Khodami Knives-Why Are They Called This?

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

As already indicated the term Khidma and Khodaamah are Arabic words certain to be Algerian or Moroccan or closely influenced; possibly also a term used in Malta which has a language very much influenced by Arabic..In Arabic the word Khidma is used for service... or assistance which nicely describes the knife somewhere between a general purpose and work knife.
Kadaamah/Khodaama is the head servant in the household. Khodmi would mean my helper..

Thank you for that detail Ibrahiim!
Less than the 'metaphysical' angle I was looking toward, but this is more of an Occams Razor solution
I'd still like to see more examples of these, and look at some of the geometric devices and symbols on them.

[Kubur]

The rascal (i like it thanks Jim!) has to add some facts:

Bou Saada is a place
Khodmi is a Berber name
There is no khodmi in Morocco
Moroccans have Janwi (from Genoui, Genova).
The problem is most of the collectors mix the janwi with the Sbula / sboula.
The Sbula is a long straight dagger, two edges (from lebel bayonet or others)
The Janwi is very similar to the Khodmi, short, with one edge reinforced to stab people.
They are the North Africans versions of the Corsican daggers and the Italian styleto or Genovan knives...

on the pic, to the right one sbula and to the left one janwi

[Kubur]

Here a good example of Moroccan Genoui / Jenoui

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?p=170043

and here the Algerian khodmi

[Jim McDougall]

Wow! Rascal!!! You have really nailed it......…...I could not have asked for a more concise and well illustrated spectrum of these Maghrebi knives!!!!
While my theory of the 'mystical' character of the term was kinda fun, it is good to know more on the terminology and differences, as well as the true etymology on these (thanks again Ibrahiim for that input as well).

These are the kinds of results I always hope for in these questions, and its great to learn more of these topics.

[G. Mansfield]

I sold a khodmi a few months back and spoke with the purchaser. He collected a number of these as he was from the region of production in Southern Algeria explaining that "Khodmi mean Knife in the native Amazigh language," from which is "Berber" or Tamazight and part of the Afroasiatic languages of Northern Africa.

-Geoff

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by G. Mansfield

I sold a khodmi a few months back and spoke with the purchaser. He collected a number of these as he was from the region of production in Southern Algeria explaining that "Khodmi mean Knife in the native Amazigh language," from which is "Berber" or Tamazight and part of the Afroasiatic languages of Northern Africa.

-Geoff

Thank you Geoff for this input, especially the specialized perspective from persons from the regions we are discussing. While we have various entries from dictionaries and other circumstantial references it is interesting to have insight from someone native to these regions.

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Here a good example of Moroccan Genoui / Jenoui

another Good Moroccan Jenoui al genoui

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=khodmi