Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 22nd January 2011, 02:47 AM   #1
celtan
Member
 
celtan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: PR, USA
Posts: 679
Default Yemeni/Omani Jambiya differences

Hi Guys,

How can we differentiate an Omani from a Yemeni Jambiya?

Best

M
Attached Images
  

Last edited by celtan; 22nd January 2011 at 02:59 AM.
celtan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd January 2011, 03:20 AM   #2
Battara
EAAF Staff
 
Battara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,135
Default

Well I as far as I know this piece is Yemani because of the "T" type of hilt.
Battara is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd January 2011, 03:32 AM   #3
celtan
Member
 
celtan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: PR, USA
Posts: 679
Default

Hi Battara,

That's precisely the issue. I have seen many jambiyas id'ed as Omani with this very same T-feature.

I have also seen pictures of Yemeni merchants selling these T-Pommels on their market booths, among other jambiya types. But since I don't know anything about asian blades, I thought that perhaps they were omani-styled daggers made in Yemen.

BTW, I have been reading your previous posts on Jambiyas. You obviously are an authority on the subject..!

BTW, how can I check if the hilt/scabbard is made of silver?

Regards

Manuel



Quote:
Originally Posted by Battara
Well I as far as I know this piece is Yemani because of the "T" type of hilt.
celtan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd January 2011, 05:53 AM   #4
kahnjar1
Member
 
kahnjar1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND
Posts: 2,728
Default Some Clarity??

From my experience and from various books on the subject, the main telling difference between Omani and other Jambiya is the prolific use of scroll engraving rather than the more complicated and often diamond shaped embellishments of Yemeni and other "Peninsula" types. Identification must also be placed at the steps of those who have written books on the subject. As to accuracy of these authors, one can hope that their sources were from the Arabian Peninsula itself. One book which I do have faith in, and from which I have sourced ACCURATE information, is the catalogue of an exhibition held at the King Faisal Centre in Riyhad, and published as Weapons of the Islamic World-Swords and Armour.
One other way to identify Omani origin is the style of belt buckle (if it still is attached to the belt). A typical Omani buckle is shown on the second and third items below. These buckles originate from Rostaq in the Omani interior.
Attached are pics of confirmed Omani examples and also other Peninsula Types.
Attached Images
   

Last edited by kahnjar1; 22nd January 2011 at 06:22 AM.
kahnjar1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd January 2011, 06:07 AM   #5
kahnjar1
Member
 
kahnjar1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND
Posts: 2,728
Default

....and some similar but NOT Omani.
The first one comes from Eastern Saudi Arabia along the Omani border so bears some characteristics of the Omani type, but has distinctly Yemeni type decoration style. The rest are from South-Western Saudi near Yemen so have similarities of that style.
Attached Images
     
kahnjar1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd January 2011, 05:56 PM   #6
Battara
EAAF Staff
 
Battara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,135
Default

Don't know about being an expert, but thank you for the vote of confidence.
Others will know more than I.

The hilt looks silver but the scabbard may be white metal or brass. Take it to a jeweler who should have the chemicals to test the metal.

Last edited by Battara; 22nd January 2011 at 11:05 PM.
Battara is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 06:11 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.