Lew Waldman's Ethnographic Arms & Armour Collection Archive


223 - Persian Wootz Damascus Jambiya Dagger, 19th Century

The curved double edged blade measures just over a foot (30.5 cm) in a straight line from the tip to where the crisply defined midrib emerges from the hilt. Thickness at the mid rib is 0.23 inch (0.59 cm) and this falls away quickly to relatively flat blade faces where the thickness is 0.06 inch (0.16 cm). The well finished blade's surfaces are dark with a bold wootz damascus pattern and restrained gold koftari. A few darkened corrosive blemishes are present, but with only very minor pitting as are a few brightened rubbed spots. The iron hilt has been adorned all over with silver koftari against a dark gray ground; while mounted figures and floral motifs may be discerned, this decoration is now seriously rubbed. The end of the hilt facing the sheath has been covered with red velvet. The jambiya measures 16¼ inches (42 cm) in the axis of the hilt and weighs about 10½ ounces (297 grams). A wooden sheath covered by embossed black leather bears a silver mouth locket and chape with suspension loops; some insect borer damage afflicts the leather and wood, along with some cracking and losses to the leather. Overall length is 16¾ inches (42.5 cm), again in the axis of the hilt, with a weight of 14¼ ounces (405 grams). Lew dated this jambiya as circa 1835 - 1850.


Persian Wootz Damascus Jambiya Dagger

Persian Wootz Damascus Jambiya Dagger

Persian Wootz Damascus Jambiya Dagger

Persian Wootz Damascus Jambiya Dagger

Persian Wootz Damascus Jambiya Dagger

rubbed silver koftari



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