Old File Bladed shibriya for comment

broadaxe · 30th September 2010, 10:05 PM

An older sword blade fitted with a makeshift handle of salvaged material at hand - sounds exactly period Bedouin-like.
The grip material on that silver shabriya is sheep horn. Goat, sheep and sometimes bovine horn grips are to be found, unless it is fitted with sheet metal over wooden core. Interesting enough, post WWII shabriyas somtimes have plastic grips, taken from military junk - I had one large shabriya with a file blade and black dense plastic grip sometimes ago. The finest, older shabriyas had ivory-like grips, made of heavy camel bones; these are realy hard to encounter, less than 1%.

Atlantia · 30th September 2010, 10:23 PM

This is indeed a great thread, bravo gentlemen.

spiral · 3rd October 2010, 09:56 AM

Definatly a great thread Gene!

Thank you again for the information Broadaxe. Ive seen so little info about these generaly.

Re-reading it I see the Armenian comment was about Genes silver piece not mine. Does that mean mine is more likly Circassion in style perhaps?

What are the earliest known examples of these? Ive wondered if the shape was derived from the tip of French Yataghan bayonets? Is anything known about the origins of the Shibriya?

Spiral

broadaxe · 3rd October 2010, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiral

Definatly a great thread Gene!

Thank you again for the information Broadaxe. Ive seen so little info about these generaly.

Re-reading it I see the Armenian comment was about Genes silver piece not mine. Does that mean mine is more likly Circassion in style perhaps?

What are the earliest known examples of these? Ive wondered if the shape was derived from the tip of French Yataghan bayonets? Is anything known about the origins of the Shibriya?

Spiral

No, no. I was referring to your piece. Atlantia's is a strange hybrid. Again, Circassians did not produce local style weapons. The history of the shabriya is obscure and yet to be researched thoroughly. The earliest I'm aware of are from the late 19th century.

broadaxe · 4th October 2010, 03:24 PM

Here you go, longer one is 33cm overall. Though I got each one on different time and occasion (one has been imported from USA via ebay...) they are very much alike.

Atlantia · 4th October 2010, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by broadaxe

Atlantia's is a strange hybrid.

Be about right for me then!

Warren McQ · 4th October 2010, 10:59 PM

Here are a couple that I've picked up recently.
I Believe that the bone handle one could be pre WW2 and I think the other is a 1964 dated tourist model.

spiral · 5th October 2010, 10:31 AM

Ahhh! Thanks again Broadaxe for the clarification & also the pics of the bone examples. Interesting to see the blade shape varients.

Intresting bone top on that piece Warren, I havent seen the that shape before.

Spiral

4th October 2010, 03:24 PM	#5
broadaxe Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 334	Here you go, longer one is 33cm overall. Though I got each one on different time and occasion (one has been imported from USA via ebay...) they are very much alike. Attached Images

4th October 2010, 10:59 PM	#7
Warren McQ Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 40	Here are a couple that I've picked up recently. I Believe that the bone handle one could be pre WW2 and I think the other is a 1964 dated tourist model. Attached Images

30th September 2010, 10:05 PM	#1
broadaxe Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 334	An older sword blade fitted with a makeshift handle of salvaged material at hand - sounds exactly period Bedouin-like. The grip material on that silver shabriya is sheep horn. Goat, sheep and sometimes bovine horn grips are to be found, unless it is fitted with sheet metal over wooden core. Interesting enough, post WWII shabriyas somtimes have plastic grips, taken from military junk - I had one large shabriya with a file blade and black dense plastic grip sometimes ago. The finest, older shabriyas had ivory-like grips, made of heavy camel bones; these are realy hard to encounter, less than 1%.

30th September 2010, 10:23 PM	#2
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	This is indeed a great thread, bravo gentlemen.

3rd October 2010, 09:56 AM	#3
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Definatly a great thread Gene! Thank you again for the information Broadaxe. Ive seen so little info about these generaly. Re-reading it I see the Armenian comment was about Genes silver piece not mine. Does that mean mine is more likly Circassion in style perhaps? What are the earliest known examples of these? Ive wondered if the shape was derived from the tip of French Yataghan bayonets? Is anything known about the origins of the Shibriya? Spiral

5th October 2010, 10:31 AM	#8
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Ahhh! Thanks again Broadaxe for the clarification & also the pics of the bone examples. Interesting to see the blade shape varients. Intresting bone top on that piece Warren, I havent seen the that shape before. Spiral