The Habaabi Khanjar/Jambia; FromThe Asir.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by cpkaway2

Hello fellow members,

I obtained this jambiya/khanjar in Vancouver more than 10 years ago. On my recent trip to Gulf States and Oman I hoped to learn more about it and confir that it was Omani. Also I hoped to obtain an older belt for it. Unfortunately my tablet computer ceased to work so I could not show photos of it to anyone. I did manage to find similar 7-ring knives in the Nizwa souq which the vendors identified as Al Saidi (Sa´idiyyah).

After reading this interesting thread it seems most likely that it is from the Asir region rather than Oman. Adding credence to this is the emblem on the back of the hilt. It is very similar to the Saudi coat of arms: crossed swords below a palm tree. The coat of arms was adopted in 1950, which would indicate the knife was not made before that date. I do not know, however, if the coat of arms was designed in 1950 or if it were a symbol in use before then and officially adopted only in 1950. Anyone know?

I would be interested in your thoughts about this jambiya/khanjar, including whether the hilt is bone or wood, and if the writing on the chape is decipherable.

Regards
Chris

Salaams cpkaway2 ~ You are right. This is an Habaabi khanjar or Jambia from the Asir. It came into the region by sea from Oman(where it is called the al Wusta Khanjar) It appeared in about 1850 we suggest, at the time of Said the Great and looks similar to the Royal Khanjar called in Oman the Saaidiyyah...or the Muscat Khanjar. Yours carries on the reverse the Saudia emblem of crossed swords and palm tree.

The area was Yemen til about 1920 when it was absorbed into Saudia Arabia. Often the detail on the reverse is of the flower men tribal style consisting a bunch of flowers..This weapon is known in Oman as the Habaabi ...from Abha which you will find on the map in this post....(Abha aspirated sounds like Habaabi meaning of Abha.)

This is a peculiar adjunct to the regions daggers as it has been incorporated into the weaponry having come directly (by sea) from Oman (the seaport probably Sur) to the region fed by the major sea port of Jazzan and was a link port on the way to and from Zanzibar. The item was made after 1950 in the Abha region.

See below ; Saudia Arabian Emblem.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Rashka Vatnik]

Interesting, thanks! I've been always thinking that this knid of daggers comes from Eastern Arabia, where Yemen borders with Oman, however it appears it comes from the West of peninsula!

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Rashka Vatnik

Interesting, thanks! I've been always thinking that this knid of daggers comes from Eastern Arabia, where Yemen borders with Oman, however it appears it comes from the West of peninsula!

Salaams Rashka Vatnik, Yes and no. #26 refers. The origin of species comes from Oman and is called the al Wusta but it somehow got transported in...on the sea route to Zanzibar where it took root in the mid 19th C....becoming a style adopted by the famous Flower Tribe of Asir... and it is made there . In Oman there is still the origin of species we call the Al Wusta khanjar ....and we even have a name for the exported item(THAT IS THE ITEM COPIED BY ABHA ARTESANS) ... Habaabi ..meaning of Abha the regional city in the Asir...see map. Imported by sea from Sur...to Jazzan...mid 19th C....and adopted there.


see also http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=omani+khanjar

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[cpkaway2]

[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3]Thank you Ibrahiim for confirming the origin of my khanjar.

Today I managed to find this thread with a photo of a khanjar almost the same as mine, including the Saudi coat of arms:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=360 (message #1 - from Conogre).

Is the hilt of my khanjar made of bone, wood, or ??. Is any of the writing on the chape is decipherable?

Thank you again
Chris

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by cpkaway2

[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3]Thank you Ibrahiim for confirming the origin of my khanjar.

Today I managed to find this thread with a photo of a khanjar almost the same as mine, including the Saudi coat of arms:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=360 (message #1 - from Conogre).

Is the hilt of my khanjar made of bone, wood, or ??. Is any of the writing on the chape is decipherable?

Thank you again
Chris

Salaams cpkaway2 In all likelihood the material is Rhino...commonly used for dagger hilts there. The mark probably gives the makers name. Not decipherable.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams and as a way of updating this conundrum...I have a few pictures of various examples from Saudia which I have downloaded via Pinterest. The relevant maps are repeated here with the Omani map showing the Waliat of al Wustah in red which suggest a tie up between the two regions by sea. The Seaports Of Jazan and Sur are of paramount importance in this regard... but more important is the entire subject of Saiid The Great of Zanzibar..without which we wouldn't be having this discussion!

Occasionally give away clues exist like the thick leather belt on Saudia examples or inscriptions on the Saudia weapon of the maker (In this case Ali al Mursi) and of the typical bunch of flowers and even on some at the thread earlier the emblem of Saudia Arabia crossed swords and palm trees in later editions. Some association with the local flower tribe is suggested since they wear the dagger but that is compelling but not proven.

It appears to my eye that the crown is more bulbous in the Saudia version, The T hilt shape more pronounced and the body of the scabbard thinner in appearance...

Omani silver.com attach some importance suggesting this being an Omani weapon thus the entire situation is very firmly on the table ... I suggest it is both... being originally al Wustah and transported perhaps with a silversmith from Omans Al Wustah region who may have settled in the Asir as Omanis moved to Zanzibar and its environs en masse in the 19th C ..The two weapons are virtually identical.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[A.alnakkas]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Salaams and as a way of updating this conundrum...I have a few pictures of various examples from Saudia which I have downloaded via Pinterest. The relevant maps are repeated here with the Omani map showing the Waliat of al Wustah in red which suggest a tie up between the two regions by sea. The Seaports Of Jazan and Sur are of paramount importance in this regard... but more important is the entire subject of Saiid The Great of Zanzibar..without which we wouldn't be having this discussion!

Occasionally give away clues exist like the thick leather belt on Saudia examples or inscriptions on the Saudia weapon of the maker (In this case Ali al Mursi) and of the typical bunch of flowers and even on some at the thread earlier the emblem of Saudia Arabia crossed swords and palm trees in later editions. Some association with the local flower tribe is suggested since they wear the dagger but that is compelling but not proven.

It appears to my eye that the crown is more bulbous in the Saudia version, The T hilt shape more pronounced and the body of the scabbard thinner in appearance...

Omani silver.com attach some importance suggesting this being an Omani weapon thus the entire situation is very firmly on the table ... I suggest it is both... being originally al Wustah and transported perhaps with a silversmith from Omans Al Wustah region who may have settled in the Asir as Omanis moved to Zanzibar and its environs en masse in the 19th C ..The two weapons are virtually identical.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

The inscription does not say Ali alMursi, but says Amal Ahmed bin Mousa, a famous Hasa craftsmanship whose family continued to work on arms including swords. :-)

Could you perhaps have who ever reads those Arabic inscriptions to try again?