Oman Jambiya For Comments

Conogre · 24th February 2005, 06:42 PM

Thank you.....I'm very pleased with it after 1/2 dozen of the obvious tourist pieces, to say the least.
I noticed many areas with a greenish residue, leading me to think that it was silvered brass rather than silver, and likewise, there's what looks and feels like plastic amongst the leatherwork, both of which seemed out of place when compared to the rest of it.
Somehow, Saudi never occurred to me.
Mike

derek · 24th February 2005, 07:23 PM

The silver alloy is pretty standard. This dagger has had some addons over the years, again not unusual. See pics of one of mine below. The plastic - I don't know, would have to see it, but it doesn't matter. It's very likely that this was being wron by someone up until fairly recently and they were willing to use anything they could get to make repairs. A bedouin wouldn't necessarily refuse plastic just because it's "not authentic".

Don't make too much of origins when trying to pin it to a country either. Those borders have been quite fluid for some time and even today there are large swathes of desert that are not clearly defined as borders between countries like Oman and the UAE. If I can find a reference to a family for the style it will help, but I'll have to look later.

That's a good, genuine and well-used jambiya.

-d

ariel · 24th February 2005, 08:36 PM

Check this out:
http://forums.swordforum.com/showthr...hlight=jambiya

Apparently, the number of rings may have certain significance and a 4-ring one may have a better chance of being "authentic" than the 7-ring one.
Any additional insights?

derek · 24th February 2005, 09:03 PM

According the Ministry of Information in Oman, and what locals always told me in the UAE, the 7 ring is the more valued form. I guess that means that modern ones are more frequently made in that style, but I can say with certainty that even the new ones are often "authentic" in that they are made just like the old ones -- apart from the blade, of course. Most new ones have cheap blades made from two pieces of cut metal stamped together. But then again, most old ones have replacement blades as well.
-d

Conogre · 24th February 2005, 10:21 PM

You just HAD to include a thread to follow, eh Ariel?
Until I read that thread I didn't know that I needed a kattara too!!!**grin**
All kidding aside, it DOES explain a lot and I thank you very much.
Mike

derek · 26th February 2005, 02:37 PM

Conogre,

Weapons of the Islamic world shows three examples indentical to yours and lists them as "Doojaniyan" style and describes the grip as rhino horn. I noticed that your grip looks fibrous. A closeup?

-d

derek · 26th February 2005, 02:42 PM

Actually,
I can see it well from the pic w/ the Saudi emblem. Looks like rhino to me. Here's an Ethiopian with a very similar look:

24th February 2005, 06:42 PM	#1
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	Thank you.....I'm very pleased with it after 1/2 dozen of the obvious tourist pieces, to say the least. I noticed many areas with a greenish residue, leading me to think that it was silvered brass rather than silver, and likewise, there's what looks and feels like plastic amongst the leatherwork, both of which seemed out of place when compared to the rest of it. Somehow, Saudi never occurred to me. Mike

24th February 2005, 07:23 PM	#2
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	The silver alloy is pretty standard. This dagger has had some addons over the years, again not unusual. See pics of one of mine below. The plastic - I don't know, would have to see it, but it doesn't matter. It's very likely that this was being wron by someone up until fairly recently and they were willing to use anything they could get to make repairs. A bedouin wouldn't necessarily refuse plastic just because it's "not authentic". Don't make too much of origins when trying to pin it to a country either. Those borders have been quite fluid for some time and even today there are large swathes of desert that are not clearly defined as borders between countries like Oman and the UAE. If I can find a reference to a family for the style it will help, but I'll have to look later. That's a good, genuine and well-used jambiya. -d

24th February 2005, 08:36 PM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Check this out: http://forums.swordforum.com/showthr...hlight=jambiya Apparently, the number of rings may have certain significance and a 4-ring one may have a better chance of being "authentic" than the 7-ring one. Any additional insights?

24th February 2005, 09:03 PM	#4
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	According the Ministry of Information in Oman, and what locals always told me in the UAE, the 7 ring is the more valued form. I guess that means that modern ones are more frequently made in that style, but I can say with certainty that even the new ones are often "authentic" in that they are made just like the old ones -- apart from the blade, of course. Most new ones have cheap blades made from two pieces of cut metal stamped together. But then again, most old ones have replacement blades as well. -d

24th February 2005, 10:21 PM	#5
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	You just HAD to include a thread to follow, eh Ariel? Until I read that thread I didn't know that I needed a kattara too!!!grin All kidding aside, it DOES explain a lot and I thank you very much. Mike

26th February 2005, 02:37 PM	#6
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Conogre, Weapons of the Islamic world shows three examples indentical to yours and lists them as "Doojaniyan" style and describes the grip as rhino horn. I noticed that your grip looks fibrous. A closeup? -d

26th February 2005, 02:42 PM	#7
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Actually, I can see it well from the pic w/ the Saudi emblem. Looks like rhino to me. Here's an Ethiopian with a very similar look: