The Syrian Jambiya/Khanjar

[Atlantia]

Following on from email discussions with several forum members plus a couple of non-members who read these pages, I thought that it might be useful to try and identify the criteria needed to differentiate the georgraphic origins of these increasingly collected distinctive daggers.

As far as I can ascertain, there seem to be various manufacturing centres.
Damascus of course, Majdal Shams (مجدل شمس) in the Golan, and others.
So, what are the pointers for identifying the origin of these daggers?

I have some examples, and some thoughts. which I will return with later.
I know some other forumites have some very fine examples.

[Dom]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

...snip... I know some other forumites have some very fine examples.

Hi ...
my truth, which is not necessarily "THE" truth
concerning Syria (without Jordan or Israel)

it seems (?) that there are three different productions,
two ... nearly similar
- Magdali - Druze production from "Majdal Shams" (Tower of the sun) - Golan
- Damascus production

the third one, is for the Palestinian, an Bedouin Jordan market, .. more specific

the "Magdali's" is characterized by an hilt flatter, and less decorated
but with some poems (?) engraved on the blade, close to the hilt
I never got a chance to know what is writing, translation resist to all translators

- Damascus production, the hilt is carved in a more elaborated way
the blade is often with colored inserts dots or engraving stars 3 or more
red, black green, recalling the national colors,
it also has two or three gorges along its length,and has sometimes light engraving

as far as I know, the hilt are constituted of ;
- rings made from goats horn
- rings made from bone
- rings made by copper, or brass, could be by silvery
- sometimes inclusion of coral, mother of pearls
- sometime a date (one with me is dated 1923 Gregorian in Arabic characters ...)

that's what my friend "Rimon" told me and teach me
he is furbisher in Islamic edged weapons, and established in ... Damascus - Syria
all the best

à +

Dom

[DaveA]

I recently two jambiya reportedly from Syria. According to Dom's classification, the first one shown here would be Damascus. Am I correct?

best regards,

Dave A.

[DaveA]

This one doesn't seem to fit Dom's categories but the seller also claimed it was from Syria. Any insights?

- Dave A.

[DaveA]

Here is my third Syrian jambiya, provisionally identified as from Magdal Shams. Sorry I don't have better pictures at this time.

- Dave A.

[Atlantia]

Hi Dave,

The first and second I would say are Majdali type. Either from Majdal Shams or possibly one of the other villages in that area.
They look to have very good age.
These tend to date from 1920-1950. But those might be older (say 1900-1920). I would guess that the first is showing Ottoman rule in it's crescent and star decoration.

Good examples.

[Dom]

Originally Posted by DaveA

Here is my third Syrian jambiya, provisionally identified as from Magdal Shams. Sorry I don't have better pictures at this time.

- Dave A.

Hi Dave
all your Syrian jambiya are ...
"Majdali" type from "Magdal Shams - Golan"
very well typed I just Love them

à +

Dom

[Dom]

Originally Posted by DaveA

This one doesn't seem to fit Dom's categories but the seller also claimed it was from Syria. Any insights?

- Dave A.

and the seller was fully correct
more Syrian than that I.M.P.O.S.S.I.B.L.E
specifically from Golan Mountains ... it's a splendid "Majdali"

à +

Dom

[Atlantia]

This type of dagger is often referred to as 'Majdali Daggers' as they are most famously made in Majdal Shams (مجدل شمس) in the Golan Heights, although (as Dom says) I believe that there are other centres of production including most famously Damascus but also I believe elsewhere around the modern border of Israel.
Here are my best two. An almost identical pair in near mint condition.
I have never seen others with their original suspension sashes.
I've always thought that these are classic 'Majdali Daggers' (from Majdal Shams) and despite the swollen hilt normally seen on the Damascus ones I'd stick with that origin, Dom?:

Edit: because my writing this crossed over with Dom's post, so I'm integrating my answer for clarity.

[Atlantia]

Hi Dom, Thank you for your help

Lovely examples btw.

So, following on from what Dom has already told us. These daggers traditionally have good quality thick blades of flattened diamond section. Double edged and steeply curving towards the tip.

While they at first glance have a garish tourist look, they are in fact serious things and generally more sturdy and rigid than most Arabian daggers.
They would easily punch through heavy clothing, even light armour!
Their construction is very similar to the knives of the Canary Islands, with disks of inlayed bone and horn slid onto a full length tang which are secured with a brass terminal often screwed into place by means of the tang being threaded toward the end.
As they age, the horn tends to loose its grip on the inlays and often small pieces are lost.

As variations, these do sometimes appear with 'other' influences apparent.
Ottoman for example, but I have even seen them with double edged blades that look like a Kindjal.

[Dom]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

I've always thought that these are classic 'Majdali Daggers' (from Majdal Shams) and despite the swollen hilt normally seen on the Damascus ones I'd stick with that origin, Dom?:

Funny, because they are a compromize between "Majdali" (blade) and Damascus (hilt)
they are with their original suspension cord ... and new
apparently, those two daggers have never been worn,
really they are just very beautiful
all the best

à +

Dom

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by Dom

Funny, because they are a compromize between "Majdali" (blade) and Damascus (hilt)
they are with their original suspension cord ... and new
apparently, those two daggers have never been worn,
really they are just very beautiful
all the best

à +

Dom

Thanks Dom, they are beauties. Old but near perfect.

[colin henshaw]

Here is a nice example I had a few years back.