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Originally Posted by shortfoot
Thank you all for your great and wise replies. And no, I didn't know that it was iksnay to talk about monetary worth. My apologies. That would be a good question, whether it's just a run of the mill generic Jambiya or something that's really a find. Though from what y'all say it sounds like these are a dime a dozen (no monetary pun intended  ) in the arab areas. Thank you  |
Hi Shortfoot,
That's a nice jambiya, definitely not considered dime a dozen where it comes from. In fact, quite the opposite. That blade looks like it could be the original, and even though some collectors would make the case that these blades are inferior to some of the other workmanship you find in the near & far east, this jambiya would have been a symbol of rank and worth to any local that saw it. They prize those old blades more than the silver work in the Arabian peninsula. Locals used to tell me to place the point (gently!) in my palm and see if I could feel a tingle. If so, it's a "special" blade. That's good silver work too, by the way. Most jambiyas with old silver work still have a shiny new (cheap quality) chromed blade, so yours is better than many that make it out of the region.
Regards,
-d