Shula?????

Henk · 30th March 2006, 12:55 PM

I picked up a dagger attached to a belt. I already found a threat where this kind of dagger appeared as a shula from Morroco.
Any ideas or comments?

RobT · 31st March 2006, 01:11 AM

Hi Henk,
That's a really nice piece. I don't know if it is a shula or not. It certainly doesn't look like my shula or any of the others that I have seen but the red and blue leather wrap around the sheath looks exactly like what's on my Wahabiti jambiya.
Sincerely,
RobT

Emanuel · 31st March 2006, 02:27 PM

Hello Henk,

Very interesting dagger! Looking at my own shula, this one seems very different. The scabbard and hilt do look like those of the Omani and Saudi jambiya, could this be custom made for the Arabian market?
Since this one is wrapped into a belt I'm wondering whether other shula were worn in the same way. Mine has two leather loops in the scabbard, possibly for a baldric to be hanged across the shoulder. How thick is the blade?
All the best,
Emanuel

Henk · 31st March 2006, 08:11 PM

Hello Emanuel,

The blade is 3 mm thick, sturdy and sharp.
I think it is very good possible that other shula where worn in this way. It is mounted in the way the jambiya is attached to the belt. I don't know if in Morocco the daggers are worn in this way.
The scabbard and hilt have the look of those jambiya's. My feeling is that it isn't from Morocco but an arabian dagger.

Just like RobT said, is it a shula or not?

Rick · 31st March 2006, 10:22 PM

It is unlike any shula I have seen so far ; the decoration looks more Omani/Yemeni than typical Moroccan work .
All the shula blades I have seen so far are not unfullered and double edged their whole length .

Emanuel · 1st April 2006, 01:12 AM

Hello again,

I found the following at Oriental-Arms http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/photos.php?id=9
Stylistically it shares many elements with yours Henk. Very similar work on the scabbard, but the hilt is different. Perhaps yours is such a type of Wahabite dagger, but not a Moroccan shula.
What are the materials used?

Henk · 1st April 2006, 01:51 PM

Hello Emanuel,

Thanks for the link. My dagger has stylistic compatible elements. The red "stone" on the scabbard is similar as well. It could be a whahabite yambiya dagger. My blade, although smaller has the same curve. The tang of the blade is covered with two wooden scales. The tang remain visible and the hilt is covered with silver. The scabbard is silver as well. If I clean the piece, I have a shiny silver whahabite dagger mounted on a belt.

30th March 2006, 12:55 PM	#1
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Shula????? I picked up a dagger attached to a belt. I already found a threat where this kind of dagger appeared as a shula from Morroco. Any ideas or comments? Attached Images

31st March 2006, 01:11 AM	#2
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 474	Wahabiti Influence? Hi Henk, That's a really nice piece. I don't know if it is a shula or not. It certainly doesn't look like my shula or any of the others that I have seen but the red and blue leather wrap around the sheath looks exactly like what's on my Wahabiti jambiya. Sincerely, RobT

31st March 2006, 02:27 PM	#3
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hello Henk, Very interesting dagger! Looking at my own shula, this one seems very different. The scabbard and hilt do look like those of the Omani and Saudi jambiya, could this be custom made for the Arabian market? Since this one is wrapped into a belt I'm wondering whether other shula were worn in the same way. Mine has two leather loops in the scabbard, possibly for a baldric to be hanged across the shoulder. How thick is the blade? All the best, Emanuel

31st March 2006, 08:11 PM	#4
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Hello Emanuel, The blade is 3 mm thick, sturdy and sharp. I think it is very good possible that other shula where worn in this way. It is mounted in the way the jambiya is attached to the belt. I don't know if in Morocco the daggers are worn in this way. The scabbard and hilt have the look of those jambiya's. My feeling is that it isn't from Morocco but an arabian dagger. Just like RobT said, is it a shula or not?

31st March 2006, 10:22 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,284	It is unlike any shula I have seen so far ; the decoration looks more Omani/Yemeni than typical Moroccan work . All the shula blades I have seen so far are not unfullered and double edged their whole length .

1st April 2006, 01:12 AM	#6
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hello again, I found the following at Oriental-Arms http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/photos.php?id=9 Stylistically it shares many elements with yours Henk. Very similar work on the scabbard, but the hilt is different. Perhaps yours is such a type of Wahabite dagger, but not a Moroccan shula. What are the materials used?

1st April 2006, 01:51 PM	#7
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Hello Emanuel, Thanks for the link. My dagger has stylistic compatible elements. The red "stone" on the scabbard is similar as well. It could be a whahabite yambiya dagger. My blade, although smaller has the same curve. The tang of the blade is covered with two wooden scales. The tang remain visible and the hilt is covered with silver. The scabbard is silver as well. If I clean the piece, I have a shiny silver whahabite dagger mounted on a belt.