Syrian Khandjar for translation please

G. Mansfield · 7th March 2018, 07:30 AM

I received this beautiful khanjar in last week,originating from Syria, I believe Damascus produced. Quite well made, heavy, and razor sharp. Blade with colored inserts, scroll work, and untranslated Arabic. The hilt composed of dark horn (goat?), bone, brass tacks and strips. Aqua green colored dot inserts and eggshell blue strips. The sheath is honey brown and is inscribed on the reverse but very faint and hard to capture through a photo. In near complete condition, dated 1952.

Overall Length w/ sheath: 9 3/4" (approx. 24.8cm)
Overall Length: 9 1/4" (approx. 23.5cm)
Blade Length: 5" (approx. 12.7cm)

Can somebody please translate the hilt and blade? Looking to hopefully find out a maker's name or area of production. Attaching photos of some other examples in the collection for comparison.

Best,
-Geoff

G. Mansfield · 7th March 2018, 07:32 AM

More photos attached for translation..

Kubur · 7th March 2018, 10:49 AM

Hi Geoffrey,

If you search for " magdali ", you'll find a lot...

or Majdali,

they are druze daggers.

Kubur

motan · 7th March 2018, 02:26 PM

Hi Geoffrey,
As Kubur wrote, this is a Syrian dagger from the type Majdali or Magdali type, named after the Druze village of Majdal Shams on Jabal al Sheikh, or mount Hermon.
A very nice example. I can read 1952 in Arabic numbers and a friend told me it is signed Ali Hussain. It is a little different than classic types made in Majdal Shams itself-you can see those in Artzi's site if you type "magdali" in the search box-so I am not sure about the provenance. It is always difficult with these daggers except when the village name is engraved on the blade.
Eytan

G. Mansfield · 19th March 2018, 05:12 PM

Thank you Kubur and Eytan for your information and translation.

G. Mansfield · 14th May 2019, 07:18 AM

This one was purchased a few weeks ago and I am seeking a translation for another Majdali dagger. It is a bit rough with some losses and damage but nevertheless a good early example. Size is as...

Overall Length w/ sheath: 9 ½” (24.1cm)
Hilt & Blade Length: 9 ¼” (23.5cm)
Blade Length: 4 ¾” (12.1cm)

The blade is plain and strongly curved. I am unsure about the sheath. It seems to be a later replacement as it is metal with "100% PURE" and "495/44" on the back and may have been painted on the front at one point with most now missing. Any help with translations would be appreciated. Thanks in advance

Geoff

motan · 18th May 2019, 12:00 PM

Hi Geoffrey,
You are right. This is a better and early example, because it is authentic and not made for the bazaar. The dog-leg shape of the blade, the brass plates on the hilt and the lead or tin stars are typical for daggers made around 1900, give or take 15 years. They are not uncommon because they were widely used in Southern Syria. I will ask a friend for the translation. The 2nd hand sheet of the scabbard is a common phenomenon, mostly from between the wars. It could well be a replacement because most had scabbard of thin brass sheet over wooden core, and these don't last.

motan · 18th May 2019, 03:55 PM

Hi again,
The writing on the hilt says A'mal A'waad = the work of A'waad = made by..
A'waad is a quite common name.

7th March 2018, 07:30 AM	#1
G. Mansfield Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 83	Syrian Khandjar for translation please I received this beautiful khanjar in last week,originating from Syria, I believe Damascus produced. Quite well made, heavy, and razor sharp. Blade with colored inserts, scroll work, and untranslated Arabic. The hilt composed of dark horn (goat?), bone, brass tacks and strips. Aqua green colored dot inserts and eggshell blue strips. The sheath is honey brown and is inscribed on the reverse but very faint and hard to capture through a photo. In near complete condition, dated 1952. Overall Length w/ sheath: 9 3/4" (approx. 24.8cm) Overall Length: 9 1/4" (approx. 23.5cm) Blade Length: 5" (approx. 12.7cm) Can somebody please translate the hilt and blade? Looking to hopefully find out a maker's name or area of production. Attaching photos of some other examples in the collection for comparison. Best, -Geoff Attached Images

7th March 2018, 07:32 AM	#2
G. Mansfield Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 83	More photos attached for translation.. Attached Images

14th May 2019, 07:18 AM	#6
G. Mansfield Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 83	Seeking another translation for another Majdali dagger This one was purchased a few weeks ago and I am seeking a translation for another Majdali dagger. It is a bit rough with some losses and damage but nevertheless a good early example. Size is as... Overall Length w/ sheath: 9 ½” (24.1cm) Hilt & Blade Length: 9 ¼” (23.5cm) Blade Length: 4 ¾” (12.1cm) The blade is plain and strongly curved. I am unsure about the sheath. It seems to be a later replacement as it is metal with "100% PURE" and "495/44" on the back and may have been painted on the front at one point with most now missing. Any help with translations would be appreciated. Thanks in advance Geoff Attached Images

7th March 2018, 10:49 AM	#3
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Hi Geoffrey, If you search for " magdali ", you'll find a lot... or Majdali, they are druze daggers. Kubur

7th March 2018, 02:26 PM	#4
motan Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Jerusalem Posts: 274	Hi Geoffrey, As Kubur wrote, this is a Syrian dagger from the type Majdali or Magdali type, named after the Druze village of Majdal Shams on Jabal al Sheikh, or mount Hermon. A very nice example. I can read 1952 in Arabic numbers and a friend told me it is signed Ali Hussain. It is a little different than classic types made in Majdal Shams itself-you can see those in Artzi's site if you type "magdali" in the search box-so I am not sure about the provenance. It is always difficult with these daggers except when the village name is engraved on the blade. Eytan

19th March 2018, 05:12 PM	#5
G. Mansfield Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 83	Thank you Kubur and Eytan for your information and translation.

18th May 2019, 12:00 PM	#7
motan Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Jerusalem Posts: 274	Hi Geoffrey, You are right. This is a better and early example, because it is authentic and not made for the bazaar. The dog-leg shape of the blade, the brass plates on the hilt and the lead or tin stars are typical for daggers made around 1900, give or take 15 years. They are not uncommon because they were widely used in Southern Syria. I will ask a friend for the translation. The 2nd hand sheet of the scabbard is a common phenomenon, mostly from between the wars. It could well be a replacement because most had scabbard of thin brass sheet over wooden core, and these don't last.

18th May 2019, 03:55 PM	#8
motan Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Jerusalem Posts: 274	Hi again, The writing on the hilt says A'mal A'waad = the work of A'waad = made by.. A'waad is a quite common name.