Khodami Knives-Why Are They Called This?

Iain · 9th April 2019, 06:37 PM

To be honest Jim, the source I found referenced the term in regards to vocabulary of the kitchen like forks and knives!

Jim McDougall · 10th April 2019, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iain

To be honest Jim, the source I found referenced the term in regards to vocabulary of the kitchen like forks and knives!

LOL! Well I guess if I use the term knife...……..in our everyday parlance in Texas it could refer to a paring knife in the kitchen, or a Bowie knife of larger proportion irrespectively. So the term khodmi could be equally used to refer to any knife in Algerian or broader Saharan regions regardless of tribal affiliation.
Point well taken.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 10th April 2019, 04:28 PM

As already indicated the term Khidma and Khodaamah are Arabic words certain to be Algerian or Moroccan or closely influenced; possibly also a term used in Malta which has a language very much influenced by Arabic..In Arabic the word Khidma is used for service... or assistance which nicely describes the knife somewhere between a general purpose and work knife.
Kadaamah/Khodaama is the head servant in the household. Khodmi would mean my helper..

Jim McDougall · 10th April 2019, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

As already indicated the term Khidma and Khodaamah are Arabic words certain to be Algerian or Moroccan or closely influenced; possibly also a term used in Malta which has a language very much influenced by Arabic..In Arabic the word Khidma is used for service... or assistance which nicely describes the knife somewhere between a general purpose and work knife.
Kadaamah/Khodaama is the head servant in the household. Khodmi would mean my helper..

Thank you for that detail Ibrahiim!
Less than the 'metaphysical' angle I was looking toward, but this is more of an Occams Razor solution

I'd still like to see more examples of these, and look at some of the geometric devices and symbols on them.

Kubur · 11th April 2019, 10:57 AM

The rascal (i like it thanks Jim!) has to add some facts:

Bou Saada is a place
Khodmi is a Berber name
There is no khodmi in Morocco
Moroccans have Janwi (from Genoui, Genova).
The problem is most of the collectors mix the janwi with the Sbula / sboula.
The Sbula is a long straight dagger, two edges (from lebel bayonet or others)
The Janwi is very similar to the Khodmi, short, with one edge reinforced to stab people.
They are the North Africans versions of the Corsican daggers and the Italian styleto or Genovan knives...

on the pic, to the right one sbula and to the left one janwi

Kubur · 11th April 2019, 01:49 PM

Here a good example of Moroccan Genoui / Jenoui

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?p=170043

and here the Algerian khodmi

Jim McDougall · 11th April 2019, 04:00 PM

Wow! Rascal!!! You have really nailed it......…...I could not have asked for a more concise and well illustrated spectrum of these Maghrebi knives!!!!
While my theory of the 'mystical' character of the term was kinda fun, it is good to know more on the terminology and differences, as well as the true etymology on these (thanks again Ibrahiim for that input as well).

These are the kinds of results I always hope for in these questions, and its great to learn more of these topics.

Kubur · 21st April 2019, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kubur

Here a good example of Moroccan Genoui / Jenoui

another Good Moroccan Jenoui al genoui

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=khodmi

11th April 2019, 10:57 AM	#5
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	The rascal (i like it thanks Jim!) has to add some facts: Bou Saada is a place Khodmi is a Berber name There is no khodmi in Morocco Moroccans have Janwi (from Genoui, Genova). The problem is most of the collectors mix the janwi with the Sbula / sboula. The Sbula is a long straight dagger, two edges (from lebel bayonet or others) The Janwi is very similar to the Khodmi, short, with one edge reinforced to stab people. They are the North Africans versions of the Corsican daggers and the Italian styleto or Genovan knives... on the pic, to the right one sbula and to the left one janwi Attached Images Last edited by Kubur; 11th April 2019 at 11:41 AM.

11th April 2019, 01:49 PM	#6
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Here a good example of Moroccan Genoui / Jenoui http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?p=170043 and here the Algerian khodmi Attached Images

9th April 2019, 06:37 PM	#1
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	To be honest Jim, the source I found referenced the term in regards to vocabulary of the kitchen like forks and knives!

10th April 2019, 04:28 PM	#3
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	As already indicated the term Khidma and Khodaamah are Arabic words certain to be Algerian or Moroccan or closely influenced; possibly also a term used in Malta which has a language very much influenced by Arabic..In Arabic the word Khidma is used for service... or assistance which nicely describes the knife somewhere between a general purpose and work knife. Kadaamah/Khodaama is the head servant in the household. Khodmi would mean my helper..

11th April 2019, 04:00 PM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,190	Wow! Rascal!!! You have really nailed it......…...I could not have asked for a more concise and well illustrated spectrum of these Maghrebi knives!!!! While my theory of the 'mystical' character of the term was kinda fun, it is good to know more on the terminology and differences, as well as the true etymology on these (thanks again Ibrahiim for that input as well). These are the kinds of results I always hope for in these questions, and its great to learn more of these topics.