KOUMMIYA MILITARY OR TOURIST?

FenrisWolf · 25th January 2007, 03:05 AM

The tricky thing about Moroccan koummiya/jambiyas is that Moroccan merchants have been selling them to tourists for a VERY long time. While they may not have used the same terminology, I don't doubt that there were merchant stalls selling souvenirs to Viking warriors on their way to serve as guards on the Byzantine court at Constantinople.

The rule of thumb I try and use is, can I imagine using a particular example to defend myself in a street brawl? It doesn't matter how pretty it is, if it has a cheap blade and flimsy construction, it's a tourist piece and not the 'real thing'. Of the ones I see listed for sale on ebay, I'd say at least 95% are souvenir pieces.

Fenris

25th January 2007, 03:05 AM	#7
FenrisWolf Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 181	The tricky thing about Moroccan koummiya/jambiyas is that Moroccan merchants have been selling them to tourists for a VERY long time. While they may not have used the same terminology, I don't doubt that there were merchant stalls selling souvenirs to Viking warriors on their way to serve as guards on the Byzantine court at Constantinople. The rule of thumb I try and use is, can I imagine using a particular example to defend myself in a street brawl? It doesn't matter how pretty it is, if it has a cheap blade and flimsy construction, it's a tourist piece and not the 'real thing'. Of the ones I see listed for sale on ebay, I'd say at least 95% are souvenir pieces. Fenris