Lew Waldman's Ethnographic Arms & Armour Collection Archive


160 - Jambiya / Khanjar Dagger from Hijaz Region (Saudi Arabia) with Silver and Brass Mounts

A very nice example of this type of traditional Arabian dagger with a wooden hilt almost completely covered by silver decoration. Matching silver decoration also adorns the mouth end of the scabbard on the display face, with the remainder of the scabbard being composed of decorated brass over wood. These mounts appear consistent with a prolonged period of actual wear and use. A short leather belt, lightly cracked with age but still pliable, of about 31 inches total length is affixed to the scabbard by woven brass wire, a leather strap riveted to the belt and a partially broken strip of thin leather. The buckle of the belt appears industrially made. Overall length of the dagger inserted into the sheath is 17 3/4 inches; the sharp double-edged blade measures 12 1/4 inches and has engraved decoration upon each face. Hidden between the back of the scabbard and a leather flap is a zippered cloth pocket; empty now, but probably once serving as a sort of hiding place for valuables. Lew's notes estimate this example to date to the 1930s. The dagger and its mounts weigh 27.9 ounces.




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