Large Jambiya for comment

kahnjar1 · 12th August 2009, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Hey Stu.
What a beast that is!
I'd love to get 'hands on' with it and feel what the weight and balance is like.
Congratulations. Hope you'll post some more pictures when it arrives.

Regards
Gene

You will have to make a trip to the "colonies" at some stage. Will certainly post more pics when it arrives.
Stu

graeme gt · 12th August 2009, 10:47 PM

Hi Stuart ,i think it is Wahabite i have one very similar will post pics tomorrow when battery is charged .

kahnjar1 · 13th August 2009, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by graeme gt

Hi Stuart ,i think it is Wahabite i have one very similar will post pics tomorrow when battery is charged .

Hi Graeme, Wahabite is only one of the tribes who use/used these big blades. There are many West Arabian tribes who used them I have always regarded the term Wahabite as one used by collectors to describe this type. They are more correctly called either Sabak or Sabiki. Refer Elgood Arabian Arms and Armor.
Regards Stuart

graeme gt · 13th August 2009, 07:51 PM

Hi Stuart ,i bow to your superior knowledge here are my two hope you find them of intrest cheers G .

TVV · 13th August 2009, 07:55 PM

Very nice acquistion Stuart!

Graeme, the lower and smaller one of your jambiyas has been identified as coming from Asir, which prior to the Saudi conquest, was part of Yemen. So actually, this jambiya likely belonged to someone whow as resisting the wahabits. Assuming of course it dates back to the first half of the 20th century.

regards,
Teodor

graeme gt · 13th August 2009, 08:02 PM

Big one is 26" long

Atlantia · 13th August 2009, 10:38 PM

Interesting contrast between these similar pieces.

I notice Stuarts does not have the central rib, and I've been trying to see if the blade has a thickened tip?
Also Graemes, whilst having the central rib, has incised decoration cut into it, similar to that on Stu's.

Are these two similar but distinct 'styles' indicative of specific respective areas, or timeframes, or are their differences purely 'coincidental' manufacturing choices of their makers?

kahnjar1 · 14th August 2009, 07:48 AM

Hi Graeme and Gene,
The lower one is very similar to one of mine, which according to Elgood is from the Asir/Hijaz region, and dating to the 20th century, Bani Malik and Bani Shahr Tribes.
The upper one appears to be from the Hijaz region, and my guess would be 20th century.
As far as the blades of these particular long bladed Jambiyas are concerned, I have always believed that the flat blades are of earlier vintage than the ribbed ones, but that is only my opinion based on the viewed age of the total piece. I have used as "rule of thumb" that flat blade is 19th or very early 20th century and ribbed a little later. I have nothing concrete to base this on other than gut instinct. Perhaps others here can elaborate.
Nice pieces Graeme.

Regards Stuart

13th August 2009, 07:51 PM	#4
graeme gt Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 97	Hi Stuart ,i bow to your superior knowledge here are my two hope you find them of intrest cheers G . Attached Images

13th August 2009, 08:02 PM	#6
graeme gt Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 97	Big one is 26" long Attached Images

12th August 2009, 10:47 PM	#2
graeme gt Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 97	Hi Stuart ,i think it is Wahabite i have one very similar will post pics tomorrow when battery is charged .

13th August 2009, 07:55 PM	#5
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,671	Very nice acquistion Stuart! Graeme, the lower and smaller one of your jambiyas has been identified as coming from Asir, which prior to the Saudi conquest, was part of Yemen. So actually, this jambiya likely belonged to someone whow as resisting the wahabits. Assuming of course it dates back to the first half of the 20th century. regards, Teodor

13th August 2009, 10:38 PM	#7
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Interesting contrast between these similar pieces. I notice Stuarts does not have the central rib, and I've been trying to see if the blade has a thickened tip? Also Graemes, whilst having the central rib, has incised decoration cut into it, similar to that on Stu's. Are these two similar but distinct 'styles' indicative of specific respective areas, or timeframes, or are their differences purely 'coincidental' manufacturing choices of their makers?

14th August 2009, 07:48 AM	#8
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,806	Hi Graeme and Gene, The lower one is very similar to one of mine, which according to Elgood is from the Asir/Hijaz region, and dating to the 20th century, Bani Malik and Bani Shahr Tribes. The upper one appears to be from the Hijaz region, and my guess would be 20th century. As far as the blades of these particular long bladed Jambiyas are concerned, I have always believed that the flat blades are of earlier vintage than the ribbed ones, but that is only my opinion based on the viewed age of the total piece. I have used as "rule of thumb" that flat blade is 19th or very early 20th century and ribbed a little later. I have nothing concrete to base this on other than gut instinct. Perhaps others here can elaborate. Nice pieces Graeme. Regards Stuart