Jambiya

Lew · 8th April 2005, 03:38 AM

Hi Aurangzeb

I have a jambiya much like yours but mine is an older one. I bought mine from Artzi's table at the Maryland show. Artzi thinks it's an old Yemen style jambiya and my friend Saleh who is from Yemen told me it is a style that is found along the border between Oman and Yemen. Here are some pics of my jambiya with a close up of the hilt. The silver is a good grade and is quite heavy. Your jambiya is quite nice and I like the amber hilt

Lew

Aurangzeb · 9th April 2005, 04:02 AM

Hi Louieblades!

Thanks for the help on my jambiya I.D. problem.My dagger is definatly no older than 1961.The coin on the hilt was an origenal part of the dagger not a later addition(it is firmly planted on there and nailed through the amber handle out the back where it is fasened with a silver stud in the shape of a flour.) The amber handle on it feels very nice in the hand and is very well carved,definatly not made for decoration!

The amber has only minor natural faults in it. The coin is an Muscat & Oman 5-Baisa depicting a dhow.

Question how are these held?I have read that they are held going down sugesting a downword stab but with a curved bade chould glance off and come back at the user.(beleive me accedent involving a curved razor knife and a block of soft wood at 10:00 at night is not fun!

)Or outward and is used in a slashing/stabbing motion like a scimitar slash?

Thanks again for the help!
P.S.-any typos are because I am typing this at 11:30 at night!

Lew · 9th April 2005, 04:44 AM

Hi Mark

Jambiyas are more for show today and a status symbol in many Arab countries. I guess it could be used as a dagger to slash or stab? The mid rib in the blade was used to stiffen the blade and it also acted as a armor piercer against chain mail but that was hundreds of years ago.

Lew

Aurangzeb · 9th April 2005, 01:06 PM

Hi Louieblades!

Thanks for all the help with my jambiya.I still like the fact that there are still craftsman in Yemen and Oman that practice the age old tradition of quality dagger/sword making.But I can say it must be slightly uncomfortable sitting down with one of these on the front of a belt!

Soon I will be adding my Turkish jambiya to this thread.

Thanks again for the help!

Jeff D · 9th April 2005, 04:26 PM

Hi Mark,

Is there any way to get a close up of the handle? Amber seems a unlikely material to use. I have heard of giraffe horn or hoof used which looks like amber (I think Derek posted a shotel with a similar grip). I have never seen this myself and wonder if anyone here who has, will comment.

Thanks
Jeff

Aurangzeb · 9th April 2005, 06:03 PM

Hi Jeff D !

Here are a couple of close-ups, both front and back of the Jambiya grip. Please see attached files.. Your comments are most welcomed and appreciated !

Sincerely,

Mark..

Rick · 9th April 2005, 06:58 PM

Genuine amber can sometimes be very hard to determine according to my friend who is a jeweler and a gemologist . Sometimes the only way to find out is a destructive test (in your case) by determining the specific gravity of the material , ie removing and stripping the hilt .

The hot pin test OTOH will tell you if it is plastic or horn and possibly amber (depending on its state) ; If it smells like plastic it is plastic, if it smells like burning hair it is most likely horn , if it smells piney (can't find a better word right now) it may be amber .

8th April 2005, 03:38 AM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi Aurangzeb I have a jambiya much like yours but mine is an older one. I bought mine from Artzi's table at the Maryland show. Artzi thinks it's an old Yemen style jambiya and my friend Saleh who is from Yemen told me it is a style that is found along the border between Oman and Yemen. Here are some pics of my jambiya with a close up of the hilt. The silver is a good grade and is quite heavy. Your jambiya is quite nice and I like the amber hilt Lew Attached Images

9th April 2005, 06:03 PM	#6
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Jambiya Handle Close-Ups Hi Jeff D ! Here are a couple of close-ups, both front and back of the Jambiya grip. Please see attached files.. Your comments are most welcomed and appreciated ! Sincerely, Mark.. Attached Images

9th April 2005, 04:02 AM	#2
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Hi Louieblades! Thanks for the help on my jambiya I.D. problem.My dagger is definatly no older than 1961.The coin on the hilt was an origenal part of the dagger not a later addition(it is firmly planted on there and nailed through the amber handle out the back where it is fasened with a silver stud in the shape of a flour.) The amber handle on it feels very nice in the hand and is very well carved,definatly not made for decoration! The amber has only minor natural faults in it. The coin is an Muscat & Oman 5-Baisa depicting a dhow. Question how are these held?I have read that they are held going down sugesting a downword stab but with a curved bade chould glance off and come back at the user.(beleive me accedent involving a curved razor knife and a block of soft wood at 10:00 at night is not fun! )Or outward and is used in a slashing/stabbing motion like a scimitar slash? Thanks again for the help! P.S.-any typos are because I am typing this at 11:30 at night!

9th April 2005, 04:44 AM	#3
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi Mark Jambiyas are more for show today and a status symbol in many Arab countries. I guess it could be used as a dagger to slash or stab? The mid rib in the blade was used to stiffen the blade and it also acted as a armor piercer against chain mail but that was hundreds of years ago. Lew

9th April 2005, 01:06 PM	#4
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Hi Louieblades! Thanks for all the help with my jambiya.I still like the fact that there are still craftsman in Yemen and Oman that practice the age old tradition of quality dagger/sword making.But I can say it must be slightly uncomfortable sitting down with one of these on the front of a belt! Soon I will be adding my Turkish jambiya to this thread. Thanks again for the help!

9th April 2005, 04:26 PM	#5
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	Hi Mark, Is there any way to get a close up of the handle? Amber seems a unlikely material to use. I have heard of giraffe horn or hoof used which looks like amber (I think Derek posted a shotel with a similar grip). I have never seen this myself and wonder if anyone here who has, will comment. Thanks Jeff

9th April 2005, 06:58 PM	#7
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,349	Genuine amber can sometimes be very hard to determine according to my friend who is a jeweler and a gemologist . Sometimes the only way to find out is a destructive test (in your case) by determining the specific gravity of the material , ie removing and stripping the hilt . The hot pin test OTOH will tell you if it is plastic or horn and possibly amber (depending on its state) ; If it smells like plastic it is plastic, if it smells like burning hair it is most likely horn , if it smells piney (can't find a better word right now) it may be amber .