![]() |
![]() |
#1 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 845
|
![]()
Hello,
I wanted to show you the dagger I just received, looks like a yemeni khanjar, total length 35cm I liked the leather scabbard. It was sold at a really low price so I bought it because it seemed not too recent and well made. I knew the hilt was not made of horn but it is not wood and not just plastic-resin Maybe made of bakelite or mixed stuff ? ( I read about that on the forum ) Do you think it's an old ''copy-imitation'' of a rhino hilted khanjar, or can it be really recent I tried to heat a little, it smells not like horn/hair not plastic but a little like soap-incense. Any comment ? Thank you -Kind regards |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 845
|
![]()
Sorry,
pictures are not in the right order... some more |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND
Posts: 2,731
|
![]()
Good genuine Yemeni Jambiya IMHO. Not a recent made tourist piece.
Stu |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,069
|
![]()
The hilt could be "Amberoid" .... https://www.britannica.com/science/amberoid-resin
I think you got a nice one. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,145
|
![]()
Hi
It's a nice jambiya from Aden. It depends what you call old, if old is 1950ties, it's old. I think it is hornoid or bakelite. ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,069
|
![]()
"I tried to heat a little, it smells not like horn/hair not plastic
but a little like soap-incense." Which is why I am thinking something resinous, like Amberoid. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 845
|
![]()
Hello,
Thank you all for your comments ! 50's just begins to be old for humans, for a jambiya not sure ![]() hopefully it's not too recent. Interesting the ''amberoid'' I didn't know it I wonder why they used to do this kind of hilt materials instead wood or marble-stone handle and why they mixed it with real silver filgree-mounts. - Was it to sell it high priced as a rare rhino hilted piece to the few ( I think !?! ) present strangers ( for British ? with the Aden Protectorate... ) - Or for local people who liked the similarity with horn hilt but hadn't enough money to buy one ? ( like skaļ-imitation leather instead of real one ) |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 | |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 845
|
![]() Quote:
logical ! |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 | |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,145
|
![]() Quote:
I have some jambiya the blade is connected to the hilt with some frankincense... but its a bit sticky. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 | |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,145
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,069
|
![]()
Amberoid is not a cheap material, though nowhere near as expensive as natural Amber. It can also be bought as fairly large blocks, as used to be sold by a supplier used to deal with. The technology is also old, dating back to the late bronze age.
It was a favoured material for pipe stems in the West and in the Muslim world, regarded as self purifying in the Middle East and is used a lot for worry beads in place of genuine amber. No guarantee of course but it would be my guess. https://gem-a.com/gem-hub/gem-knowle...tructed-pieces |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#12 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 424
|
![]()
I'm unable to speculate regarging the hilt materiel, but the silver work is attractive.
The blade has an odd look, to me, making me wonder if it is solid, or a welded-together molded 2-piece construct, which I understand is sometimes done. (It's surprisingly shiny, making me think of some sort of plating). |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#13 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 845
|
![]()
Hello,
Thank you David for your comment, maybe it's amberoid as you suggest, maybe mixed, some parts have translucence and are brown with no light, other nothing at all ( cf pictures ), for the blade I put some pictures, really don't see/think it's made of two sheets but it is really thin compared to other jambiyas I have and has a really sharp edge Kind regards |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#14 | |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,167
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#15 | |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Eastern Sierra
Posts: 429
|
![]() Quote:
![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#16 | |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 845
|
![]() Quote:
Hello, the blade is thin but it's made of only one piece of metal and there is a central ridge on both side |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#17 | |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,614
|
![]() Quote:
If you can, get the hardcover copy. A really great book, with a ton of info and great pictures and also very pleasant to read. Elgood's "The Arms and Armour of Arabia" also has a lot of good info in the chapter on daggers. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#18 | |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,145
|
![]() Quote:
![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#19 | |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND
Posts: 2,731
|
![]() Quote:
I agree with Teodor's comments....if you have an interest in Jambya then this is the book to have. Stu |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#20 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,069
|
![]()
You might like this link... https://www.penn.museum/sites/expedi...f-the-jambiya/
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#21 | |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: North East England.
Posts: 107
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|