link above. It has obviously traveled a bit since the original post by wodimi.
Stu

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 1st March 2020, 11:58 PM

I have only one or two questions about Karabella and that is;

1. Are they related in any way to Othmanli other weapons such as Kilij or Yatagans?

2. What is the origin of the term Karabella please...?

kahnjar1 · 2nd March 2020, 04:19 AM

Hi Ibrahiim,
I have always understood that the word relates to the actual SHAPE of the hilt. Here is the definition of KARABELA from Wikipedia which suggests that this is correct. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karabela
So connection to different blade styles such as Kilij would (I think) depend on the shape of the hilt attached.
Stu

1st March 2020, 06:06 PM	#4
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Reference. A. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=karabela B. THE AMAZING PICTURE AT #1 OF A KARABELA AT http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...5&page=1&pp=30 We normally view this form as Karabela.. These are quite common appearing from Yemen centres like Sanaa with blades probably from Solingen. I wonder what you mean by straight...? These blades are slightly curved usually and this one appears to be such. Flexible to what degree...? I would think it bends to a few degrees but is quite rigid with a thick back blade. They are often found around Yemen; in neighboring countries and often in Oman and The Zanj...as well as into The Gulf. Often hilts were stripped off weapons and the expensive items re cycled onto Jambia etc... and less expensive hilts matched onto these blades and pushed across the middle Easts souks especially since about 1970 where they were often seen in souks like Muttrah and Salalah..who purchased them from Sanaa....and on and on... where you will still find loads of these still... and in souks up the Gulf like Sharjah et etc... Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 1st March 2020 at 07:07 PM.

1st March 2020, 09:46 PM	#5
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,741	Hi Martin, Here is another which I have. Very similar but this has original scabbard. I just noticed that this was the subject of Ibrahiim's "A" link above. It has obviously traveled a bit since the original post by wodimi. Stu Attached Images

1st March 2020, 10:41 AM	#1
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 841	Arab (Yemeni) sword from Djibouti Hello. I am just posting a few pictures for pleasure (and any comment is warm welcome). The saber was bought in Djibouti, but it is of Yemeni origin for sure. It was used a lot ..., Length: 88 cms, width 3.8 cms, thickness at the base 0.5 cms. There probably was something written on the blade. The blady is made if a good steel, I think (it is flexible and straight). Martin Attached Images

1st March 2020, 12:48 PM	#2
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,079	Nice to see. I do like these type of swords, made for use rather than display.

1st March 2020, 11:58 PM	#6
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	I have only one or two questions about Karabella and that is; 1. Are they related in any way to Othmanli other weapons such as Kilij or Yatagans? 2. What is the origin of the term Karabella please...?

2nd March 2020, 04:19 AM	#7
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,741	Hi Ibrahiim, I have always understood that the word relates to the actual SHAPE of the hilt. Here is the definition of KARABELA from Wikipedia which suggests that this is correct. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karabela So connection to different blade styles such as Kilij would (I think) depend on the shape of the hilt attached. Stu