Help ID this Khanjar

[bassist695]

The attached pictures are the best I can do for now, as the sword itself is at my mother's house. Is there a way I can safely clean this Jambiya?

The hilt is most definitely some kind of bone. Are there rhinos in Yemen?

Thanks a lot for your help. This is very cool. Any age estimates?

Mike

[Oriental-Arms]

As already correctly said, this is a Jambiya (more properly should be called Jannabiya), from Yemen, probably made in Sana’a in the turn off the 20th C. These dagger are common to Yemen only and I do not think that they spread much out, like the Omani Khanjars which are found all over the Arabian peninsula. Good old wide blade. The handle is most probably Rhinoceros horn as mentioned above (difficult to decide from the photo). Rhino horns for grips was very much sought after in Yemen as well as in the neighboring countries because of the belief in its aphrodisiac qualities. This demand was one of the major factors in the almost extinction of Rhinos from East Africa - The major source for supply of Rhino horns to Yemen. The demands still exist today. Similar daggers, with Rhino horn grips but with lesser quality blade are still made and sold today in the bazaars of Sana’a, and in spite the strict trade regulation, Rhinos are still being killed for their horns.

The name Khanjar is more common for daggers in Oman and the Gulf countries.

[derek]

I saw a lot of these in the UAE, but after thinking about it most if not all were offered for sale by Yemeni dealers........

A comment/ question: "khanjar" is a hindi word adopted in the gulf over time, is it not?
Jambiya is arabic (means "side dagger") and the two are used interchangeably there, as far as I could tell.

-d

[ahmed]

Originally Posted by Oriental-Arms

As already correctly said, this is a Jambiya (more properly should be called Jannabiya), from Yemen, probably made in Sana’a in the turn off the 20th C. These dagger are common to Yemen only and I do not think that they spread much out, like the Omani Khanjars which are found all over the Arabian peninsula. Good old wide blade. The handle is most probably Rhinoceros horn as mentioned above (difficult to decide from the photo). Rhino horns for grips was very much sought after in Yemen as well as in the neighboring countries because of the belief in its aphrodisiac qualities. This demand was one of the major factors in the almost extinction of Rhinos from East Africa - The major source for supply of Rhino horns to Yemen. The demands still exist today. Similar daggers, with Rhino horn grips but with lesser quality blade are still made and sold today in the bazaars of Sana’a, and in spite the strict trade regulation, Rhinos are still being killed for their horns.

The name Khanjar is more common for daggers in Oman and the Gulf countries.

that is right
In Oman the men wear a decorative or leather belt and ‘Khanjar’( slightly curved dagger) round their waist . In the Yemen the men wear the ‘Jambiya’ , a belt and dagger , the sheath of which can be curved upwards at an almost 90 degree angle. These daggers are very beautiful
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jambiya
Ceremonial dagger
Housing Minister of Yemen
to the President of Islamic Republic of IRAN





Dagger - Oman