Large Jambiya for comment

[graeme gt]

Hi Stuart ,i think it is Wahabite i have one very similar will post pics tomorrow when battery is charged .

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by graeme gt

Hi Stuart ,i think it is Wahabite i have one very similar will post pics tomorrow when battery is charged .

Hi Graeme, Wahabite is only one of the tribes who use/used these big blades. There are many West Arabian tribes who used them I have always regarded the term Wahabite as one used by collectors to describe this type. They are more correctly called either Sabak or Sabiki. Refer Elgood Arabian Arms and Armor.
Regards Stuart

[graeme gt]

Hi Stuart ,i bow to your superior knowledge here are my two hope you find them of intrest cheers G .

[TVV]

Very nice acquistion Stuart!

Graeme, the lower and smaller one of your jambiyas has been identified as coming from Asir, which prior to the Saudi conquest, was part of Yemen. So actually, this jambiya likely belonged to someone whow as resisting the wahabits. Assuming of course it dates back to the first half of the 20th century.

regards,
Teodor

[graeme gt]

Big one is 26" long

[Atlantia]

Interesting contrast between these similar pieces.

I notice Stuarts does not have the central rib, and I've been trying to see if the blade has a thickened tip?
Also Graemes, whilst having the central rib, has incised decoration cut into it, similar to that on Stu's.

Are these two similar but distinct 'styles' indicative of specific respective areas, or timeframes, or are their differences purely 'coincidental' manufacturing choices of their makers?

[kahnjar1]

Hi Graeme and Gene,
The lower one is very similar to one of mine, which according to Elgood is from the Asir/Hijaz region, and dating to the 20th century, Bani Malik and Bani Shahr Tribes.
The upper one appears to be from the Hijaz region, and my guess would be 20th century.
As far as the blades of these particular long bladed Jambiyas are concerned, I have always believed that the flat blades are of earlier vintage than the ribbed ones, but that is only my opinion based on the viewed age of the total piece. I have used as "rule of thumb" that flat blade is 19th or very early 20th century and ribbed a little later. I have nothing concrete to base this on other than gut instinct. Perhaps others here can elaborate.
Nice pieces Graeme.
Regards Stuart

[Michael Blalock]

I have assumed the ribbed blade vs. flat blade is a regional issue, with the flat blades coming from the North and the ribbed blades coming from closer to the Yemen but that is just speculation too.

[Oriental-Arms]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Hi Graeme and Gene,
The lower one is very similar to one of mine, which according to Elgood is from the Asir/Hijaz region, and dating to the 20th century, Bani Malik and Bani Shahr Tribes.
The upper one appears to be from the Hijaz region, and my guess would be 20th century.
As far as the blades of these particular long bladed Jambiyas are concerned, I have always believed that the flat blades are of earlier vintage than the ribbed ones, but that is only my opinion based on the viewed age of the total piece. I have used as "rule of thumb" that flat blade is 19th or very early 20th century and ribbed a little later. I have nothing concrete to base this on other than gut instinct. Perhaps others here can elaborate.
Nice pieces Graeme.
Regards Stuart

I am afraid I have a slightly different opinion. From my experience, the ribbed blades are of better quality and earlier to the flat blade, but I also can not substantiate it.