Khanjar for comments

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by spiral

The hilt appears a reconstituted material, whatever its origins... Not the fantasy of Giraffe though...

Ive found Plastic is common in the so called "Amber" hillted pieces sold by all the top dealers we know & love... :

Spiral

Salaams Spiral ~ It is an interesting point... "The Fantasy of Giraffe" .. For those not in on the subject Zraff is the common term both in Oman and Yemen for Rhino. (Though in Yemen there are also several other names depending on the grade/age of the horn) I recall searching on and off for many years for the Giraffe alternative and imagined hoof as well as horn from the Giraffes head as being used for some hilts. To date I have never seen a Giraffe horn hilt and like you I suspect it was all a play on words.

On the subject of the Jizzan Saudia weapon (though in fact when this weapon was born sometime after about 1840 derived from the Omani Royal Khanjar style invented by Sheherazad wife of the Saaid Sultan it was Yemen but annexed in the early 20thC by Saudia)

Thinking aloud ~I suspected amber(ar. anbar) or composite... ~ It has the colour of Yemeni amber. When it burns (hot pin test) I imagine it is quite pungent. The only other thing I know about amber is that it floats...not a practical test on hilts clad in silver etc.

T Koch ~ ah well there is the giraffes head... I never saw a giraffe skull before.. The weapon belongs to Al Nakas as does the thread... Yes it's a nice example.

So what is it ?
I am going to make a bold opinion having been over the pictures with a magnifier and say this is in fact Rhino. Check the entire left half of the main expanded picture and you will see the spagghetti form of Rhino Horn ('Wahid al Garn' or Z'raff) ... Its Rhino which is common in Al JAZZAN HILTS and burns with the smell of hair.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[T. Koch]

Ibrahim and Lotfy, I'm sorry for mixing you guys up, please forgive me.

Ibrahim, I'm very intrigued and have much respect for your knowledge in the area. Would you consider making a topic on the different classifications and names of rhino horn in the Omani jambiya trade, when you have the time some day?


Best regards and sorry again for the confusion, - Thor

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by T. Koch

Ibrahim and Lotfy, I'm sorry for mixing you guys up, please forgive me.

Ibrahim, I'm very intrigued and have much respect for your knowledge in the area. Would you consider making a topic on the different classifications and names of rhino horn in the Omani jambiya trade, when you have the time some day?


Best regards and sorry again for the confusion, - Thor

Salaams T. Koch ~ Its very simple... Oman doesn't have different names for Rhino Horn ... It calls it Z'raff... and occasionally Wahid al Garn (The one with the horn) however in Yemen they classify several different grades/ ages/ types. Theres a good description in Forum Library. Omanis dont call Omani daggers Jambiyya(Janbiyya) but use the Omani term Khanjar(Khunjar) which more than likely comes from a Persian root.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[archer]

Other tests for Amber:
Vigorously rub your amber on some wool for about 20 seconds to create static.
Take a strand of hair and place the static-charged amber close to it. Real genuine amber should quickly attract the hair towards it, with the hair gently sticking to the gemstone. If no static is produced after rubbing on wool (ie it doesn't attract the hair) then you might have a piece of fake amber.
Genuine amber is lightweight and warm to touch, not cold and heavy like glass.
Loose amber beads can be tested in salt water. Add 25g of salt to 200ml water in a glass and drop your amber into it. Genuine amber should float, not quickly sink to the bottom.
Genuine amber reacts to ultraviolet light. Take your amber into a darkened room and shine a cheap UV torch on it. If it gently glows, it's real.

Try These, Steve