Recent Jambiya and a new Khanjar

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by archer

This khanjar just came in I believe it came out of an estate as it's NIB. I think it may have some age, but,no use. Is the case a presentation case or one purchased with the dagger? I'm not familiar with This type triangular belt chain at the Quba. Does it help date the dagger or it's origins? The hilt while translucent hasn't given up ant clues to its origins either. The whole dagger weighs 1 pound 5 ozs.

The unusual Yemeni? Jambiya came in yesterday. Yeah, I'm like a kid in a candy store all wired up. It is compact with a 6 1/2 inch blade three copper dots on each side. I don't recall seeing one like it before The silver is soft and oxidised it is brightening from handling.
The hilt as suspected is Rhino horn and very translucent. Is this Yemeni? Is there a separate name for this little Jambiya? Perhaps the odd chape with the fruit cluster is a clue?

Your comments, or information is sought. Thanks, Steve

Salaams archer ~ Excellent pictures ! If I may deal with the 7 ringer;

So where is the 7 ringer khanjar/jambiyya from? It looks almost identical to the Omani 7 ringer and must be related except of course it is the Saudia version..(but likely to be originally Yemeni) In Oman this one is referred to as Habaabi but there is no such place in Saudia called that..The root could be abha and there is an Abha in the Jazan.. very much in the bottom corner in Saudia Arabia and until relatively recently it was Yemen ... In fact the people look the same dress the same and build the same style etc etc. I have seen pictures of tribesmen wearing this style from that region. What is difficult to trace is whether the dagger style migrated or was influenced by the Omani style (elements of that design occur in all the Omani Khanjar variants including the Royal Khanjar) and that could have taken place by sea or via the overland camel train route... I have to say it is a puzzle. Of course Yemen in the shape of the disintegration of the Marib Dam between the 3rd and 6th Century AD was the source of a huge population drift from Yemen into Oman. I know a Yemeni trader here in Buraimi and intend to question him at length tomorrow.
The question of the strange chain near the Quba is that as in the Omani 7 ringer variant it is to attach to the waist belt and hold the weapon steady; normally there is a button at about that point on the belt and used as the anchor point ...
I would like to ascertain if the style stretches down the entire or part of the Red Sea coast as far as Aden, Mocha and al Hudayda The latter being a possible mistake in the translation of Habaabi??

Regards Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

P.S. translucent hilt... indicates Rhino..What we call Zraf (not giraffe). (Wahid al Garn; the one horn.. thus the Rhino) The fruit cluster which look like mini cannon balls are from the Mulberry Fruit tree that grows wild in Yemen and Oman.. This is copied onto dagger decorations and Islamic Jewellery all over the region. Ruth Hawley "Omani Silver." Refers.

[A.alnakkas]

Nice one Steve, like them both.

The first one is Omani with Yemeni influence on the hilt, but I think its an all Omani production because the silver on the hilt is of Omani style. Very interesting piece I am glad you got it.

Do not think that the hilt is rhino but this type is used often on Omani items, translucent and greenish.. I have seen it many times.

The 2nd one is very interesting, I think its a child's Sabik.

Was watching both, glad that you got them so we can study them :-)

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

P.S. translucent hilt... indicates Rhino..What we call Zraf (not giraffe). (Wahid al Garn; the one horn.. thus the Rhino) The fruit cluster which look like mini cannon balls are from the Mulberry Fruit tree that grows wild in Yemen and Oman.. This is copied onto dagger decorations and Islamic Jewellery all over the region. Ruth Hawley "Omani Silver." Refers.

Salaams

The horn is not Rhino.

Best

Gav

[spiral]

Definatly Gavin!

It resembles some of the translucent horn,one sees on the modern made replicas sold by dealers from Oman to tourists & collectors. they are often treated in a manner to try to duplicate the {grainyness of rhino} {As this one has.}

{Along with the Yellow plastic ones poorly mimiking rhino horn as well of course.}

100% not rhino.

Spiral

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams ~ It came off a spotty cow !

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams all / Library ~ The item is an "Habaabi".
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[archer]

Hi, Thank you all for for your knowledge and comments I think your rhino horn comments were toward the Khanjar. The Sabik hilt may have me fooled, so I'll ask again, the only positive sign missing is well defined orange rind at the pommel. Ibrahiim, I can't get the picture of the spotted cow with a missing horn out of my mind. Is Habaabi the name for the links that attach to the belt? Thanks, Steve

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by archer

Hi, Thank you all for for your knowledge and comments I think your rhino horn comments were toward the Khanjar. The Sabik hilt may have me fooled, so I'll ask again, the only positive sign missing is well defined orange rind at the pommel. Ibrahiim, I can't get the picture of the spotted cow with a missing horn out of my mind. Is Habaabi the name for the links that attach to the belt? Thanks, Steve

Salaams archer ~ #1 picture 2 shows the cowhorn seen on the hilt of the Habaabi dagger that I would imagine is called a Jambia in that region since it is previously Yemen and now part of Saudia. Habaabi is a regional centre ... Its the name of the town. This ought not to be confused with any thoughts linking it to either a tribe or mixing it with Wahabi( A religious grouping) or Hudaudi (and which gives its name to another style The Hudaudi Jambia) which is another place not far from Habaabi. At one time I had the whole lot muddled!!

I have considered the unusual design of the Habaabi as being completely unlike any other Yemeni weapon but very very similar in most ways to the Royal Omani thus I have it lined up as an extension of that design via bouyant trade links with Zanzibar and Oman in the mid 19th C.(when it was invented by Sheherezad a wife of Said Sultan the Ruler of Oman) probably by seatrade via Jazan the main port of the region.

Rhino Horn. As I see it the rhino horn is genuine because of the translucent effect with the torchlight and the orangepeel syndrome /spaghetti end. As Spiral was saying even a redhot pin test may not be conclusive as all horn has the scent of burning hair when tested and the best test may be the visual one after Lews description of Spaghetti.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.