Jambiya again

[Devadatta]

Hello Gents,

A friend of mine obtained this jambiya. For me the hilt seems to be pure Yemeni, however I doubt about the scabbard - I bet it's either Oman or Saudi. What do you guys think?

BR,





Maybe some frontier areas?

[Lew]

Originally Posted by Devadatta

Hello Gents,

A friend of mine obtained this jambiya. For me the hilt seems to be pure Yemeni, however I doubt about the scabbard - I bet it's either Oman or Saudi. What do you guys think?

BR,


Maybe some frontier areas?

Frontier area you mean like Texas? Honestly this is a strange one the dagger is Yemen but the scabbard throat is Saudi where as the rest of the of it is Omani? An interesting composite. I would think this came from the Southern part of Saudi Arabia along the border wth Yemen.

[Steve]

Hi BR,

I would agree with Louie - a composite jambiya, probably southern Saudi. I don't think Yemen, as the dagger, chape and belt look more Asir/Najran. For an equivalent piece look at Gav's site, www.swordsantiqueweapons.com, item no. s092 sold.

Steve

[Dom]

Hi my Friends

you make me laugh gently, with your notions of borders ...
in these countries only the concept of ethnicity has a meaning

your tribe is originally from which country, don't make sens for them
what makes sens is; what did you relate to this or that ethnic group,

these ethnic groups can and often are cross-border and do not recognize the territorial sovereignty of each state,
which creates conflicts for generations and generations

e.i. the boundary of the territories claimed, or badly identifiable on spot either by Saudi or Yemen (Rub‘ al-Khâlî, seems to be settle in 2000)
Egypt and Sudan (Hala'ib triangle) till yet pending

to return to our subject, even for the Saudis, the blacksmiths were,
and might be still are (?) Yemenis, until "Gulf War" it's was like that ... at least
their production was according with the specific taste of their buyers, khanjar for some and jambiya for the others
for instance, Saudis were ... are more "merchants" than "manufacturers"

I remember have seen at Jeddah (at bottom of Bedouin suk) in year 80th Yemenis blacksmith producing all type of metal items (also, silver "saïf" handle)
parts for pistols and rifles and not only for "percussion or Tower" but for Browning or AK47 ...

nothing it's so Manichean, specially in those countries of Middle-East

and your dagger looks more Yemeni in general shape
did you noticed that the blades are all the same
excepted for the jambiya Mecca type who is very long,
but Khandjar (Saudi, Osmani, Qatari) or Jambiya Yemenis have the same blades,
the differences are with the hilt, as well as the scabbards

à +

Dom

[kahnjar1]

Here are two examples of scabbards showing the "composite" top in the right place. Even the hilts look similar to the "composite" piece.
Thank you Dom for your definition of "borders". Maybe we collectors should be describing the origin of these jambiya as the TRIBE from which they come, rather than the country!
Regards Stuart

[Devadatta]

Originally Posted by Dom

excepted for the jambiya Mecca type who is very long,
but Khandjar (Saudi, Osmani, Qatari) or Jambiya Yemenis have the same blades,
the differences are with the hilt, as well as the scabbards

Did you mean Sabiki instead of Mecca? BTW as I noticed Omani/Qatari blades are usually not that wide as Yemeni are. I partially agree with your "tribe" idea but still, most daggers can be localized by particular country. And Yemeni dagger which was made in Jeddah would remain Yemeni - isn't it?

Anyway, thanks a lot.

[Dom]

Originally Posted by Devadatta

And Yemeni dagger which was made in Jeddah would remain Yemeni - isn't it?

for sure as far as the blacksmith is Yemeni himself, no doubt

as well as ... my son born in Jeddah (true) is 100% French, anyway

à +

Dom