Anatomy of a Jambiya The Old vs The New and How to Tell Them Apart

[Battara]

Lew, I agree with you 200% That other newer one - BLEHHH!

[josh stout]

It is amazing to me how many people seem to be searching for new antiques. When an antique looks old, many people are not interested. My guess is that the new example shown in the last few pictures was not too diferent in price from the one with obvious age.
Josh

[TVV]

Lew,
Thank you for this well written and informative post!
Teodor

[katana]

The blade on the more recent Omani is very strange. There does seem to a central rib....all be it very 'unpronounced', the blade edges are rounded The 'wootz' pattern is very indistinct but is very fine, faked acid etched wootz is (AFAIK) much coarser and its surface 'ridged' The blade's mat grey apearance certainly suggests its been 'etched'...perhaps too agressively with a more consentrated acid ?
If this blade is definately not wootz ....has someone deliberately or accidently create the 'look' of 'the possibility of wootz'

In general I was informed that mid to late 20th C Jambiya's had sheet metal blades ie two halves welded/braised together. Is this the case for the mass majority manufactured at that time. As this blade looks 'solid'.

Regards David

[Lew]

Dave

Not all mid 20th century blades were made of two halfs welded together. This blade has a shallow diamond shaped grind to it and not a raised forged rib as seen in the other example. So this blade was probably made via stock removal. As far as I know Arabian,Yemen and Omani jambiya were never etched they always show a high degree of polish. This blade looks as if it was purposely etched or over etched to give the blade either a wootz look or at the least an older look. This seller often comes up with blades that have been recently etched just to show off a particular pattern even if it's shear steel so he can say it's damascus. It's like using the Zulu term on any African piece it seems to stir up higher prices people here the word wootz and they start to flip out. It's like Sy Syms always said "An educated consumer is our best bet"


Lew

[katana]

Thanks Lew,
for clarifying the situation. I can see now, that stock removal is most likely. I have seen some shear steel blades that when etched gives an 'indication' that its wootz.

I also have to admit....that I 'flip out' ....if I believe any of my new aquisitions are wootz Sadly, they never have been ....but maybe...just maybe.. the next one will be The trouble is..being near the bottom of the 'collecting food chain', I have to rely on good pieces being 'missed'....the proverbial 'sleeper'.....an increasingly 'rare' occurance....still...I live in hope

Regards David

[Lew]

David

Good things will come just be patient


Lew