Albanian Jambiya

Aurangzeb · 5th December 2006, 04:52 AM

Hello All!

I recently bought this nice Albanian Jambiya at a local gun/knife show. I wanted one of these for a while and is now my favorite pice in my collection! It is good quality with a nice walrus ivory hilt and good blade. I was told by the person I bought it from said it might be watered steel but it is too darkend by age to tell. Should I clean it up and see if it is watered steel? How would I go about doing that? It is about 14" overall with a 8 1/2" blade and a 5" hilt. It had a small crack in one side of the hilt that I needed to repair with glue but other than that it is very sturdy with no loosness in the blade and the hilt is in good condition exept for the already mentioned crack. I think it is probaly 19th century, could anyone pin it down a little better? All comments are welcome!

Mark...

TVV · 5th December 2006, 05:07 AM

Nice jambiya Mark, congratulations. I think you should deffinitely check the blade. First you need to clean it, then wash it in warm water, dry with a towel and etch it. Vinegar diluted in hot water has worked for me. After you have etched it to a satisfying result, wash again with soap (to neutralize the acid, this is important), and then dry again with a towel and do not apply any oil.
You may want to search the forum for older threads on how to go about this, and I am sure you will get plenty of other opinions here too.
Regards,
Teodor

Aurangzeb · 6th December 2006, 10:34 PM

No other comments?

Valjhun · 6th December 2006, 10:49 PM

Beautifull thing... A most typical example of albanian jambiya. Gorgeus marine ivory hilt and probably a damascus blade. If you intend to sell it search no further, just contact me.

)

Battara · 7th December 2006, 11:08 PM

I have grown to llike Albanian jambiya like this. I think the blade will come out wonderfully and I would not be surprised that it is wootz. Blade looks complete, not cut down. Congrats!

Aurangzeb · 6th January 2007, 06:09 AM

Here are the picture of the blade a pttern is there but it only came out slightly. Are these jambiya's found only in Albania or are thary also found in areas like Kosovo and Montenegro? Help Please!

Mark...

Emanuel · 6th January 2007, 05:30 PM

Hi Mark,

Very nice piece you have there. I have an article called "Head-Hunting in the Balkans", Durham M. Edith, Man Vol23 (1923):19-21
It mentions a practice in Montenegro of taking ennemy heads as late as the turn of the 20th century. Apparently they used "the short and heavy 'hanzhar'" never for stabbing but to sever the head at one blow.
This is confusing because I assume hanzhar to be "khanjar" which is the jambiya you're showing...which is a stabbing weapon. I think such a khanjar as yours may have been used in Kosovo and Montenegro, possibly due to Albanian presence. Now if you look at the Serbian knives, they're very different...almost like small yataghan knives...those could be used to sever heads maybe.
I can send you the article if you're interest.
Regards,
Emanuel

Battara · 8th January 2007, 04:44 PM

For your khanjar blade you may want to keep on etching until the pattern comes out. IT takes time and effort and several attempts.

Aurangzeb · 13th January 2007, 05:27 PM

Hello Manolo!

I would like you to send me the article please my E-mail adress is below. Thanks! I think that these khanjars can sever a head so these might very well be the ones rtefered too in the article.

badikpinang@yahoo.com.my

Mark...

Aurangzeb · 20th January 2007, 04:08 PM

This question is a bit off topic but does anyone have any good photos of Albanian traditional attire? All I can find on the web are either blury or small. Thanks.

Mark...

Yatagan440 · 24th January 2007, 07:08 PM

Hi Manolo

Is it possible to forward the article to me as well? nvujas@yahoo.com

Would very much appreciate it.

Thanks!

5th December 2006, 04:52 AM	#1
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Albanian Jambiya Hello All! I recently bought this nice Albanian Jambiya at a local gun/knife show. I wanted one of these for a while and is now my favorite pice in my collection! It is good quality with a nice walrus ivory hilt and good blade. I was told by the person I bought it from said it might be watered steel but it is too darkend by age to tell. Should I clean it up and see if it is watered steel? How would I go about doing that? It is about 14" overall with a 8 1/2" blade and a 5" hilt. It had a small crack in one side of the hilt that I needed to repair with glue but other than that it is very sturdy with no loosness in the blade and the hilt is in good condition exept for the already mentioned crack. I think it is probaly 19th century, could anyone pin it down a little better? All comments are welcome! Mark... Attached Images

6th January 2007, 06:09 AM	#6
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Here are the picture of the blade a pttern is there but it only came out slightly. Are these jambiya's found only in Albania or are thary also found in areas like Kosovo and Montenegro? Help Please! Mark... Attached Images

13th January 2007, 05:27 PM	#9
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Hello Manolo! I would like you to send me the article please my E-mail adress is below. Thanks! I think that these khanjars can sever a head so these might very well be the ones rtefered too in the article. badikpinang@yahoo.com.my Mark... Last edited by Aurangzeb; 13th January 2007 at 09:46 PM.

5th December 2006, 05:07 AM	#2
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,622	Nice jambiya Mark, congratulations. I think you should deffinitely check the blade. First you need to clean it, then wash it in warm water, dry with a towel and etch it. Vinegar diluted in hot water has worked for me. After you have etched it to a satisfying result, wash again with soap (to neutralize the acid, this is important), and then dry again with a towel and do not apply any oil. You may want to search the forum for older threads on how to go about this, and I am sure you will get plenty of other opinions here too. Regards, Teodor

6th December 2006, 10:34 PM	#3
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	No other comments?

6th December 2006, 10:49 PM	#4
Valjhun Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 692	Beautifull thing... A most typical example of albanian jambiya. Gorgeus marine ivory hilt and probably a damascus blade. If you intend to sell it search no further, just contact me. )

7th December 2006, 11:08 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	I have grown to llike Albanian jambiya like this. I think the blade will come out wonderfully and I would not be surprised that it is wootz. Blade looks complete, not cut down. Congrats!

6th January 2007, 05:30 PM	#7
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hi Mark, Very nice piece you have there. I have an article called "Head-Hunting in the Balkans", Durham M. Edith, Man Vol23 (1923):19-21 It mentions a practice in Montenegro of taking ennemy heads as late as the turn of the 20th century. Apparently they used "the short and heavy 'hanzhar'" never for stabbing but to sever the head at one blow. This is confusing because I assume hanzhar to be "khanjar" which is the jambiya you're showing...which is a stabbing weapon. I think such a khanjar as yours may have been used in Kosovo and Montenegro, possibly due to Albanian presence. Now if you look at the Serbian knives, they're very different...almost like small yataghan knives...those could be used to sever heads maybe. I can send you the article if you're interest. Regards, Emanuel

8th January 2007, 04:44 PM	#8
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	For your khanjar blade you may want to keep on etching until the pattern comes out. IT takes time and effort and several attempts.

20th January 2007, 04:08 PM	#10
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	This question is a bit off topic but does anyone have any good photos of Albanian traditional attire? All I can find on the web are either blury or small. Thanks. Mark...

24th January 2007, 07:08 PM	#11
Yatagan440 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 6	Hi Manolo Is it possible to forward the article to me as well? nvujas@yahoo.com Would very much appreciate it. Thanks!