Kurdish Jambiya?

blue lander · 22nd September 2014, 07:54 PM

At least that's what I assume it is. There aren't any decorations on the scabbard and there's a belt loop soldered to the back, which doesn't seem right. The blade shape is strange as well. I'm not sure if it's a carelessly made blade that was never meant to be used (souvenir/wall hanger), or if it's a "real" blade that's been used and ground down so much that it looks odd. It does have a raised spine in the middle but it's very slight. The edges are pretty sharp.

I haven't poked the white parts of the hilt with a hot needle yet, but I assume it's bone. It could be plastic though, it's awfully shiny.

spiral · 22nd September 2014, 10:19 PM

The white parts are definitely bone, one can clearly see the haversian canals...

Some types of old plastic will ignite in an seriously explosive manner if you set a hot needle in them... Some wont even melt...

And many materials will always bear the mark of a test that proves nothing usually...

Seeing if something smells when it burns is a bizarre test, that collectors shouldn't realy be using...

Your eyes can tall you more than trying to burn an antique will. :eek

spiral :

Kubur · 23rd September 2014, 10:15 AM

Hi!

It is bone.
And it is not Kurdish, but pure Syrian (Arab).
Despite the fact that they have Kurdish in Syria, as you can see on TV...
Origin: Damascus area or the South...

Regards
Kubur

blue lander · 23rd September 2014, 03:45 PM

Fair point. Do you think it's actually an antique, though? That belt loop just seems out of place on a Jambiya, I thought they usually tucked them into their belts.

Oliver Pinchot · 23rd September 2014, 04:17 PM

I agree with Spiral, the center section of the grip is bone.
This dagger could have been made in the first quarter of the 20th century, possibly reusing an older blade. It has seen a lot of use over an extended period; the belt loop was added at some point, or the scabbard was entirely replaced. In either case, it was likely done between the second and third quarter of the 20th century. It is also possible, even likely, that the dagger simply dates around the WWII era.

spiral · 23rd September 2014, 04:30 PM

Id guess from ww1 to ww2 period, but that's just a guess.

Shibrya The Bedouin daggers from around Syria, Palestine, Jordan etc also often have identical soldered belt loops.

Perhaps there's a connection there?

spiral

Kubur · 23rd September 2014, 05:32 PM

Please, look this thread
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=749
I will post the photo of mine tomorrow...
I agree, first part of 20th c.

blue lander · 23rd September 2014, 07:15 PM

Thanks both. The inside of the belt loop is covered in some sort of white paste. I can scrape it off with my fingernail, so I think that paste would be gone if anybody had ever ran a belt through it. Maybe it was a later addition as suggested.

I also noticed the very tip of the blade is all chewed up, similar to what happens when you try to use the tip of your pocketknife as a makeshift screwdriver. Maybe it served as a utility knife.

spiral · 23rd September 2014, 08:02 PM

The white paste is probably just brass cleaner, badly cleaned off.

Spiral

22nd September 2014, 07:54 PM	#1
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	Kurdish Jambiya? At least that's what I assume it is. There aren't any decorations on the scabbard and there's a belt loop soldered to the back, which doesn't seem right. The blade shape is strange as well. I'm not sure if it's a carelessly made blade that was never meant to be used (souvenir/wall hanger), or if it's a "real" blade that's been used and ground down so much that it looks odd. It does have a raised spine in the middle but it's very slight. The edges are pretty sharp. I haven't poked the white parts of the hilt with a hot needle yet, but I assume it's bone. It could be plastic though, it's awfully shiny. Attached Images

22nd September 2014, 10:19 PM	#2
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	The white parts are definitely bone, one can clearly see the haversian canals... Some types of old plastic will ignite in an seriously explosive manner if you set a hot needle in them... Some wont even melt... And many materials will always bear the mark of a test that proves nothing usually... Seeing if something smells when it burns is a bizarre test, that collectors shouldn't realy be using... Your eyes can tall you more than trying to burn an antique will. :eek spiral :

23rd September 2014, 10:15 AM	#3
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Hi! It is bone. And it is not Kurdish, but pure Syrian (Arab). Despite the fact that they have Kurdish in Syria, as you can see on TV... Origin: Damascus area or the South... Regards Kubur

23rd September 2014, 03:45 PM	#4
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	Fair point. Do you think it's actually an antique, though? That belt loop just seems out of place on a Jambiya, I thought they usually tucked them into their belts.

23rd September 2014, 04:17 PM	#5
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 457	I agree with Spiral, the center section of the grip is bone. This dagger could have been made in the first quarter of the 20th century, possibly reusing an older blade. It has seen a lot of use over an extended period; the belt loop was added at some point, or the scabbard was entirely replaced. In either case, it was likely done between the second and third quarter of the 20th century. It is also possible, even likely, that the dagger simply dates around the WWII era.

23rd September 2014, 04:30 PM	#6
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Id guess from ww1 to ww2 period, but that's just a guess. Shibrya The Bedouin daggers from around Syria, Palestine, Jordan etc also often have identical soldered belt loops. Perhaps there's a connection there? spiral

23rd September 2014, 05:32 PM	#7
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Please, look this thread http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=749 I will post the photo of mine tomorrow... I agree, first part of 20th c.

23rd September 2014, 07:15 PM	#8
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	Thanks both. The inside of the belt loop is covered in some sort of white paste. I can scrape it off with my fingernail, so I think that paste would be gone if anybody had ever ran a belt through it. Maybe it was a later addition as suggested. I also noticed the very tip of the blade is all chewed up, similar to what happens when you try to use the tip of your pocketknife as a makeshift screwdriver. Maybe it served as a utility knife.

23rd September 2014, 08:02 PM	#9
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	The white paste is probably just brass cleaner, badly cleaned off. Spiral