These swords are attributed as Hadhrami by Elgood, but the last picture in your first post is also posted in Hales' book and the description there is that this is the Sultan of Lahej. So I guess they were worn all over Southern Yemen, but probably did not become popular to the north.
In the Omani Silver web site, there is a picture of German trophies from an Arab Uprising (1888-90) in what is now Tanzania, featuring among them one of these characteristic swords from Southern Yemen. These areas were under heavy Omani influence, so kind of surprising to see such a sword in this context.
Teodor
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