JAMBIYA for COMMENT (Thankyou Santa)

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Hi Lofty,
Thanks for you nice comment. The blade is definately not 2 piece, but of solid construction. Steel appears of better quality than later jambiya examples.
Steve has emailed me and agrees this is from the south coast of Arabia between Yemen and Oman, which of course puts it within easy reach of Indian traders, hence the coins. He describes it as "Bedouin style".
Stu

Salaams,

I'm not sure where you mean however I assume you refer to the coastal belt of Yemen before it becomes Oman?...since between Yemen and Oman does not exist The weapon is not one from Salalah..In the Dhofar region (Salalah and its environs) either an Omani Khanjar is worn or occasionally there is the 7 ring variant khanjar from Saudia ("Habaabi") style or like the one shown below tucked in at the side..
Having said that being a border environment it does not preclude the odd Yemeni person from turning up in Yemeni regalia.

What I mean is that your weapon is Yemeni not Omani...

I agree that trade with India is likely on the coast of Yemen and I know there are a lot of artefacts in the Yemeni Souks from Indian trade influence.. for example the Mandoos or marriage box specific to the Malibari coast of India is a dowry chest most favoured by the Yemeni people..

I am certain that there are loads of old Indian coins in the souks...As a cautionary note the UAE Souks are awash with Indian work and it is not unusual to find workshop production quantities of such fake daggers filtering in through there. This is only a cautionary note and unrelated to the dagger in hand which is obviously genuine...so if you want the real McCoy you know where to source it

Picture Below. I have added a dagger style which in fact does transcend borders in this case a Yemeni dagger but silvered up in Oman and worn and favoured by Jebali tribesmen in Southern Oman (Dhofar)



Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.