Ethnic Khanjars

ariel · 31st December 2008, 12:39 AM

Yup, shibriyas and Majjal Shams daggers.
Questions:
1. Majjal Shams is a Druze village. Is this type of handle specific for the locality?
2. Funny how they write dates: Islamic numbers with Gregorian calendar.

kahnjar1 · 31st December 2008, 02:38 AM

For comparison a Shibriyya identified as coming from Palestine, and also another Khanjar identified as also coming from Majjal Shams, but with a nice neillo scabbard and a straight tapered blade. Both of these have featured on this Forum previously.
Regards Stuart

ALEX · 1st January 2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

...
1. Majjal Shams is a Druze village. Is this type of handle specific for the locality?

Ariel, you're correct - Majdel Shams (Bridge to the Sun) is Druze, and these handles are specific to this area. They are also made right in Damascus central market, for tourists, but the quality obviously is not the same as before. The handles were made from buffalo horn with camel bone and/or MOP incerts, but some new copies are made of plastic, and it's very hard to tell without the "needle test".
Here are two more examples:

ariel · 1st January 2009, 04:49 PM

Always thought that Majjal Shams means Tower of Sun

ALEX · 1st January 2009, 06:50 PM

And as always, you're right, Ariel. It is tower, of course:-) Thanks for reminding me I am getting rusty with my Arabic:-)

ariel · 1st January 2009, 07:46 PM

My Arabic is nonexistent except for some swear words:-), but it's just another Semitic language: in Hebrew, it's Migdal Shemesh. That's how I know.

BTW, any thought on the dating ( use of numbers)?
And, interestingly, the first shibriyya has an engraving of an eagle with down-turned wings: eery reminiscence of the Egyptian flag.

Michael Blalock · 1st January 2009, 11:33 PM

I think that is a dove flying. I have seen it on many Shabriyas.

ALEX · 1st January 2009, 11:35 PM

Good point, Michael. Looks like dove.
Ariel, I can only speculate that if directed toward tourists it'd make sense to use gregorian dating. Moreover, hijra dating is not that common in modern days, I'd say not many would stamp a modern item with hijra year nowadays. Anyone agrees?
As for the eagle with downturned wings (stylized eagle) - it's also a Syrian National emblem symbolizing Syrian arms.

31st December 2008, 02:38 AM	#2
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,789	For comparison a Shibriyya identified as coming from Palestine, and also another Khanjar identified as also coming from Majjal Shams, but with a nice neillo scabbard and a straight tapered blade. Both of these have featured on this Forum previously. Regards Stuart Attached Images

31st December 2008, 12:39 AM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Yup, shibriyas and Majjal Shams daggers. Questions: 1. Majjal Shams is a Druze village. Is this type of handle specific for the locality? 2. Funny how they write dates: Islamic numbers with Gregorian calendar.

1st January 2009, 04:49 PM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Always thought that Majjal Shams means Tower of Sun

1st January 2009, 06:50 PM	#5
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	And as always, you're right, Ariel. It is tower, of course:-) Thanks for reminding me I am getting rusty with my Arabic:-)

1st January 2009, 07:46 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	My Arabic is nonexistent except for some swear words:-), but it's just another Semitic language: in Hebrew, it's Migdal Shemesh. That's how I know. BTW, any thought on the dating ( use of numbers)? And, interestingly, the first shibriyya has an engraving of an eagle with down-turned wings: eery reminiscence of the Egyptian flag.

1st January 2009, 11:33 PM	#7
Michael Blalock Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: dc Posts: 271	I think that is a dove flying. I have seen it on many Shabriyas.

1st January 2009, 11:35 PM	#8
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Good point, Michael. Looks like dove. Ariel, I can only speculate that if directed toward tourists it'd make sense to use gregorian dating. Moreover, hijra dating is not that common in modern days, I'd say not many would stamp a modern item with hijra year nowadays. Anyone agrees? As for the eagle with downturned wings (stylized eagle) - it's also a Syrian National emblem symbolizing Syrian arms.