Arab (Yemeni) sword from Djibouti

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Reference.
A. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=karabela
B. THE AMAZING PICTURE AT #1 OF A KARABELA AT http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...5&page=1&pp=30

We normally view this form as Karabela.. These are quite common appearing from Yemen centres like Sanaa with blades probably from Solingen. I wonder what you mean by straight...? These blades are slightly curved usually and this one appears to be such. Flexible to what degree...? I would think it bends to a few degrees but is quite rigid with a thick back blade. They are often found around Yemen; in neighboring countries and often in Oman and The Zanj...as well as into The Gulf. Often hilts were stripped off weapons and the expensive items re cycled onto Jambia etc... and less expensive hilts matched onto these blades and pushed across the middle Easts souks especially since about 1970 where they were often seen in souks like Muttrah and Salalah..who purchased them from Sanaa....and on and on... where you will still find loads of these still... and in souks up the Gulf like Sharjah et etc...