Thouma Jambiya for Comment

A.alnakkas · 6th April 2017, 07:19 PM

A wonderful piece. Certainly up there when it comes to quality

kai · 6th April 2017, 08:19 PM

Hello Teodor,

The translucence is not decisive, for a positive identification we'd need a higher magnification of the end grain to see the single hairs.

I agree with Ibrahiim though that this is really rhino horn: This type of reticulate cracking where the end grain is exposed is very typical for rhino (and, of course, this material is quite common for old examples of these daggers compared to many other hilts).

Regards,
Kai

Steve · 7th April 2017, 01:53 AM

Hi Teodor,
Nice thouma. The stamp on the scabbard identifies the silver maker as "Saleem Bousani" and that its "nusfi" ( half silver).
It would be about 150 years old.
It looks to me that the dagger has a rhino hilt.

Steve

TVV · 7th April 2017, 04:32 PM

Gentlemen,

Thank you so much for your kind words. I honestly did not expect this jambiya to be that old.

Steve,

Thank you for providing the maker's ID. I re-read your book last night - given current events, this is probably as close as I will ever get to visiting Sana'a.

Regards,
Teodor

6th April 2017, 07:19 PM	#1
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	A wonderful piece. Certainly up there when it comes to quality

6th April 2017, 08:19 PM	#2
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Teodor, The translucence is not decisive, for a positive identification we'd need a higher magnification of the end grain to see the single hairs. I agree with Ibrahiim though that this is really rhino horn: This type of reticulate cracking where the end grain is exposed is very typical for rhino (and, of course, this material is quite common for old examples of these daggers compared to many other hilts). Regards, Kai

7th April 2017, 01:53 AM	#3
Steve Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Sydney Posts: 58	Hi Teodor, Nice thouma. The stamp on the scabbard identifies the silver maker as "Saleem Bousani" and that its "nusfi" ( half silver). It would be about 150 years old. It looks to me that the dagger has a rhino hilt. Steve

7th April 2017, 04:32 PM	#4
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,660	Gentlemen, Thank you so much for your kind words. I honestly did not expect this jambiya to be that old. Steve, Thank you for providing the maker's ID. I re-read your book last night - given current events, this is probably as close as I will ever get to visiting Sana'a. Regards, Teodor