INDIAN JAMBIYA (JUMBEEA, JUMBIYAH)

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Originally Posted by Cathey

Hi Guys

I picked up this Jambiya a number of years ago and although the condition of the blade is down, I was particularly attracted to the Chevron design on the blade which I had only seen on Tulwars until this Jambiya surfaced. Given the chevron blade I have assumed this Jambiya to be Indian or Indo Persian.

Date : Circa 1700 (18th Century)
Overall Length: 39.3 cm 15 ½” in scabbard 38.1 cm 13 “ dagger only
Blade length: 25.8 cm 10 1/8”
Blade widest point: 5.1 cm 2”
Hilt length: 13 cm 5 1/8”
Marks, etc. faint traces of chevron decoration on blade

Description: JAMBIYA
Indian with heavily damascened Hilt with floral design. Blade has gentle central ridge in the Indian and or Persian style and has faint traces of chevron decoration. Scabbard is wood covered in silk with gilt mounts in a floral design.

Can anyone provide me with more information on how the chevron pattern is created in the steel and when and where it first came into use.


References:
Pant, Gayatri Nath, Indian Arms And Armour Volume Ii (Swords And Daggers) Pp 96,158,160.


Cheers Cathey and Rex

It is hard to tell from the photos but from what I can see the gold decoration looks quite new compared to the wear on the blade and scabbard......or is the gold worn and I just can not see it?

From Jim McDougall

The chevron pattern is said by Pant to be termed 'ganga-yamuni' for India's two famous rivers, the Ganges (white water) and the Yamuni (dark water).The design is accomplished by welding light damascus steel, and darker iron in the chevron pattern signifying these rivers (Pant.p.96).
Rawson alternatively notes the technique using wax resist on mechanical damask blade before steel was watered (pl.4). Although he suggests this method was often used in the 19th c. the blade on the example he shows he states is 17th c.

From Manouchehr M.

Please note that Chevron blade is still being made and as you know it is a type of mechanical damascus blade. There are two types of cehvron blades:

1) Either the whole blade is of mechanical damascus and then different parts are etched differently.

2) Two types of steel (high carbon mono and mechanical damscus) are welded together.

Please note that in the knife industry many knifemakers in Europe and the USA have made this pattern on their modern knives. Besides there are still being made in India. I recently handled a tulwar with such pattern which was made recently in India.

One more possible type.

One more type...with pieces of wootz damascus and pattern welded steel welded together (a blade like this would be worth a small fortune). This type is supposed to be the rarest is of Chevron patterned Blades.

Another view on the terms used for this type pf pattern.

"Ganga Jamuna" is used to describe the decoration on hilts and other objects which are decorated in Silver and Gold together. The contrast of Silver and Gold leads to the term 'Ganga' and 'Jamua' (referring to the two sacred rivers of India). "Lehariya" in contrast is used to describe the chevron patterned blades. The above terms are still used in India. If you were to refer to a chevron patterned blade as "Ganga Jamuni", there would be a lot confusion .

The term "Lehariya" is not so common for the simple reason that these blades are quite uncommon and rarely seen. So you will find that only Sword dealers and certain people with knowledge of weapons are familiar with the term. The term "Ganga Jamuna" on the other hand is quite common as it is used by the Jeweller community too. It refers to a style of work in which both silver and Gold have been used in contrast....the objects could be Hilts, Hooka's, Vases, Bowls etc. etc. which have this type of decoration. The Jeweller community regularly deals in these type of objects and are hence familiar with that term.