Yemeni? Silver Cartridge belt or Bandolier

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Cheers Gene took it up to a friend today who dropped a deactivated .303 into it for me, it just caught on the rim {so diameter or the fat part of tube must be about 13.5 } but I dont think thats what it was made for.

In a bandolier the base of cartridge would need to be able to be grasped I think. So someting bigger than a .303 it seems.

Thanks Stuart, theres enough variation in the sizes or how deep the rounds should sit that without someone dropping exactly the right round into it I think it would be hard to be sure. Interesting though that it could also hold powder dispensers! Thank you much though.

Great input Michael! I am a more than a little surprised though! I thought the small soldered balls & fretwork in this style were certanly classical Arab tribal or possibly even Yemeni or beduin work silver work? But as I said not realy my field, gos to show a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing!

Ive handled much pre. ww2 silver work years ago mostly from Burma but some Thai, {Siam then of course..} & cant see any connection?

The lack of an obvious plant or animal symbolism in such hand made piece strikes me as very Muslim? {Although perhaps the symbols on the buckle might represent some creature in a very base form.}

Something of a mystery so far it seems! mmmmmmmm Interesting!

Spiral

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Ok this is getting interesting a fellow forumite emailed me this photo today..





Clearly Very similar piece & workmanship. Cartridges look like heavy calibre late 19th century pieces to me.

Apparently from the Sheikh Faisal Bin Quasim museam in Quater. Where its displayed as a c.1910 Yemeni piece in solid silver according to my friends recollection.

So Arab manufacture seems extremly likely? Perhaps Yemini even? depending on the Quater museams research or provenance?

What makes it look non Arab to your eyes Michael? Could it be from a particular ethnic group or culture perhaps?

Spiral

[Atlantia]

Very interesting Jonathan.
I gotta say that the cartridges in the pic look like Martini Henry.
But I think Rick's .43 sounds like a front runner.
The calibre of the cartridge will also help in dating. I'd guess that the date of 1910 is going to be pretty close (or slightly before) if the cartridge is right in the new picture. It looks like it's 'chambered' for pre copper-jacket amunition.
Also of course, if it's bigger than .303, then thats a hell of a slug!
Here's a picture from wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martini-Henry

With a few carts to compare with the .303 on the end, perhaps it'll give more of an idea of what you're looking for?
The description is:
(From Left to Right): A .577 Snider cartridge, a Zulu War-era rolled brass foil .577/450 Martini-Henry Cartridge, a later drawn brass .577/450 Martini-Henry cartridge, and a .303 British Mk VII SAA Ball cartridge.

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Thanks Gene, the heavy calibre Brit cartridges look to fat at the cartridge base to be plausible I think, so agree .43 Egyptian seems most likely so far, although I understand from my .303 friend there were similar sized Turkish & Mauser rounds, {If I took that in correctly.} which I havent looked into yet. {He didnt have any to hand, sadley.}

I reckon the calibre is round the .43 to .45 range though.

mmmmmmmm

Think were getting nearer....

Spiral

[Michael Blalock]

The chiseled pattern in the silver does not look Yemeni to me but who knows, it could be. I will look around and see if I can find some decoration that matches this pattern. It's an interesting item.

[A.alnakkas]

Nice belt, I think its yemeni. The chiseling looks identical to one of my yemenite jews made jambiya. Here are the pictures:

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Thanks Michael, all help appreciated.

Excelent Alnakkas! Wow! Thank you ! That realy clinches it as Yemenite Jewish silverwork I think!

Is there an inscription date on your Jambiya by any chance? It looks a lovely & unusuasl piece to my eye.

Spiral