Sharing a Yemeni Janbiya

Atlantia · 15th December 2010, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVV

Nice jambiya. The hilt appears to be of rhino horn, but I am curious about the blade - was it made from an old file, or was the cross-hatching at the base applied later?

Regards,
Teodor

LOL, If I could just echo every word from Teodor.
Exactly my thoughts.
Looks as though the pattern was added to give the impression of a reused file?

A.alnakkas · 15th December 2010, 06:08 PM

hm, can you tell me how a file blade is made? all i know is that they are used for janbiyas and daggers from yemen to syria.

i have a small shibriya with a file blade but its different from this janbiya.

also about that pattern, i seen it more then once on janbiyas.

Atlantia · 15th December 2010, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.alnakkas

hm, can you tell me how a file blade is made? all i know is that they are used for janbiyas and daggers from yemen to syria.

i have a small shibriya with a file blade but its different from this janbiya.

also about that pattern, i seen it more then once on janbiyas.

When an old file is reused for a dagger blade, the teeth of the file are ground off, but the impression often remains in a pattern of scored lines.
Like the crosshatching on your Jambiya.
As file steel tended to be good, it was regularly used pre-ww2 for this sort of thing, I guess its possible that the pattern on yours is meant to show at a glance that it's a good blade?

I know that file blades were used into the 50s regularly, but I think easier sources were becoming common by then.

Lew · 15th December 2010, 07:22 PM

It's not made from a file I have a few with the same markings. The file work could help create more friction with the scabbard or it is just for decoration?

kahnjar1 · 16th December 2010, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.alnakkas

hm, can you tell me how a file blade is made? all i know is that they are used for janbiyas and daggers from yemen to syria.

i have a small shibriya with a file blade but its different from this janbiya.

also about that pattern, i seen it more then once on janbiyas.

I have also seen this marking on Jambiya blades. Not a file in my opinion.
Nice piece by the way

Regards Stuart

A.alnakkas · 16th December 2010, 03:19 PM

thanks all

becoming a Janbiya addict here.. hehe.

15th December 2010, 06:08 PM	#2
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	hm, can you tell me how a file blade is made? all i know is that they are used for janbiyas and daggers from yemen to syria. i have a small shibriya with a file blade but its different from this janbiya. also about that pattern, i seen it more then once on janbiyas.

15th December 2010, 07:22 PM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	It's not made from a file I have a few with the same markings. The file work could help create more friction with the scabbard or it is just for decoration?

16th December 2010, 03:19 PM	#6
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	thanks all becoming a Janbiya addict here.. hehe.