Lew Waldman's Ethnographic Arms & Armour Collection Archive


16 - Syrian Druze Majdal Shams Jambiya Dagger, 20th Century

This particular style of jambiya dagger is usually associated with the Druze of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, though there are other centers of production of similar style. The curved double edged blade shows patchy cross-hatching suggesting that this blade was forged from a woodworker's rasp. A low central midrib is present on either side and the blade facets are fairly flat. An acid etched panel with Arabic? script is present on both sides of the base of the 7¼ inches (18.5 cm) long blade. The edges and faces of the blade show scratches consistent with honing. The hilt is composed of stacked discs of dark brown to black horn and creamy bone with a brass plate on either end. The display face of the hilt is inlaid with metallic (aluminum?) dots and stars and there are circular pearlescent inlays as well as salmon and pale celery green colored synthetic dots. Some losses to the inlay have occurred. The dagger is 11¾ inches (30 cm) long and weighs about 8½ ounces (244 grams). A wooden sheath is encased in thin brass embossed upon the display face; a mouth end reinforcement holds one suspension ring, that on the opposite side appears to have been lost from an opened solder joint. Within the sheath, overall length is about a foot (30.5 cm) with a weight of just under 10 ounces (282 grams).


Syrian Druze Majdal Shams Jambiya Dagger

Syrian Druze Majdal Shams Jambiya Dagger



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