Help to identify this African(?) knife

Kubur · 6th July 2021, 07:06 AM

Hi Shayde,

I didn't see your thread.

I think you got a lot of feedback, if you want a good translation you should ask directly to Kiwatek.

As Jim, Michael and Ibrahim said, it is a Yemeni knife, no mystery about that. The date on the coin is consistant with the knife, around 1950.

Some jambiya have Arabic inscriptions, with surats or poetry, little stars, people and animals. The elephant is not a mystery either it is related to the surat of the elephant, either it is just an African elephant, Sudan / Erythrea are just near Yemen.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=jambiya+stars

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=jambiya+stars

The only mystery to me is the blade, looks like African, maybe from Sudan.
It make sense, many Ethiopian blades were reused in Yemen.

Best,
Kubur

shayde78 · 12th July 2021, 01:48 AM

Thank you, Battara and Kabur! Ill be sure to reach out to Kiwatek.
Thanks again,
-Rob

kwiatek · 9th August 2021, 03:38 PM

I am far from sure, but I think this is, slightly misspelled,

ارجع لحولك

irja' li-hawlaka

This is the name of a popular song in the Yemen. These pieces seem to be mostly inscribed with the texts of poetry and songs. Please ask Ibrahim if he agreees and how he would translate it

6th July 2021, 07:06 AM	#1
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Hi Shayde, I didn't see your thread. I think you got a lot of feedback, if you want a good translation you should ask directly to Kiwatek. As Jim, Michael and Ibrahim said, it is a Yemeni knife, no mystery about that. The date on the coin is consistant with the knife, around 1950. Some jambiya have Arabic inscriptions, with surats or poetry, little stars, people and animals. The elephant is not a mystery either it is related to the surat of the elephant, either it is just an African elephant, Sudan / Erythrea are just near Yemen. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=jambiya+stars http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=jambiya+stars The only mystery to me is the blade, looks like African, maybe from Sudan. It make sense, many Ethiopian blades were reused in Yemen. Best, Kubur

12th July 2021, 01:48 AM	#2
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 445	Thank you, Battara and Kabur! Ill be sure to reach out to Kiwatek. Thanks again, -Rob

9th August 2021, 03:38 PM	#3
kwiatek Member Join Date: May 2019 Posts: 153	I am far from sure, but I think this is, slightly misspelled, ارجع لحولك irja' li-hawlaka This is the name of a popular song in the Yemen. These pieces seem to be mostly inscribed with the texts of poetry and songs. Please ask Ibrahim if he agreees and how he would translate it