Show us your koummyas

Dom · 23rd March 2012, 04:12 PM

JRF has proposed; Show us your koummyas

as committed, here pics for my Morocco's edged weapons;
- 2 "shulas" relatively old
- 3 "khoumiya", if the 2 first one, I don't have a doubt about their "seniority" ...
not the same for the 3rd one, the blade is good, in respect with what was done in past,
but ... may be has been used to create an attractive dagger with a new; scabbard and handle

I've sticked to the subject proposed by JRF

otherwise, what's concerning the North-Africa
- I've 1 nimcha, to complete about Morocco,
- 8 daggers from Algeria
- 2 arm-daggers
- 3 Bou-Saïd ... that's set

best regards

à +

Dom

Jim McDougall · 23rd March 2012, 05:29 PM

Nicely done Novels!!! thank you for the respectful and courteous observation concerning avoiding evaluations and pricing and for directing those details to private message.
These are an extremely attractive grouping of these fascinating Maghribi janbiyya forms, known of course as koummya. What is best is that while they are modern examples, they reflect distinctly unique variations which are often decorated with inherent tradition and symbolism.

I think my favorite of the ones you have acquired is the one with the coral. As always, I wonder more on the lore behind the selection and use of the various gemstones on these here and in Ottoman weapons.

Fascinating examples shown by Dom and Martin as well, and it seems that while the koummya's typically found in collections are not usually very old, there are profound variations in decoration, motif and subtle anomalies in the design features. Are there references which might address these which might note regional or tribal characteristics? Any particular references or works which would focus keenly on these and related Maghrebi weapons?

I know Tirri presents distinctly useful illustrations of these, and there are a good number shown in Jacob (text in French), but I would like to learn more on the history and variations of these daggers.
Any chance we might develop this a bit on this thread gentlemen? You guys have really piqued my interest with these delightful examples!!!

All the best,
Jim

archer · 23rd March 2012, 09:09 PM

Here's, what I have been able to find on line. It looks like a lot of bling has left Morocco. A RH Genoui and a RH silver Koummya are in the mail. Seller photos are to large. So, more after they come in. Steve

NovelsRus · 24th March 2012, 09:46 PM

Wow! Let me repeat: WOW!
Thanks to all who responded and posted their koummyas. These are, without question, the most beautiful examples of these knives I've ever seen outside a museum. Dom's, Martin's, Colin's and Archer's collections are truly breath-taking. Simply incredible.

I must seriously beef up my own pitiful little collection, if I'm to have something of similar quality to post. Yeeeeesh!

And thanks, Jim, for the warm welcome and compliments. I always try to toe the line in every forum, the rules being rules for a reason, methinks.

Till next time,
And I have some more Koummyas to share,

JRF

archer · 25th March 2012, 03:14 PM

JRF, Keep looking, read everything you can about your collecting interests buy or request books mentioned on the Forum from your local reference library. everything I have came from the same source you are searching in. Buy low, sell high. I'm constantly selling off items after studying them to have cash for the next deal that's out there. They say knowledge is power.

Got one this morning photos too large and out of focus
(sounds funny coming from me) for forum. Looking very similar to my last photo
in previous post. KEEP LOOKING

David R · 30th March 2012, 11:00 PM

Rather battered and showing it's age, but that's the point, I believe that this is an old one.
Bought from a fleamarket in Sussex 'cos it was the first one I ever saw for sale with what had been a fighting blade. Deeply fullered with a thick crossection....alas heavily pitted. Pardon the quality of the pics, I am still getting the hang of this photography lark.
I have had a few of the decorative ones over the years, and enjoyed having them, but was never convinced of their utility in combat.

NovelsRus · 11th April 2012, 08:27 PM

[QUOTE=I have had a few of the decorative ones over the years, and enjoyed having them, but was never convinced of their utility in combat.[/QUOTE]

I'm with you there, Sire. Though I've always admired the koummya style of knife, blade, scabbard, hilt, etc., I'm not sure it's the only dagger I'd want by my side in an emergency. Short of a 1,000,000-volt Taser or a solid SW .45 Defender, I'd probably prefer a combat-sized Kukhri (at least 19-20"), a big, bad, double-edge drop-pt Bowie (also 19-20") and/or a good old Navy SEAL MK3 MOD 0 for solid, all-around defense-attack edged weapon.
Or a bazooka. I could settle for a bazooka.

Still, I really like the koummya you posted most recently. If you ever EVER get bored with it or any others in your collection, please let me know. Not that I could afford them, mind you, but I could at least keep the dream alive.

