Oman Jambiya For Comments

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:

Conogre · 26th February 2005, 03:02 PM

Again, thank you for the wealth of information.....I'm pretty certain that it is Rhinocerous horn, with it looking very similar to a pair of Wahabite daggers that I was lucky enough to acquire a while back.

Conogre · 26th February 2005, 03:04 PM

Here's a few photos of the smaller Wahabite dagger...this is where my confusion came in as I thought this was the Saudi Arabian style.
Mike

derek · 26th February 2005, 05:00 PM

Hi Conogre,

I have one identical to this. This exact style is noted as a "dharia, known as rashaq" of the bani (family) Shahr and bani Malik in Saudi. This again, is from Weapons of the Islamic World, published by the King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies. There are many variations of these styles in the Arabian peninsula and it's probably better to think in terms of tribal/family associtations rather than countries and regions.

Conogre · 26th February 2005, 07:36 PM

Thank you for the information.
The smaller one is 13 1/2", while my larger one is 19", my being fortunate enough to get the pair together.
Do you have any idea where I could obtain a copy of this literature on the Arabic knives?
As is so often the case, so much is lost when something becomes anglicized, going from a treasure to "just a thing".
Mike

derek · 26th February 2005, 09:18 PM

Well, the book I am referring to was first made known to me by a Jordanian antique dealer in the UAE. It is sold through the Centre for Research in Riyadh. I went there on a business trip (shortly before things started getting crazy there) and with the help of a lebanese colleague I got a large box of them and brought them home in my suitcase. Several forumites bought all the extras, and I was trying to get more at one point. However, all my friends in Riyadh have left and my arabic isn't good enough to get a deal done over the phone. So, if anyone wants to pursue it, I say please do -- and share them!
-d

26th February 2005, 03:04 PM	#4
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	Here's a few photos of the smaller Wahabite dagger...this is where my confusion came in as I thought this was the Saudi Arabian style. Mike Attached Images

26th February 2005, 02:37 PM	#1
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	#2
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:

26th February 2005, 03:02 PM	#3
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	Again, thank you for the wealth of information.....I'm pretty certain that it is Rhinocerous horn, with it looking very similar to a pair of Wahabite daggers that I was lucky enough to acquire a while back.

26th February 2005, 05:00 PM	#5
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Hi Conogre, I have one identical to this. This exact style is noted as a "dharia, known as rashaq" of the bani (family) Shahr and bani Malik in Saudi. This again, is from Weapons of the Islamic World, published by the King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies. There are many variations of these styles in the Arabian peninsula and it's probably better to think in terms of tribal/family associtations rather than countries and regions.

26th February 2005, 07:36 PM	#6
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	Thank you for the information. The smaller one is 13 1/2", while my larger one is 19", my being fortunate enough to get the pair together. Do you have any idea where I could obtain a copy of this literature on the Arabic knives? As is so often the case, so much is lost when something becomes anglicized, going from a treasure to "just a thing". Mike

26th February 2005, 09:18 PM	#7
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Well, the book I am referring to was first made known to me by a Jordanian antique dealer in the UAE. It is sold through the Centre for Research in Riyadh. I went there on a business trip (shortly before things started getting crazy there) and with the help of a lebanese colleague I got a large box of them and brought them home in my suitcase. Several forumites bought all the extras, and I was trying to get more at one point. However, all my friends in Riyadh have left and my arabic isn't good enough to get a deal done over the phone. So, if anyone wants to pursue it, I say please do -- and share them! -d