Jambiya....slotted blade with brass 'dot' detail ....tourist???
 

Hi
is it unusual to have slots cut into the blade of a Jambiya, this recently finished on eBay....the handle could be horn...which suggests some quality, or is this a better than average tourist piece? Thank you

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA:IT&ih=003

Regards David

Hi David,

I've seen similar blades ranging from some Albacete knives to Syrian/Lebanese khanjars and every time I've wondered if the slots were not punched with a die for computer cable plugs. :shrug:
It's just that the slots fit so well...http://www.ergocanada.com/ergo/tips/serial_port.jpg
http://www.ergocanada.com/ergo/tips/serial_port.jpg]

Cheers!
Emanuel

:D

Hi Emanuel,
this just finished on eBay....looks to have some age

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA:IT&ih=005

Perhaps it does have meaning ....and isn't where you plug in your printer :)

Kind Regards David

Hi David, I was watching that one too :)

The slots may very well mean something David, I'm just saying that the newer ones could be punched with a ready-made die. It would certainly speed things up. I've seen such dies in use and they do look identical.

The "persian" dagger looks like a Badik and the slots and holes are irregular. The khanjar l don't know, but the slots are very crisp and regular, and the alignment is restricted to a set of hole-slot-hole. The set closest to the tip does not look centred on the midline, while the two at the handle look like they are. This is why I think the maker or someone used a die-punch. :shrug:

Just like you I would like to learn the significance of this arrangement, if there is any. The possibility I'm most comfortable with is brass (or whatever material) inserts in older blades. I don't think the slots mean anything on newer pieces and are merely there to sustain a "poison in the blade" story. Possibly in some cases the sets were added to old blades, who knows?

All the best,
Emanuel