23rd March 2012, 04:12 PM	#1
Dom Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Paris (FR*) Cairo (EG) Posts: 1,142	JRF has proposed; Show us your koummyas as committed, here pics for my Morocco's edged weapons; - 2 "shulas" relatively old - 3 "khoumiya", if the 2 first one, I don't have a doubt about their "seniority" ... not the same for the 3rd one, the blade is good, in respect with what was done in past, but ... may be has been used to create an attractive dagger with a new; scabbard and handle I've sticked to the subject proposed by JRF otherwise, what's concerning the North-Africa - I've 1 nimcha, to complete about Morocco, - 8 daggers from Algeria - 2 arm-daggers - 3 Bou-Saïd ... that's set best regards à + Dom Attached Images

23rd March 2012, 09:09 PM	#3
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	Koummyas Here's, what I have been able to find on line. It looks like a lot of bling has left Morocco. A RH Genoui and a RH silver Koummya are in the mail. Seller photos are to large. So, more after they come in. Steve Attached Images Last edited by archer; 23rd March 2012 at 09:24 PM.

24th March 2012, 09:46 PM	#4
NovelsRus Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 41	Thanks, ALL Wow! Let me repeat: WOW! Thanks to all who responded and posted their koummyas. These are, without question, the most beautiful examples of these knives I've ever seen outside a museum. Dom's, Martin's, Colin's and Archer's collections are truly breath-taking. Simply incredible. I must seriously beef up my own pitiful little collection, if I'm to have something of similar quality to post. Yeeeeesh! And thanks, Jim, for the warm welcome and compliments. I always try to toe the line in every forum, the rules being rules for a reason, methinks. Till next time, And I have some more Koummyas to share, JRF

25th March 2012, 03:14 PM	#5
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	NovelsRus JRF, Keep looking, read everything you can about your collecting interests buy or request books mentioned on the Forum from your local reference library. everything I have came from the same source you are searching in. Buy low, sell high. I'm constantly selling off items after studying them to have cash for the next deal that's out there. They say knowledge is power. Got one this morning photos too large and out of focus (sounds funny coming from me) for forum. Looking very similar to my last photo in previous post. KEEP LOOKING Last edited by archer; 25th March 2012 at 05:39 PM.

30th March 2012, 11:00 PM	#6
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,116	Rather battered and showing it's age, but that's the point, I believe that this is an old one. Bought from a fleamarket in Sussex 'cos it was the first one I ever saw for sale with what had been a fighting blade. Deeply fullered with a thick crossection....alas heavily pitted. Pardon the quality of the pics, I am still getting the hang of this photography lark. I have had a few of the decorative ones over the years, and enjoyed having them, but was never convinced of their utility in combat. Attached Images

23rd March 2012, 05:29 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Nicely done Novels!!! thank you for the respectful and courteous observation concerning avoiding evaluations and pricing and for directing those details to private message. These are an extremely attractive grouping of these fascinating Maghribi janbiyya forms, known of course as koummya. What is best is that while they are modern examples, they reflect distinctly unique variations which are often decorated with inherent tradition and symbolism. I think my favorite of the ones you have acquired is the one with the coral. As always, I wonder more on the lore behind the selection and use of the various gemstones on these here and in Ottoman weapons. Fascinating examples shown by Dom and Martin as well, and it seems that while the koummya's typically found in collections are not usually very old, there are profound variations in decoration, motif and subtle anomalies in the design features. Are there references which might address these which might note regional or tribal characteristics? Any particular references or works which would focus keenly on these and related Maghrebi weapons? I know Tirri presents distinctly useful illustrations of these, and there are a good number shown in Jacob (text in French), but I would like to learn more on the history and variations of these daggers. Any chance we might develop this a bit on this thread gentlemen? You guys have really piqued my interest with these delightful examples!!! All the best, Jim

11th April 2012, 08:27 PM	#7
NovelsRus Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 41	Koummyas, Show Us Your [QUOTE=I have had a few of the decorative ones over the years, and enjoyed having them, but was never convinced of their utility in combat.[/QUOTE] I'm with you there, Sire. Though I've always admired the koummya style of knife, blade, scabbard, hilt, etc., I'm not sure it's the only dagger I'd want by my side in an emergency. Short of a 1,000,000-volt Taser or a solid SW .45 Defender, I'd probably prefer a combat-sized Kukhri (at least 19-20"), a big, bad, double-edge drop-pt Bowie (also 19-20") and/or a good old Navy SEAL MK3 MOD 0 for solid, all-around defense-attack edged weapon. Or a bazooka. I could settle for a bazooka. Still, I really like the koummya you posted most recently. If you ever EVER get bored with it or any others in your collection, please let me know. Not that I could afford them, mind you, but I could at least keep the dream alive.