Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 28th February 2012, 08:21 AM

Salaams all ~

Thankyou Dom.

The question of Jambiyya and Khanjar is a long convoluted and often emotional rollercoaster frankly best put in the locker marked "interesting" and left pending. It certainly is not worth arguing about ...

What is a Tulvar what is a Pulvar what is ?...Honestly whilst not saying who cares? it really doesnt matter provided we use the accepted country term in each case otherwise it gets badly confusing...

Jambiyya / Khanjar. In discussion and debate it is a conundrum still unfolding. In general terms in the Oman and UAE (at one time all one country, loosely speaking) they have a Khanjar which can be defined as (Khanjar; An Arabic word. It may be a word which was adopted by the Persians and transmitted to India..the Indian Khanjar appeared in the early 16th Century.)

In Oman it is A National Iconic Emblem being a broad curved dagger, with two cutting edges and a central strengthening spine ending at a sharp point with a 45 degree right sweep on a hilt of horn and /or silver or wood, inside a curved scabbard of about 90 degree right turn (the precise significance of which is as yet unknown) possibly denoting balace and ancient design. The entire ensemble rigged to sit front and centre but naturally slightly tilted and on a decorated traditional exclusively Omani or UAE belt. Silver content; high. Blade; steel. See my thread The Omani Khanjar for details

The Jambiyya(Janbiyya) upon which I know little; is a word used in Yemen, Saudia and other countries and could be an Arabic word or Hemyaritic or Swahili and ancient. No one, as yet, is sure. Whereas probably everyone in Oman and Yemen knows both terms, they each use the in country word to describe what are quite different but obscurely also similar weapons. After all they are both similar curved daggers and both sit in fairly monumental scabbards at the front of the body..on a traditional belt.

What has to be realised is that these two nations have been virtually almost shut off from the world and each other until relatively recently. Thus they achieved techno-lock especially with weapons, jewellery, architecture, dress, dialect and a host of other cultural and traditional areas.

As I have indicated research is ongoing on this difficult "shrouded in time" subject of word useage Khanjar and Jambiyya but it will take time and actually it may never be solved. Please be patient and try not to implode !

Simply put... Oman has the Khanjar as Yemen has the Jambiyya.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

28th February 2012, 08:21 AM	#14
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Salaams all ~ Thankyou Dom. The question of Jambiyya and Khanjar is a long convoluted and often emotional rollercoaster frankly best put in the locker marked "interesting" and left pending. It certainly is not worth arguing about ... What is a Tulvar what is a Pulvar what is ?...Honestly whilst not saying who cares? it really doesnt matter provided we use the accepted country term in each case otherwise it gets badly confusing... Jambiyya / Khanjar. In discussion and debate it is a conundrum still unfolding. In general terms in the Oman and UAE (at one time all one country, loosely speaking) they have a Khanjar which can be defined as (Khanjar; An Arabic word. It may be a word which was adopted by the Persians and transmitted to India..the Indian Khanjar appeared in the early 16th Century.) In Oman it is A National Iconic Emblem being a broad curved dagger, with two cutting edges and a central strengthening spine ending at a sharp point with a 45 degree right sweep on a hilt of horn and /or silver or wood, inside a curved scabbard of about 90 degree right turn (the precise significance of which is as yet unknown) possibly denoting balace and ancient design. The entire ensemble rigged to sit front and centre but naturally slightly tilted and on a decorated traditional exclusively Omani or UAE belt. Silver content; high. Blade; steel. See my thread The Omani Khanjar for details The Jambiyya(Janbiyya) upon which I know little; is a word used in Yemen, Saudia and other countries and could be an Arabic word or Hemyaritic or Swahili and ancient. No one, as yet, is sure. Whereas probably everyone in Oman and Yemen knows both terms, they each use the in country word to describe what are quite different but obscurely also similar weapons. After all they are both similar curved daggers and both sit in fairly monumental scabbards at the front of the body..on a traditional belt. What has to be realised is that these two nations have been virtually almost shut off from the world and each other until relatively recently. Thus they achieved techno-lock especially with weapons, jewellery, architecture, dress, dialect and a host of other cultural and traditional areas. As I have indicated research is ongoing on this difficult "shrouded in time" subject of word useage Khanjar and Jambiyya but it will take time and actually it may never be solved. Please be patient and try not to implode ! Simply put... Oman has the Khanjar as Yemen has the Jambiyya. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 28th February 2012 at 08:48 AM.