A Modern Jambiya with Old Hilt (?)
 

Here is a contemporary Jambiya from Yemen. On a first glance nothing special new knife, but looking closely the hilt appears to be older, with traces of silver? filigree at the base. The scabbard fits perfectly so everything was made together. Also, it appears to be fibrous structure although it is not clearly rhino to me, there are no visible "tips", etc. Would love to hear any opinion on on the hilt, age and material. Thanks much!

Goat horn?

Could be. Can it be that fibrous?

I would say...we don't know what it is until a powerful light is applied ...some fone lights are good... I would say the hilt has been painted on with some black substance making it difficult to see what the material is but would not be surprised to find it is Rhino. These Jambia often have a replacement hilt and a lot came from old Ethiopian swords imported into the region:shrug:

Have no idea. I once posted a ch'hoora with a similar handle, thinking it was a rhino, but was corrected by several people, who told me it was goat horn.

Note that no strong light has been used yet however in my view and comparing it to the hilt at http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=14878 on post 1.. just press the link and it pops up... post 1 shows a royal khanjar the hilt clad with silver and invariably the material is rhino oddly called zraf al afrique though sometimes called the one with the horn ~ wahid al garn . Thus this weapon shows a rhino hilt somewhat splodged with what appears to be black paint or oil..

Take a plough through The Omani Khanjar thread above for examples of most of the Omani styles of this traditional weapon and badge of office as head of the family. With free ink thrown in comments are completely free... :shrug: