Druze(?) sword

ariel · 12th May 2009, 03:17 AM

Iliad just posted a Syrian jambiya
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10116
These are known to come from the Druze village Majjal Shams ( Tower of Sun) on the Golan Heights.
We have seen quite a few of them, but the one I show here is the only full -size sword (34.5" total length, blade 26") that I am aware of, that can be attributed to them..
Anyone: have you seen something like that? Can it be definitely attributed to the Druze culture? They are the most mysterious of the known religions, with the tenets tightly guarded and finding a specific weapon reflecting their tradition would be an unusual thing.
Artzi and Avner, to the rescue!!!

A.alnakkas · 21st January 2013, 12:40 AM

Wow this one was overlooked!

I like it alot, certainly interesting and the blade appears to be European. Do you still have it?

Battara · 21st January 2013, 04:58 AM

Fascinating that the hilt is the same as those on their khanjars/jambiyas.

Jim McDougall · 21st January 2013, 05:05 AM

Even more amazing that it took nearly four years to get a response, let alone a fascinating discussion on this 'anomaly' ?

P.S. the blade appears to be a M1796 British light cavalry sabre.

ariel · 21st January 2013, 06:43 AM

I am a patient man :-)
Better late than never.

Lotfi: yes, I still have it, but,- no, not for swap or sale. It's too good and unique to file for divorce :-)

A.alnakkas · 21st January 2013, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

I am a patient man :-)
Better late than never.

Lotfi: yes, I still have it, but,- no, not for swap or sale. It's too good and unique to file for divorce :-)

Awesome. Its not exactly a priority for me to buy such an anamoly what I thought is that you take some clear photos of it to help discuss it abit more.

I would guess that its a one off type of sword?

Atlantia · 21st January 2013, 07:48 PM

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13979
#20 & 21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Hi Ariel,

It appears to be a standard (size and shape) 'Damascus' type dagger hilt mounted to a sword blade. Rather than some specific sword variation of that type.
There seem to be no adaptations or even concessions to the longer blade, even though Syrian swords are often Shamshir type (with guards) and the blade is a sabre which presumably had a guard of familiar type.
Also of course the blade is a 'foreign' sabre and not a Syrian blade (like those in the daggers).
The scabbard mounts are a mixture of the usual kind of 'shamshir' scabbard hangers and crude throat/chape that follow the general construction of those scabbards seen on the daggers.

So, I'd guess that this is a genuine period hybrid rather than a recognised tpye. An atypical re-using of a sabre blade by local craftsmen.
I'd guess at a date of between the wars.

Best
Gene

ariel · 7th April 2013, 02:25 AM

The discussion proceeds at a glacial speed, with 3 months-long stops between the responses.... Well, we are talking Middle East here, and the prevailing attitude is Bukra :-)

I do not think we need to demand some kind of engineering sparks of genius, adaptations or concession to the longer type: they work perfectly well together. Why spoil a good design? :-)
Of course, it is not a defined popular pattern: just a shotgun marriage of the foreign blade and a local handle. But that's exactly what appealed to me:-) Seriously, how many types of sharpies can you pinpoint to a specific village just by looking at its construction?

12th May 2009, 03:17 AM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Druze(?) sword Iliad just posted a Syrian jambiya http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10116 These are known to come from the Druze village Majjal Shams ( Tower of Sun) on the Golan Heights. We have seen quite a few of them, but the one I show here is the only full -size sword (34.5" total length, blade 26") that I am aware of, that can be attributed to them.. Anyone: have you seen something like that? Can it be definitely attributed to the Druze culture? They are the most mysterious of the known religions, with the tenets tightly guarded and finding a specific weapon reflecting their tradition would be an unusual thing. Artzi and Avner, to the rescue!!! Attached Images

21st January 2013, 12:40 AM	#2
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	Wow this one was overlooked! I like it alot, certainly interesting and the blade appears to be European. Do you still have it?

21st January 2013, 04:58 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	Fascinating that the hilt is the same as those on their khanjars/jambiyas.

21st January 2013, 05:05 AM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,670	Even more amazing that it took nearly four years to get a response, let alone a fascinating discussion on this 'anomaly' ? P.S. the blade appears to be a M1796 British light cavalry sabre.

21st January 2013, 06:43 AM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I am a patient man :-) Better late than never. Lotfi: yes, I still have it, but,- no, not for swap or sale. It's too good and unique to file for divorce :-)

7th April 2013, 02:25 AM	#8
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The discussion proceeds at a glacial speed, with 3 months-long stops between the responses.... Well, we are talking Middle East here, and the prevailing attitude is Bukra :-) I do not think we need to demand some kind of engineering sparks of genius, adaptations or concession to the longer type: they work perfectly well together. Why spoil a good design? :-) Of course, it is not a defined popular pattern: just a shotgun marriage of the foreign blade and a local handle. But that's exactly what appealed to me:-) Seriously, how many types of sharpies can you pinpoint to a specific village just by looking at its construction?