Wahabite dagger ? or janbiyya?

Jim McDougall · 1st July 2025, 04:30 AM

Great analogy GP!!! the Wahabite term for a dagger form does seem fanciful at best, rather as well illustrated by the 'orientalist' notions of the colonial periods labeling and categorizing everything by popular and romanticized images.

Still wonder what term these might actually be known by.

Burton was brilliant in languages and mannerisms, and contrived an identity as Sufi, as this would not be defined specifically, and claimed a diverse background to explain any imperfections in his character.

Marc M. · 1st July 2025, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Great analogy GP!!! the Wahabite term for a dagger form does seem fanciful at best, rather as well illustrated by the 'orientalist' notions of the colonial periods labeling and categorizing everything by popular and romanticized images.

Still wonder what term these might actually be known by.

Burton was brilliant in languages and mannerisms, and contrived an identity as Sufi, as this would not be defined specifically, and claimed a diverse background to explain any imperfections in his character.

I thought this type of weapon is called dharia.

Regards Marc

Jim McDougall · 1st July 2025, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc M.

I thought this type of weapon is called dharia.

Regards Marc

Thanks Marc, thats what Im looking for..proper term...obviously the WAHABITE appellation is admittedly nonsensical in that it certainly was not exclusive only to these groups.
I had heard 'sabaki' somewhere but cannot place it.
Again, likely a dialectic term.

gp · 3rd July 2025, 08:42 PM

just for convenience sake disregarding the "western" Wahabite name-giving,
I found some more info in order to oblige our dear friend Jim

who started this most interesting topic !

Info from one internet site:

"Sabiki is the Yemeni term for a large sword-like variety of the jambiya, the Arab dagger. They are also known as Wahhabite jambiya named after the Wahhabi fundamentalists who were known to wear them. The sabiki is mostly associated with the Asir and Jizan region in the southwest of the Arabian peninsula but was in wider circulation."

Jim McDougall · 3rd July 2025, 09:43 PM

GP! BRILLIANT!!! Thank you so much my friend

very much obliged, just the description I needed.

gp · 3rd July 2025, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

GP! BRILLIANT!!! Thank you so much my friend

very much obliged, just the description I needed.

Happy to be of service, Sir !

kahnjar1 · 3rd July 2025, 10:41 PM

Wahabite is a term used by collectors and is not correct terminology for these daggers/knives. They are DHARIA (or Sabiki, Sabak et al). A book published by the King Faisal Foundation, Riyadh in 1991 (I have a copy) clearly shows these as Dharia.
If you go to gp's Post #7 above (last para) the dirivation of the term is clearly explained.
Some pics attached of Dharia I used to own.
Also more info here http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17574 including hilt and blade style names.
Stu

3rd July 2025, 08:42 PM	#4
gp Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 935	just for convenience sake disregarding the "western" Wahabite name-giving, I found some more info in order to oblige our dear friend Jim who started this most interesting topic ! Info from one internet site: "Sabiki is the Yemeni term for a large sword-like variety of the jambiya, the Arab dagger. They are also known as Wahhabite jambiya named after the Wahhabi fundamentalists who were known to wear them. The sabiki is mostly associated with the Asir and Jizan region in the southwest of the Arabian peninsula but was in wider circulation." Attached Images

1st July 2025, 04:30 AM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,730	Great analogy GP!!! the Wahabite term for a dagger form does seem fanciful at best, rather as well illustrated by the 'orientalist' notions of the colonial periods labeling and categorizing everything by popular and romanticized images. Still wonder what term these might actually be known by. Burton was brilliant in languages and mannerisms, and contrived an identity as Sufi, as this would not be defined specifically, and claimed a diverse background to explain any imperfections in his character.

3rd July 2025, 09:43 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,730	GP! BRILLIANT!!! Thank you so much my friend very much obliged, just the description I needed.

3rd July 2025, 10:41 PM	#7
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,817	>NOT WAHABITE but Dharia Wahabite is a term used by collectors and is not correct terminology for these daggers/knives. They are DHARIA (or Sabiki, Sabak et al). A book published by the King Faisal Foundation, Riyadh in 1991 (I have a copy) clearly shows these as Dharia. If you go to gp's Post #7 above (last para) the dirivation of the term is clearly explained. Some pics attached of Dharia I used to own. Also more info here http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17574 including hilt and blade style names. Stu Attached Images Last edited by kahnjar1; 4th July 2025 at 12:12 AM.