SYRIAN OR TURKISH ??

weapons 27 · 15th December 2014, 01:33 PM

I think has a Syrian knife or Turkish? What is your opinion? I think 19th?
It measures 30cm long, 17cm blade
the handle is bone with inlays of brass, very sharp blade has a central Ridge...the scabbard is brass.

THANK TO ALL

ALEX · 15th December 2014, 05:24 PM

Definitely Syrian. Very late 20th century. The blade could be older, hard to tell.

VANDOO · 15th December 2014, 06:34 PM

A NICE VARIATION OF A SYRIAN DAGGER. THESE USUALLY HAVE A FLAT SLIGHTLY CURVED DOUBLE EDGED BLADE. STRAIGHT BLADES ARE NOT THE NORM THIS TYPE BLADE IS DESIGNED TO MAKE A WOUND WHAT STAYS OPEN. THE HANDLE LOOKS MORE SUBDUED AND ELEGANT THAN USUAL NO COLORFUL PLASTIC OR MOTHER OF PEARL, ECT. THE WIRE WRAP AT THE SCABBARD TIP IS NOT THE USUAL TRADITION AND ALSO POINTS TO MORE RECENT MANUFACTURE. THE TWO THIN HANGING RINGS ON THE SCABBARD FURTHER POINT TO MORE RECENT MANUFACTURE.

Kubur · 15th December 2014, 09:02 PM

Turkish + Syrian = Ottoman Syria
:-)
Are you sure that is not Lebanese? mid-20th?

ariel · 16th December 2014, 01:24 AM

Definitely Syrian:-)
The handle is a dead giveaway of the style peculiar to the Druze village Majjal Shams.

weapons 27 · 16th December 2014, 05:10 PM

Thank you to all for this information

DaveA · 16th December 2014, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

Definitely Syrian:-)
The handle is a dead giveaway of the style peculiar to the Druze village Majjal Shams.

Hello Ariel,

With the respectful spirit of learning, I am curious what about this knife tells you with such certainty that it is from Majdal Shams? Do you mean very recent (last 20 or 30 years)?

I ask because this jambiya is totally unlike the three pre-WWII era Majdali jambiya I have in my own collection (see pictures of two, attached). The hilt doesn't seem nearly flat enough, nor is the decoration at all similar.

I would have guessed northern Syria; definitely not southern/Damascus style.

Best,

Dave A.

15th December 2014, 01:33 PM	#1
weapons 27 Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 462	SYRIAN OR TURKISH ?? I think has a Syrian knife or Turkish? What is your opinion? I think 19th? It measures 30cm long, 17cm blade the handle is bone with inlays of brass, very sharp blade has a central Ridge...the scabbard is brass. THANK TO ALL Attached Images

15th December 2014, 05:24 PM	#2
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Definitely Syrian. Very late 20th century. The blade could be older, hard to tell.

15th December 2014, 06:34 PM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A NICE VARIATION OF A SYRIAN DAGGER. THESE USUALLY HAVE A FLAT SLIGHTLY CURVED DOUBLE EDGED BLADE. STRAIGHT BLADES ARE NOT THE NORM THIS TYPE BLADE IS DESIGNED TO MAKE A WOUND WHAT STAYS OPEN. THE HANDLE LOOKS MORE SUBDUED AND ELEGANT THAN USUAL NO COLORFUL PLASTIC OR MOTHER OF PEARL, ECT. THE WIRE WRAP AT THE SCABBARD TIP IS NOT THE USUAL TRADITION AND ALSO POINTS TO MORE RECENT MANUFACTURE. THE TWO THIN HANGING RINGS ON THE SCABBARD FURTHER POINT TO MORE RECENT MANUFACTURE.

15th December 2014, 09:02 PM	#4
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Turkish + Syrian = Ottoman Syria :-) Are you sure that is not Lebanese? mid-20th?

16th December 2014, 01:24 AM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Definitely Syrian:-) The handle is a dead giveaway of the style peculiar to the Druze village Majjal Shams.

16th December 2014, 05:10 PM	#6
weapons 27 Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 462	Thank you to all for this information