silver mounted jambia

Michael Blalock · 26th August 2005, 08:55 PM

Based on the shape of the grip my guess would be the Najran area of Saudi Arabia.

fernando · 27th August 2005, 07:12 PM

Thank you so much for the precious info. It would still be great to figure out the meaning of the arab engraving on the grip.
I would be so much obliged for help in this area.

Aqtai · 27th August 2005, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Thank you so much for the precious info. It would still be great to figure out the meaning of the arab engraving on the grip.
I would be so much obliged for help in this area.

The 1st 2 words say "Omar 'Abdallah". I can't read the 3rd word.

fernando · 28th August 2005, 10:41 AM

Thanks a lot, Aqtai.
I will try and take a clearer picture of the last word, then i will request your kind help again. Maybe this last part is the family name, either from the owner or the maker ?! This would be rather interesting to know.
Thanks again

Aqtai · 28th August 2005, 03:25 PM

You're welcome. Congratulations on aquiring a beautiful weapon BTW.

fernando · 30th August 2005, 05:07 PM

Hi Gentlemen
I have a new situation here, and i kindly require your members expertize info.
As i found i could get no better defininition for the engraving on the grip, for the help of Aqtai on the third word/name, i noticed that the blade tang was fixed into the grip with silver wedges. One of these wedges is folded out, showing some markings in it. To my eyes this doesn't seem to be arabic, looking more geometrical, like hebreu. Mind you, i am influenced by what i read about yemen resident jews having been the superior silver and gold artisans, including janbiyya hilts and scabbards.
Could you Aqtai, confirm this is arabic ?
Can other forum members tell me what language this could be written on ?
Is it the wright assessment, the inscription on the pommel being the owners name, and the symbols on the blade wedge being the maker's marks?
Thank you so much for help.

Rivkin · 30th August 2005, 09:18 PM

that definitely looks like hebrew to me. lamed with "a" wovel, wav,nun?,chet/he?,???.

One should bear in mind that hebrew for "secular use" is written differently by different communities, it's ok that small signature on metal is much more "squarish" and simplistic than the fonts one can find in books.

Another expanation is that it's an imitation of really old arabic (nabatean or "south arabian script"), or may be even arameic, but in my opinion it's hebrew - nabatean is dead (unless this blade is at least 1000 years old ?), and arameic is not characteristic to yemen.

It's really a puzzling writing, well hidden as well...
P.S. One more thing - in my experience sometimes _very_ illiterate arabic tend to be squarish and unlike all other arabic one can see...So I would wait for experts on arabic to come in and evaluate the signature.

30th August 2005, 05:07 PM	#6
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Hi Gentlemen I have a new situation here, and i kindly require your members expertize info. As i found i could get no better defininition for the engraving on the grip, for the help of Aqtai on the third word/name, i noticed that the blade tang was fixed into the grip with silver wedges. One of these wedges is folded out, showing some markings in it. To my eyes this doesn't seem to be arabic, looking more geometrical, like hebreu. Mind you, i am influenced by what i read about yemen resident jews having been the superior silver and gold artisans, including janbiyya hilts and scabbards. Could you Aqtai, confirm this is arabic ? Can other forum members tell me what language this could be written on ? Is it the wright assessment, the inscription on the pommel being the owners name, and the symbols on the blade wedge being the maker's marks? Thank you so much for help. Attached Images

26th August 2005, 08:55 PM	#1
Michael Blalock Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: dc Posts: 271	Based on the shape of the grip my guess would be the Najran area of Saudi Arabia.

27th August 2005, 07:12 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you so much for the precious info. It would still be great to figure out the meaning of the arab engraving on the grip. I would be so much obliged for help in this area.

28th August 2005, 10:41 AM	#4
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thanks a lot, Aqtai. I will try and take a clearer picture of the last word, then i will request your kind help again. Maybe this last part is the family name, either from the owner or the maker ?! This would be rather interesting to know. Thanks again

28th August 2005, 03:25 PM	#5
Aqtai Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Merseyside, UK Posts: 222	You're welcome. Congratulations on aquiring a beautiful weapon BTW.

30th August 2005, 09:18 PM	#7
Rivkin Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 655	that definitely looks like hebrew to me. lamed with "a" wovel, wav,nun?,chet/he?,???. One should bear in mind that hebrew for "secular use" is written differently by different communities, it's ok that small signature on metal is much more "squarish" and simplistic than the fonts one can find in books. Another expanation is that it's an imitation of really old arabic (nabatean or "south arabian script"), or may be even arameic, but in my opinion it's hebrew - nabatean is dead (unless this blade is at least 1000 years old ?), and arameic is not characteristic to yemen. It's really a puzzling writing, well hidden as well... P.S. One more thing - in my experience sometimes _very_ illiterate arabic tend to be squarish and unlike all other arabic one can see...So I would wait for experts on arabic to come in and evaluate the signature.