Yemeni/Omani Jambiya differences

[A.alnakkas]

Originally Posted by celtan

BTW, what is the proper spelling: Jambiya, Jambiah, Jambiyah, Jambia? Kukri/Kuhkri/Kuhkuri, and Kahnjar, Kanjar/ Khanjar ..?

Best

Manuel

Hello all,

just want to add that the correct spelling for these type of daggers is Janbiya or Jannabiyah depending on region. Khanjar is also used though you'd probably understand the "kh" if you hear an arab say it.

i think the reason why collectors call Janbiya's ; Jambiya is probably due to tourists not hearing the pronunciation correctly. the origin of the word is jnb which means; side. there is no word jmb in arabic that i know of.

beautiful collection of pictures folks, i really like the gusbi that Dom has

A.Alnakkas

[Dom]

Originally Posted by A.alnakkas

i really like the gusbi that Dom has

choukrane, fod'dol
à +

Dom

[A.alnakkas]

Originally Posted by Dom

choukrane, fod'dol
à +

Dom

Ahlan wa sahlan

[Oriental-Arms]

I am not trying to answer these questions. All the postings above are doing good work. I just want to add that we will have the privilege to host Steve Gracie from Sydney in our next meeting in Timonim March 19. He will give us a presentation which hopefully will shed a new light on the names, origin and distribution of these fascinating daggers. Your are all more than welcome to join. We will announce the full program very soon.

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Oriental-Arms

I am not trying to answer these questions. All the postings above are doing good work. I just want to add that we will have the privilege to host Steve Gracie from Sydney in our next meeting in Timonim March 19. He will give us a presentation which hopefully will shed a new light on the names, origin and distribution of these fascinating daggers. Your are all more than welcome to join. We will announce the full program very soon.

If you can make Timonim and are at all interested in Yemeni daggers, make sure that you get to the presentation!! I have had the privilege of meeting Steve and seeing his collection. What an eyeopener, and what a fountain of knowledge!!
Stu

[Michael Blalock]

The word transliterates from the arabic جنبية as janbiya but is pronounced as jambiya. The root JNB means by or side or beside. Watch the attached video and you will hear the pronunciation with an M. I have heard it is just something idiosyncratic in the Yemeni dialect. When they pronounce the plural it is with an N, janaby. I have heard it pronounced with an M since I was a child.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_DK2DmlsXE

Just to make sure I was not remembering this wrong I double checked with former ambassador David Newton who was stationed in Yemen on and off since 1966.

"Hello Michael. You are correct. The word is written with an "n," but it is pronounced with an "m," simply because of ease of speaking. The two letters "b" and "m" are spoken in the front of the mouth. whereas "n" is pronounced in the back of the mouth. So "m" is much easier to use next to a 'b." I'll look at your pictures. Regards. David"

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

You can spot the difference between Omani and Yemeni work often because Yemeni craftsmen use a mixture of silver and other metals... some copper etc.... whereas Omani smiths use silver. Non silver items look dull grey to grey green tint whilst silver looks quite lively and rich by comparison. Because of the hugely difficult terrain these designs stuck...frozen in time and place ... plus in the traditions of weaponry in Arabia they have not changed in hundreds of years. The same goes for gunpowder weapons and the long jezail or abu futtillah was still being used until the mid 20th century along side the "newer" Martini Henrys. Quality nosedived in Yemen across the silversmith board as their best craftsmen left in the 1948 exodus of Yemeni Jews though there are still some remaining so that the occasional class piece can still be obtained. In the Yemen they use the lost wax process of pour moulding silver whereas in Oman its pure craftsmanship; employing delicate repouse technique and beautiful silver stitching. Identification is occasionally baffling as border areas in Saudia and Oman and Yemen have similar Khanjars to the Omani 7 ringer but you quickly realise the non Omani as a bit narrower...Phew !! Without the pictures of the whole ensemble its rather like trying to explain the rules of cricket to a martian!!! I find it easier to class all the Khanjars together as a family then look at the Jambiyya separately as another species ... so without further ado I will shut up and go away and photograph what I think are about 10 different Khanjars .. (Pl. Khanaja) all similar but subtly different...