Small? Wootz? Kurdish? Jambiya

Norman McCormick · 4th September 2010, 04:34 PM

Hi,
Another local find. My apologies for all the questions but I'm a bit unsure of the facts. Small, the blade is 5 1/8th inches and the hilt is 3 5/8th inches, this seems pretty small with regard to the examples I've seen here and on Oriental Arms site. Wootz, the close up of the blade appears to show a pattern? Kurdish, nowhere can I find a match for the hilt material or exact shape, the scabbard would seem to conform to the Kurdish type. As usual your thoughts and expertise is sought. Many thanks.
Regards,
Norman.

Lew · 4th September 2010, 04:39 PM

Hi Norm

It is a nice piece but I can't make out any type of wootz pattern on the blade?

Norman McCormick · 4th September 2010, 04:59 PM

Hi Lew,
Thanks for taking a look. I don't have any wootz pieces so I don't really know what I'm looking for. I thought I could discern, in the close-up photo of the blade, a pattern underneath the polish but as I said I'm not familiar with wootz so this is probably wishful thinking. Thanks again.
My Regards,
Norman.

Battara · 4th September 2010, 10:43 PM

The hilt looks so far to be a type of white horn. Better close ups would be helpful. I agree in that it is Kurdish.

David · 4th September 2010, 10:47 PM

Norm, i definitely see the pattern you are seeing, but whether it is wootz or not i couldn't say. Obviously an etch will tell. Is this in your hands?

Dom · 5th September 2010, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

I don't have any wootz pieces so I don't really know what I'm looking for.
Norman.

Hi Norman
to have an idea about wootz (johar) pieces, concerning Kurdish dagger
you may refer you here
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8051
as an exemple

à +

Dom

Norman McCormick · 5th September 2010, 07:04 PM

Hi Guys,
Thanks for your interest.
Battara, I would agree the hilt is white horn and I will take better photos.
David, thank goodness re the pattern I thought I was seeing things and yes the piece belongs to me. I'll need to search the Forum for info on etching.
Dom, many thanks for steering me in the right direction.
Anybody care to comment on the size of this Jambiya, it seems really quite small in comparison to others, could it be for a child?
Thanks again.
Regards,
Norman.

Gonzalo G · 8th September 2010, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

Hi,
Wootz, the close up of the blade appears to show a pattern?
Norman.

Looks more like a multilaminated blade.
Regards

Norman McCormick · 12th September 2010, 03:44 PM

Hi,
Close ups of hilt as requested.
Regards,
Norman.

Ron Anderson · 12th September 2010, 04:53 PM

I had a similar knife but with a dark-coloured horn hilt.

It could be kurdish, but I think just as likely to be marsh arab. Also an Iraqi group.

I think fairly safe to say it is Iraq area.

Mine too had a wootz blade. A nice item. I'm sorry I sold it.

The scabbard on yours is quite striking. Very nice.

Ron Anderson · 12th September 2010, 04:54 PM

Note, mine was identified very clearly as marsh arab and had the same shape hilt as yours.

Lew · 12th September 2010, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Anderson

Note, mine was identified very clearly as marsh arab and had the same shape hilt as yours.

Ron

This is not an Arab Marsh dagger is is most definately a Kurdish piece. Below is one from my collection Kurdish the other is an Arab Marsh dagger from Southern Iraq.

Atlantia · 14th October 2010, 08:53 PM

In an effort to keep this information in one place, rather than starting a new thread, I'll add to Normans.
Here is another small Kurdish Jambiya with a wootz blade. Don't know if the pictures are any good but here goes. The knife is 26.5cm overall length.

4th September 2010, 04:34 PM	#1
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,646	Small? Wootz? Kurdish? Jambiya Hi, Another local find. My apologies for all the questions but I'm a bit unsure of the facts. Small, the blade is 5 1/8th inches and the hilt is 3 5/8th inches, this seems pretty small with regard to the examples I've seen here and on Oriental Arms site. Wootz, the close up of the blade appears to show a pattern? Kurdish, nowhere can I find a match for the hilt material or exact shape, the scabbard would seem to conform to the Kurdish type. As usual your thoughts and expertise is sought. Many thanks. Regards, Norman. Attached Images

12th September 2010, 03:44 PM	#9
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,646	Hi, Close ups of hilt as requested. Regards, Norman. Attached Images

12th September 2010, 04:53 PM	#10
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	Kurdish or "Marsh Arab" I had a similar knife but with a dark-coloured horn hilt. It could be kurdish, but I think just as likely to be marsh arab. Also an Iraqi group. I think fairly safe to say it is Iraq area. Mine too had a wootz blade. A nice item. I'm sorry I sold it. The scabbard on yours is quite striking. Very nice.

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4th September 2010, 04:39 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi Norm It is a nice piece but I can't make out any type of wootz pattern on the blade?

4th September 2010, 04:59 PM	#3
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,646	Hi Lew, Thanks for taking a look. I don't have any wootz pieces so I don't really know what I'm looking for. I thought I could discern, in the close-up photo of the blade, a pattern underneath the polish but as I said I'm not familiar with wootz so this is probably wishful thinking. Thanks again. My Regards, Norman.

4th September 2010, 10:43 PM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	The hilt looks so far to be a type of white horn. Better close ups would be helpful. I agree in that it is Kurdish.

4th September 2010, 10:47 PM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,250	Norm, i definitely see the pattern you are seeing, but whether it is wootz or not i couldn't say. Obviously an etch will tell. Is this in your hands?

5th September 2010, 07:04 PM	#7
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,646	Hi Guys, Thanks for your interest. Battara, I would agree the hilt is white horn and I will take better photos. David, thank goodness re the pattern I thought I was seeing things and yes the piece belongs to me. I'll need to search the Forum for info on etching. Dom, many thanks for steering me in the right direction. Anybody care to comment on the size of this Jambiya, it seems really quite small in comparison to others, could it be for a child? Thanks again. Regards, Norman.

12th September 2010, 04:54 PM	#11
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	Note, mine was identified very clearly as marsh arab and had the same shape hilt as yours.

14th October 2010, 08:53 PM	#13
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	In an effort to keep this information in one place, rather than starting a new thread, I'll add to Normans. Here is another small Kurdish Jambiya with a wootz blade. Don't know if the pictures are any good but here goes. The knife is 26.5cm overall length.