Shibriya

[Hombre]

I got this in a parcel today....
Nothing fantastic but for me interesting....
Should really appreciate your opinions about it....

Best,
Stefan

[Kubur]

My opinion?
Nothing fantastic
with an ugly repair
You can't win everytime!

Is an European soup tin that they use to do the sheat?

[Hombre]

Thank you, Kubur for your opinions....
Sometimes you lose and sometimes you win....
Anyway, I think it has character and as you know.... the beauty is in the eye of the beholder....

Best,
Stefan

[Battara]

Here's the problem - this repair was done with lead in soft solder. The silver/tin/white metal is so thin that to do it in hard solder would burn up the entire hilt. Repairs like this were common for this reason on many other knives of this region.

[motan]

Hi Stefan.
Don't be too disappointed. I have seen much worse and even own some that too ugly to show here, but to me they are still worth more than fantasy bazaar pieces because they are authentic ethnographic items.
What you have is a Palestinian shibriya. Although many resemble Jordanian shibriyas, they are slightly different. Typical are the primitive make, the thick robust blade and the simple style of decoration. Many Palestinian and Sinai shibriyas have parts made with modern materials such as plastic, can tin and electrical wire.
It could be that the scabbard is later than the dagger because the style of decoration of the hilt is older and more unusual. In contrast to what others say, the foil of the hilt could be silver - if it is, it should be very thin.
Many of the Bedouins of the Negev and Sinai are desperately poor and make their weapons in extremely primitive conditions.

[Sajen]

Hi Stefan,

I agree with Motan, it's an authentic ethnograhic weapon and the repair only shows that it was used and needed therefore repair.
And with a little TLC it will look much better!

Regards,
Detlef