Two Small Yemeni (I think) Jambiyas and Questions

TVV · 14th November 2007, 06:08 AM

Here are two small jambiyas (the smaller is 9 1/2" total), which I think are from Yemen. There is nothing remarkable about the left one, other than the fact that it was found in an old house west of Sofia, Bulgaria. I usually do not believe such stories, but it was a gift from a friend, and I do not think he is making anything up - he has no reason to. One can only speculate on how it got there. I am guessing early 20th century?
The second one appears to be newer - my guess is mid 20th century. The hilt is bone, but what is more unusual is the scabbard. I have seen this type of stitching with little wire spirals on Ottoman pieces, such as kilidj scabbards. It tends to be on the back though, and here it is on the front of the scabbard. Why is that, did the stitcher make a mistake, or was it done so on purpose?
Also, am I right about my estimates on age and origin?
All comments are much appreciated, thank you.

Teodor

Lew · 14th November 2007, 03:14 PM

Hi TVV

The big one is from Yemen but the small seems to be more Georgian due to the general shape of the hilt and especially the scabbard with the wire binding which is never seen on Yemen scabbards. Below is a small Yemen jambiya for comparison.

Congrats

Lew

ariel · 14th November 2007, 09:30 PM

Hate to disagree with Lew( he has too many swords at his disposal

), but there is NOTHING Georgian/Caucasian in either of them.
South Arabia, both: Yemen, Oman... The styles got mixed and the lines between them were often blurred.
No matter what, no Georgian would get out of the house wearing one of those: he would be ashamed to admit that he had anything shorter than 10 inches

Lew · 14th November 2007, 10:40 PM

Ariel

Can you explain the wire binding? I have only seen this on kindjal scabbards could this be a Syrian or Turkish piece? Here is a small dagger with a kindjal style hilt? The scabbard seems Kurdish to me?

Lew

ariel · 15th November 2007, 12:03 AM

Wire binding can be seen on Turkish scabbards and, I am sure, on Persian as well.
Arabian Peninsula was an Ottoman colony until WWI. Elgood mentions Syrian weapon merchants and armourers in old Arabia. Surely, Caucasian Muslims went to Arabia on the Hajj and even Shamil died there. Circassians were re-settled there by the Ottomans after 1870. Also, Daghestani blades were popular there: Omani Kattaras used curved trade blades.
However, nothing in this jambiya would suggest any Caucasian motive. The contour of the blade, the pronounced central ridge, the silverwork are all unmistakeably South Arabian.

Emanuel · 15th November 2007, 12:36 AM

Hello,

I have a khanjar with scabbard similar to the one on the right - same wire binding. it was discussed here and since Rick had a yataghan scabbard with the same binding, the conclusion was that it was likely Ottoman/Turkish.

Emanuel

14th November 2007, 06:08 AM	#1
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,660	Two Small Yemeni (I think) Jambiyas and Questions Here are two small jambiyas (the smaller is 9 1/2" total), which I think are from Yemen. There is nothing remarkable about the left one, other than the fact that it was found in an old house west of Sofia, Bulgaria. I usually do not believe such stories, but it was a gift from a friend, and I do not think he is making anything up - he has no reason to. One can only speculate on how it got there. I am guessing early 20th century? The second one appears to be newer - my guess is mid 20th century. The hilt is bone, but what is more unusual is the scabbard. I have seen this type of stitching with little wire spirals on Ottoman pieces, such as kilidj scabbards. It tends to be on the back though, and here it is on the front of the scabbard. Why is that, did the stitcher make a mistake, or was it done so on purpose? Also, am I right about my estimates on age and origin? All comments are much appreciated, thank you. Teodor Attached Images Last edited by TVV; 14th November 2007 at 06:17 AM. Reason: adding attachment

14th November 2007, 03:14 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi TVV The big one is from Yemen but the small seems to be more Georgian due to the general shape of the hilt and especially the scabbard with the wire binding which is never seen on Yemen scabbards. Below is a small Yemen jambiya for comparison. Congrats Lew Attached Images

14th November 2007, 09:30 PM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Hate to disagree with Lew( he has too many swords at his disposal ), but there is NOTHING Georgian/Caucasian in either of them. South Arabia, both: Yemen, Oman... The styles got mixed and the lines between them were often blurred. No matter what, no Georgian would get out of the house wearing one of those: he would be ashamed to admit that he had anything shorter than 10 inches Last edited by ariel; 14th November 2007 at 11:54 PM.

14th November 2007, 10:40 PM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Ariel Can you explain the wire binding? I have only seen this on kindjal scabbards could this be a Syrian or Turkish piece? Here is a small dagger with a kindjal style hilt? The scabbard seems Kurdish to me? Lew Attached Images Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 14th November 2007 at 11:00 PM.

15th November 2007, 12:36 AM	#6
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hello, I have a khanjar with scabbard similar to the one on the right - same wire binding. it was discussed here and since Rick had a yataghan scabbard with the same binding, the conclusion was that it was likely Ottoman/Turkish. Emanuel Attached Images

15th November 2007, 12:03 AM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Wire binding can be seen on Turkish scabbards and, I am sure, on Persian as well. Arabian Peninsula was an Ottoman colony until WWI. Elgood mentions Syrian weapon merchants and armourers in old Arabia. Surely, Caucasian Muslims went to Arabia on the Hajj and even Shamil died there. Circassians were re-settled there by the Ottomans after 1870. Also, Daghestani blades were popular there: Omani Kattaras used curved trade blades. However, nothing in this jambiya would suggest any Caucasian motive. The contour of the blade, the pronounced central ridge, the silverwork are all unmistakeably South Arabian.