Jambiya, Amber hilt, Before & After a Little Restoration

derek · 14th July 2005, 04:56 PM

Hi Jens,
Thanks.
It certainly could be, I just haven't seen amber grip examples that weren't arabian peninsula before. You think it's all Indian then?
-d

Rick · 14th July 2005, 06:11 PM

Artzi's got something very similar in his new listings which he lists as Yemeni .
I wonder if the scabbard toe may be a more recent addition ?

derek · 14th July 2005, 06:36 PM

Hi Rick,
Good one pointing that out. I feel fairly certain about the jambiya itself being arabian, esp. with Artzi's comparable example.
However, the scabbard is quite different. The pattern in the leather, the toe (which may have been added later), the leather flap on the back with the single nail tacking it in place are classic features of many Indian kukri scabbards.

Maybe it was dumb luck that the owner found a scabbard that exactly matched?

-d

Andrew · 14th July 2005, 06:48 PM

Derek, here's a good site that has some tips on identifying amber:

http://www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/ident.htm

derek · 14th July 2005, 07:15 PM

Man, I'm not sure it's amber. The usual smell test is impossible. The whole thing smells like it spent the last 75 years sitting in my great grandmother's attic.

The needle did not melt it, so it isn't standard plastic. but it didn't crack or chip either. When you scrape it, it powders, which is consistent with amber. I'm going to burn one of the shards later and take a big whiff. Is it illegal to huff amber?

Ian · 14th July 2005, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derek

Man, I'm not sure it's amber. The usual smell test is impossible. The whole thing smells like it spent the last 75 years sitting in my great grandmother's attic.

Derek:

If you mean that it smells like moth balls, then that could be the camphor smell associated with celluloid, a synthetic resin used a lot 100+ years ago. In any case, amber would not smell like moth balls.

Ian.

derek · 14th July 2005, 07:45 PM

Ian,

I think it's celluloid. I've smelled real amber, and though this looks a lot like it, I just don't think it is. It has been in a smoker's home as well, but even with all the smells mixing together you're right about the moth ball odor.

Thanks for the help.

-d

derek · 14th July 2005, 08:45 PM

Ian,

I decided to drop those shards into salty water as described in the amber test page. One is about 1/2 inch by 1/4 inch. Big enough to sink. The other is slightly smaller. I even pushed them to the bottom of the cup. They sat there - until the salt dissolved completely. Then they both popped back to the top! So now I really don't know.

14th July 2005, 08:45 PM	#8
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Well, now I really don't know Ian, I decided to drop those shards into salty water as described in the amber test page. One is about 1/2 inch by 1/4 inch. Big enough to sink. The other is slightly smaller. I even pushed them to the bottom of the cup. They sat there - until the salt dissolved completely. Then they both popped back to the top! So now I really don't know.

14th July 2005, 04:56 PM	#1
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Hi Jens, Thanks. It certainly could be, I just haven't seen amber grip examples that weren't arabian peninsula before. You think it's all Indian then? -d

14th July 2005, 06:11 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,365	Artzi's got something very similar in his new listings which he lists as Yemeni . I wonder if the scabbard toe may be a more recent addition ?

14th July 2005, 06:36 PM	#3
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Hi Rick, Good one pointing that out. I feel fairly certain about the jambiya itself being arabian, esp. with Artzi's comparable example. However, the scabbard is quite different. The pattern in the leather, the toe (which may have been added later), the leather flap on the back with the single nail tacking it in place are classic features of many Indian kukri scabbards. Maybe it was dumb luck that the owner found a scabbard that exactly matched? -d

14th July 2005, 06:48 PM	#4
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Derek, here's a good site that has some tips on identifying amber: http://www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/ident.htm

14th July 2005, 07:15 PM	#5
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Man, I'm not sure it's amber. The usual smell test is impossible. The whole thing smells like it spent the last 75 years sitting in my great grandmother's attic. The needle did not melt it, so it isn't standard plastic. but it didn't crack or chip either. When you scrape it, it powders, which is consistent with amber. I'm going to burn one of the shards later and take a big whiff. Is it illegal to huff amber?

14th July 2005, 07:45 PM	#7
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Ian, I think it's celluloid. I've smelled real amber, and though this looks a lot like it, I just don't think it is. It has been in a smoker's home as well, but even with all the smells mixing together you're right about the moth ball odor. Thanks for the help. -d