another khoumiya question; for Kamil?

tom hyle · 12th February 2005, 01:15 PM

I have a khoumiya whose handle structure is very markedly simliar to the one in Kamil's li'l picture that goes with his name, which I think is called an avatar. Does anyone have further information on this style? Tribe or specific region? Time period? I'm gonna go look through the khoumiya part of the resources part of this site again now.......

tom hyle · 12th February 2005, 01:23 PM

Yeah, it resembles none of those; the pommel is a wide flat half-disc, with the same decorated edge-reinforcement as Kamil's. Joined to this is a (pseudo-) tang-band, and over that is a jambiya style ring/ferule around the middle of the handle. The tang-band then continues to join tips that enclose the "guard" area, which are then soldered to the ferule/sheath-lid. The ricassoe is of (very flattened) diamond section with "rebated" edges and fullers on (interestingly?) the reverse side. I took pictures; I'll see if they come out; you never know with my photo-graphy.....

Kamil, If you can post a reply to this, even if you have no information, it'll really help, because people will have a picture here to go by, in your avatar.

tom hyle · 12th February 2005, 01:38 PM

BTW, Kamil, in case that one is yours, and it is in good enough condition that you can't tell; mine has damage that allows me to see that the inner edges of the brass disc pommel are set into a groove in the wood, which is a nice li'l piece of workmanship. Mine is in a fairly cheap modern (mid 20th?) scabbard that does not match the hilt for style, decoration, or quality, but is servicable, and far better than nothing.

Kamil · 12th February 2005, 04:56 PM

Tom,
I have bought my dagger in Zagora (South of Atlas), but I have seen similar examples in many p[laces in Morocco, so I'm not sure if the place where it has been bought has much in common with the provenance of the dagger. It is a little bit to describe the construction of the khoumiya; i will post some photos together with description as soon as possoble. BTW. if you will send pictures of your knife, it would help to compare the pieces.

tom hyle · 12th February 2005, 07:47 PM

Thanks for the reply. I have taken a couple, on real film. The roll isn't full yet, so when I get it developed I'll try to get them posted. I'm not a very good photographer, so I hope they come out. Perhaps I should make one of my line drawings/tracings of it.

12th February 2005, 01:15 PM	#1
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	another khoumiya question; for Kamil? I have a khoumiya whose handle structure is very markedly simliar to the one in Kamil's li'l picture that goes with his name, which I think is called an avatar. Does anyone have further information on this style? Tribe or specific region? Time period? I'm gonna go look through the khoumiya part of the resources part of this site again now.......

12th February 2005, 01:23 PM	#2
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Yeah, it resembles none of those; the pommel is a wide flat half-disc, with the same decorated edge-reinforcement as Kamil's. Joined to this is a (pseudo-) tang-band, and over that is a jambiya style ring/ferule around the middle of the handle. The tang-band then continues to join tips that enclose the "guard" area, which are then soldered to the ferule/sheath-lid. The ricassoe is of (very flattened) diamond section with "rebated" edges and fullers on (interestingly?) the reverse side. I took pictures; I'll see if they come out; you never know with my photo-graphy..... Kamil, If you can post a reply to this, even if you have no information, it'll really help, because people will have a picture here to go by, in your avatar.

12th February 2005, 01:38 PM	#3
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	BTW, Kamil, in case that one is yours, and it is in good enough condition that you can't tell; mine has damage that allows me to see that the inner edges of the brass disc pommel are set into a groove in the wood, which is a nice li'l piece of workmanship. Mine is in a fairly cheap modern (mid 20th?) scabbard that does not match the hilt for style, decoration, or quality, but is servicable, and far better than nothing.

12th February 2005, 04:56 PM	#4
Kamil Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Poland, Warsaw Posts: 33	Tom, I have bought my dagger in Zagora (South of Atlas), but I have seen similar examples in many p[laces in Morocco, so I'm not sure if the place where it has been bought has much in common with the provenance of the dagger. It is a little bit to describe the construction of the khoumiya; i will post some photos together with description as soon as possoble. BTW. if you will send pictures of your knife, it would help to compare the pieces.

12th February 2005, 07:47 PM	#5
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Thanks for the reply. I have taken a couple, on real film. The roll isn't full yet, so when I get it developed I'll try to get them posted. I'm not a very good photographer, so I hope they come out. Perhaps I should make one of my line drawings/tracings of it.