This is interesting
 

Here is a photo from the Danish National Museum of a Yemeni Jambiya which Carsten Niebuhr brought back from Yemen in the late 1700's. He was the only survivor of a Danish expedition to the Middle East. This would be the oldest confirmed date for a Yemeni Jambiya that I know of though there is reference to them in Ibn Battuta in the 1300's. The bottom image is an illustration from Neiburh's book and is thought by some to be the author himself wearing the Jambiya.

This truly is interesting, and a beautiful illustration of the Yemeni janbiyya as noted, in one of the earliest provenanced examples. This exact photo (though in black & white) is seen in Robert Elgoods "Arms and Armour of Arabia" (p.87, fig. 9.36) and notes that it was obtained in San'a in 1763 by Niebuhr. While Niebuhr was indeed a member of the Danish expedition sent by Frederick V of Denmark, he was actually a German student who was Hanoverian. It seems the members of the group were felled over a period of time from various forms of disease and unfortunate circumstances rather than any singular and tragic event. The 'odyssey' of Niebuhr continued in a number of other destinations outside of Arabia with his return to Denmark in 1767.

I think most of the interest I have incurred on these janbiyya, especially those of Yemen, has come from various posts and writings by Michael, the best being the very comprehensive and detailed post from August, 2005 describing many of the traditions and history of these important daggers.

It would seem that this example from the Nationalmuseet in Copenhagen collected by Niebuhr in 1763 may reflect the silverwork of the well established Jewish artisans in San'a, who were responsible for much of the silverwork in San'a for many centuries. The Jewish Quarter there is known as Qaa al Yahud, or simply as al Qaa.

While this example is interesting as the earliest provenanced example of the Yemeni janbiyya known to the West, it seems likely there must be earlier references in Islamic accounts which may describe these most important daggers. It seems I have seen references noting bas reliefs that may illustrate iconographically early Arabian daggers, but I have not found the sources on them. As Michael has noted, the "Rihla" accounts by Ibn Battuta (1304-1368) of his travels include his numerous Hajj into Arabia from about 1325-1330.

What is clear is that the use of rhino horn for use in the hilts of these daggers is of the utmost importance, and the practice of using the material for placement on weapons has been in place probably since medieval times.
The material used in the hilt and the mounts signify status including social rank, profession and often even tribal origins as well as the profound properties often believed imbued by long held beliefs and traditions associated with the rhinoceros horn. The many magical and mythical legends associating the rhinoceros, narwhal and the unicorn seem to permeate history throughout many cultural spheres, and appear to have important connections to the traditional history of these dagger hilts.

Not only interesting, but a most compelling example Michael!! :) and thank you so much for posting it.

All very best regards,
Jim


Another image of Niebuhr

I also thank Michael for keeping the Yemeni jambiya dream alive in the forum.
The Niebuhr jambiya is certainly a classic due to the ability to acurately date it. However I'm sure there are other and even earlier examples but the difficulty is finding a date. I have never found a rhino horn hilted dagger with a date - but sometimes you can find dated silver hilts or scabbards.

I have just been examining two old niello Yemeni silver scabbards I have. Now both were sold together and both have the same stamps on the back of the scabbards. The niello work is pretty crude and as you can see one scabbard is wreckage only - it appears to have been weaken by the niello decoration.
However the stamps are early marks in the kings name - god be with him - and probably also had the silver purity. I am also told by an academic in Yemen there is a date on the wreckage scabbard of 1177 (being about 1763).

So I think they are of interest.
Michael, with regards the Travels of Ibn Battuta, I have a copy translated by Gibb but it is only selections. I am interested in the selections you quote as to whether Battuta makes a description of the jambiya being curved or just as being a dagger???
Thanks,
steve

This image I got from a Google books snippet view of
. Page 220 Volumne 3.
Works issued by the Hakluyt Society‎ - Page 220
Hakluyt Society, Ibn Batuta, Sir Hamilton Alexander Rosskeen Gibb, B. R. Sanguinetti, C. Defrémery - Voyages and travels - 1958

I have ordered a copy. The one caveat is that The Travels were written by Ibn Juzayy based upon Ibn Battuta's account and later rewritten by others and discovered in the 1830's. From what I read, no original copy of Ibn Juzzay's manuscript remains, so later writers could have added the reference to jambiya.

Salaams Jim, I was researching in library when I ran into this excellent thread by Michael Blalock and another thread by freebooter Some Jambias and I see that The Jewish Quarter there is known as Qaa al Yahud, or simply as al Qaa. The tie up to the current thread by Khanjar 1 is clear and I hope to refer closely between the threads..and as it develops. Thus I give these threads a bump !
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Thank you so much Ibrahiim! It is indeed heartening to see my posts noticed and I do recall spending some time researching that one and that I had hoped for some response to my notes. I am glad you are proactive in reviving these threads which dropped away without further discussion as it was always very disappointing for the discourse to end so abruptly and without further constructive discourse.

All the very best,
Jim

Salaams Jim,
Thank you ! I think that if someone has taken the time to do a forum library search and has clearly researched through their own book library that it is only right to support their hard work. I often see this problem ...Good threads suddenly hit a wall far too early in their development. Its such a pity. The study on Yemeni arms has miles to go... we haven't even scratched the surface. Even a niche study like Niebuhr or Ibn Battuta could fill hundreds of pages.. :shrug:

Forum are reminded of the library and for those we use the friendly term "lurkers"(readers who have not joined our Forum yet) I urge you to dig into our library and if you havent joined yet ~ Its time you did... :)


On an analytical note I see the stamps on the post and suspect them of being ancient family stamps perhaps similar to ones seen on the other thread
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Quick note on Ibn Battuta
 

Gibb supplies translations of different sections of Battuta's Rihla (travel accounts)

Dunn's Adventures of Ibn Battuta (I think there is a new edition), is an overview of all of the Rihla, from Battuta's upbringing in Tangier, his first journey (the Haj to Meccah) and follows him through his lifetime of journeys, giving an overview.

What is nice is that this book is portable and full of maps, which can be used to infer trade routes, influences on weaponry and also how stories and ideas would have traveled.

classic example.