Albanian Jambiya

Emanuel · 6th January 2007, 04:30 PM

Hi Mark,

Very nice piece you have there. I have an article called "Head-Hunting in the Balkans", Durham M. Edith, Man Vol23 (1923):19-21
It mentions a practice in Montenegro of taking ennemy heads as late as the turn of the 20th century. Apparently they used "the short and heavy 'hanzhar'" never for stabbing but to sever the head at one blow.
This is confusing because I assume hanzhar to be "khanjar" which is the jambiya you're showing...which is a stabbing weapon. I think such a khanjar as yours may have been used in Kosovo and Montenegro, possibly due to Albanian presence. Now if you look at the Serbian knives, they're very different...almost like small yataghan knives...those could be used to sever heads maybe.
I can send you the article if you're interest.
Regards,
Emanuel

Battara · 8th January 2007, 03:44 PM

For your khanjar blade you may want to keep on etching until the pattern comes out. IT takes time and effort and several attempts.

Aurangzeb · 13th January 2007, 04:27 PM

Hello Manolo!

I would like you to send me the article please my E-mail adress is below. Thanks! I think that these khanjars can sever a head so these might very well be the ones rtefered too in the article.

badikpinang@yahoo.com.my

Mark...

Aurangzeb · 20th January 2007, 03:08 PM

This question is a bit off topic but does anyone have any good photos of Albanian traditional attire? All I can find on the web are either blury or small. Thanks.

Mark...

Yatagan440 · 24th January 2007, 06:08 PM

Hi Manolo

Is it possible to forward the article to me as well? nvujas@yahoo.com

Would very much appreciate it.

Thanks!

13th January 2007, 04:27 PM	#3
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Hello Manolo! I would like you to send me the article please my E-mail adress is below. Thanks! I think that these khanjars can sever a head so these might very well be the ones rtefered too in the article. badikpinang@yahoo.com.my Mark... Last edited by Aurangzeb; 13th January 2007 at 08:46 PM.

6th January 2007, 04:30 PM	#1
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hi Mark, Very nice piece you have there. I have an article called "Head-Hunting in the Balkans", Durham M. Edith, Man Vol23 (1923):19-21 It mentions a practice in Montenegro of taking ennemy heads as late as the turn of the 20th century. Apparently they used "the short and heavy 'hanzhar'" never for stabbing but to sever the head at one blow. This is confusing because I assume hanzhar to be "khanjar" which is the jambiya you're showing...which is a stabbing weapon. I think such a khanjar as yours may have been used in Kosovo and Montenegro, possibly due to Albanian presence. Now if you look at the Serbian knives, they're very different...almost like small yataghan knives...those could be used to sever heads maybe. I can send you the article if you're interest. Regards, Emanuel

8th January 2007, 03:44 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,310	For your khanjar blade you may want to keep on etching until the pattern comes out. IT takes time and effort and several attempts.

20th January 2007, 03:08 PM	#4
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	This question is a bit off topic but does anyone have any good photos of Albanian traditional attire? All I can find on the web are either blury or small. Thanks. Mark...

24th January 2007, 06:08 PM	#5
Yatagan440 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 6	Hi Manolo Is it possible to forward the article to me as well? nvujas@yahoo.com Would very much appreciate it. Thanks!