Jambiya

[Pertinax]

I received the jambiya and was pleasantly surprised; despite its very poor condition, it's a fine specimen.

A lot of restoration work is needed; everything is covered not just with patina, but also with dirt. I had to completely disassemble both the scabbard and the handle, but it was a pleasant effort. Overall, everything is nearing completion; when I finish it, I'll show you the results.

I'd be grateful for any help translating the text on the handle.

[Patterson25]

Hi,

I think you have a jambiya thouma from the asir, in hodeida style.
Look at this paper
https://www.penn.museum/sites/expedition/cult-of-the-jambiya/

Congrats,

[Pertinax]

Hi,

I think you have a jambiya thouma from the asir, in hodeida style.
Look at this paper
https://www.penn.museum/sites/expedition/cult-of-the-jambiya/

Congrats,

Thanks, Patterson25!

Very useful information.

Sincerely,
Yuri

[Pertinax]

I finished the restoration, and here's the result.

A friend who is an Arabic translator gave an interpretation of the text:

"The work of Abd al-A..." The rest is very illegible.
And perhaps the year 1240 AH = 1824-5.

The date is highly questionable; it's unrealistic for this jambiya.

A colleague from another forum determined the date to be 1371 AH = 1952-53.

[Battara]

Nice work.

Is the blade solid or a two ply sheet metal?

Is this from Yemen?

[Pertinax]

Nice work.

Is the blade solid or a two ply sheet metal?

Is this from Yemen?

Thanks Battara!

The blade is solid, made of good metal.

As Patterson25 correctly pointed out, this is a Jambiya-huma from Asir in the Hodeida style, Saudi Arabia. But this is all relative, given the specifics of the region; there's definitely a Yemeni influence.

This is a Jambiya—a status symbol, not a souvenir for tourists.