Lebanese / Syrian Dagger

Justin · 21st May 2005, 04:58 PM

I think I have mainly seen these billed as Lebonese and the ones with mosaic hilts billed from Syria but I suspect that both of these may very well come from both places.

Here is a majdali dagger from Syria to illustrate:

derek · 21st May 2005, 06:06 PM

Hi Justin,

The example you show is from the Golan Heights area. Many were made during the French occupation of Syria (1941-46), but they are still made for sale to tourists. I have owned a few of the older ones and they usually have some kind of poem in arabic on the blade, frequently "funny" but with violent intent. It would take a while to dig up some translations but they were all along the same lines. It reminds me of the poems or phrases on Mexican knives.

The first knife here is from the same general region, but would probably be recognized as a completely different style locally.

-d

Aurangzeb · 21st May 2005, 11:01 PM

Hi all!

Thanks for helping me fighure out which of the two countries it was from. I wonder if the three stars mean anything? Perhaps the 3 stars on the old syrian flag,not the 2 star one of today.

derek · 21st May 2005, 11:18 PM

Three stars like the old flag sounds likely, but I don't know. I did find one of my old pics with an assortment from the same area.

Aurangzeb · 22nd May 2005, 01:05 AM

Hi all!

Thanks again with all the help with the I.D. of the dagger.I think your estimate of it's age is most likelky,I came to my conclusion of it's age off the origenal auction. Soon I hope to post a Omani khanjar.

Freddy · 22nd May 2005, 08:21 PM

Hi,
I think this dagger fits into the same category. Nevertheless, it could also be a kind of copy found in the interior of Africa. I would appreciate any comment.

I found this one on ebay and bought it really cheap. At first, I thought it was a simple tourist version. But the handle which is made of wood and bone (don't think it's ivory) and the blade made me reconsider. The blade is sharp and has a strong middle rib. Although the sheat is simple with no decoration, the fit is very tight. The knife doesn't 'rattle' in its scabbard as with the normal tourist pieces.
I think the origin could be Central Africa due to the very simple design.
Total lenght : 29,5 cm
Lenght of blade : 15 cm

Aurangzeb · 22nd May 2005, 10:13 PM

Hi all!

Two last questions about my Syrian dagger. First,is this worn in a similer fashion to the koummya of Morroco? Second,Although not arms or armour related is important to me anyway,do they were/used to wear fez hats in Syria? I believe that my dagger might be a 1950's torist dagger due to the fact that the blade is not very sharp but is only a little sharper than a butterknife, and is only sharp at the point. It also rattles slghtly in it's sheath, which at it's throat only has a cardborad or leather insert.

Hopefully someone can translate the word on the sheath.

Thanks again for the help.

P.S.- Freddy your dagger reminds me slightly of a Jordanian jambiya(not shabria) I saw recently.

P.S.- someone told me that a acrilic spray might be good at preserving a dagger,is this wise or not?

21st May 2005, 04:58 PM	#1
Justin Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 180	I think I have mainly seen these billed as Lebonese and the ones with mosaic hilts billed from Syria but I suspect that both of these may very well come from both places. Here is a majdali dagger from Syria to illustrate: Attached Images

21st May 2005, 11:01 PM	#3
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Hi all! Thanks for helping me fighure out which of the two countries it was from. I wonder if the three stars mean anything? Perhaps the 3 stars on the old syrian flag,not the 2 star one of today. Last edited by Aurangzeb; 21st May 2005 at 11:13 PM.

21st May 2005, 11:18 PM	#4
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Three stars like the old flag sounds likely, but I don't know. I did find one of my old pics with an assortment from the same area. Attached Images

22nd May 2005, 08:21 PM	#6
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	same origin ? Hi, I think this dagger fits into the same category. Nevertheless, it could also be a kind of copy found in the interior of Africa. I would appreciate any comment. I found this one on ebay and bought it really cheap. At first, I thought it was a simple tourist version. But the handle which is made of wood and bone (don't think it's ivory) and the blade made me reconsider. The blade is sharp and has a strong middle rib. Although the sheat is simple with no decoration, the fit is very tight. The knife doesn't 'rattle' in its scabbard as with the normal tourist pieces. I think the origin could be Central Africa due to the very simple design. Total lenght : 29,5 cm Lenght of blade : 15 cm

21st May 2005, 06:06 PM	#2
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Hi Justin, The example you show is from the Golan Heights area. Many were made during the French occupation of Syria (1941-46), but they are still made for sale to tourists. I have owned a few of the older ones and they usually have some kind of poem in arabic on the blade, frequently "funny" but with violent intent. It would take a while to dig up some translations but they were all along the same lines. It reminds me of the poems or phrases on Mexican knives. The first knife here is from the same general region, but would probably be recognized as a completely different style locally. -d

22nd May 2005, 01:05 AM	#5
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Hi all! Thanks again with all the help with the I.D. of the dagger.I think your estimate of it's age is most likelky,I came to my conclusion of it's age off the origenal auction. Soon I hope to post a Omani khanjar.

22nd May 2005, 10:13 PM	#7
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Hi all! Two last questions about my Syrian dagger. First,is this worn in a similer fashion to the koummya of Morroco? Second,Although not arms or armour related is important to me anyway,do they were/used to wear fez hats in Syria? I believe that my dagger might be a 1950's torist dagger due to the fact that the blade is not very sharp but is only a little sharper than a butterknife, and is only sharp at the point. It also rattles slghtly in it's sheath, which at it's throat only has a cardborad or leather insert. Hopefully someone can translate the word on the sheath. Thanks again for the help. P.S.- Freddy your dagger reminds me slightly of a Jordanian jambiya(not shabria) I saw recently. P.S.- someone told me that a acrilic spray might be good at preserving a dagger,is this wise or not?