Shafwa or Matwa

kahnjar1 · 12th April 2012, 09:55 PM

VERY NICE piece Richard. My call is Yemen for this one, but based only on the scabbard style. Shafra is usually the term applied to the small knives which are found behind the Jambiya/Khanjar (pic attached) but this one appears too big for this purpose. There is a larger utility knife also from the Arabian Peninsula called a KHUSA which usually comes with a scabbard of some sort and is made in various styles.
It should be noted, and I think Elgood mentions this also, that the name for various knives is applied to different styles, depending on where on the Peninsula one happens to be........so Shafra/ Matwa/Khusa etc could be applied to the same knife although to us collectors they are quite different.

Regards Stu

Richard G · 13th April 2012, 01:55 PM

Thank you very much Mr Alnakkas and Kahnjar1. Exactly the information I was hoping for; very pleased.
Best wishes
Richard

12th April 2012, 09:55 PM	#1
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,786	VERY NICE piece Richard. My call is Yemen for this one, but based only on the scabbard style. Shafra is usually the term applied to the small knives which are found behind the Jambiya/Khanjar (pic attached) but this one appears too big for this purpose. There is a larger utility knife also from the Arabian Peninsula called a KHUSA which usually comes with a scabbard of some sort and is made in various styles. It should be noted, and I think Elgood mentions this also, that the name for various knives is applied to different styles, depending on where on the Peninsula one happens to be........so Shafra/ Matwa/Khusa etc could be applied to the same knife although to us collectors they are quite different. Regards Stu Attached Images

13th April 2012, 01:55 PM	#2
Richard G Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 409	Thank you very much Mr Alnakkas and Kahnjar1. Exactly the information I was hoping for; very pleased. Best wishes Richard