Jambiya style knife

Tim Simmons · 26th September 2005, 08:29 PM

I think this African. Look at this Massi metalwork, three different spears but distinctive African metalwork. Tim

VVV · 26th September 2005, 10:37 PM

Henk,

I have now checked Van Z, Gardner and Holstein (don't have Hill yet and Draeger usually is a bit distorted with the illustrations).
All the reference Beladau I found has a more curved blade (like a jambiya). They also have another kind of hilt (U-top/"crown" instead of knob as well as another form of the gripping part).
I only found one Kalimantan Jambiya (Holstein) but it also had the same blade as the others and a more "Kalimantan-flowery" hilt.
Do you have any other reference pictures?

Michael

kai · 27th September 2005, 02:57 PM

Hi Henk,

I'm ready to eat my words but that hilt doesn't ring a bell with me. What ethnic group would employ this or a similar hilt configuration?

This example looks much more main-stream: http://www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=60.

Regards,
Kai

Freddy · 27th September 2005, 05:54 PM

Thanks for all the input, guys. But the knife's origin still isn't clear to me. Judging from the way the blade is constructed, I still feel inclined to think it's from Africa. But I'm really not sure.

Here's another pic of the hilt. I noticed that I showed the back of the handle. The front has some more decoration.
Someone suggested Kuba, because of the geometrical decoration.

26th September 2005, 08:29 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	I think this African. Look at this Massi metalwork, three different spears but distinctive African metalwork. Tim Attached Images

26th September 2005, 10:37 PM	#2
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Henk, I have now checked Van Z, Gardner and Holstein (don't have Hill yet and Draeger usually is a bit distorted with the illustrations). All the reference Beladau I found has a more curved blade (like a jambiya). They also have another kind of hilt (U-top/"crown" instead of knob as well as another form of the gripping part). I only found one Kalimantan Jambiya (Holstein) but it also had the same blade as the others and a more "Kalimantan-flowery" hilt. Do you have any other reference pictures? Michael

27th September 2005, 02:57 PM	#3
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hi Henk, I'm ready to eat my words but that hilt doesn't ring a bell with me. What ethnic group would employ this or a similar hilt configuration? This example looks much more main-stream: http://www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=60. Regards, Kai

27th September 2005, 05:54 PM	#4
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Thanks for all the input, guys. But the knife's origin still isn't clear to me. Judging from the way the blade is constructed, I still feel inclined to think it's from Africa. But I'm really not sure. Here's another pic of the hilt. I noticed that I showed the back of the handle. The front has some more decoration. Someone suggested Kuba, because of the geometrical decoration.