Rings on Yemeni jambiya: what for?

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by ariel

AFAIK, Yemeni jambiyas are worn under the belt, kind of "tucked in"
However, many scabbards have little rings at the back of the scabbard? What are they for? Are Yemeni scabbards sewn to the belt through them?
If so, why at the back? Wouldn't front of the scabbard be more logical?

Furthermore: here is a pic of the late Jordanian king Abdulla: his bodyguard on the left ( and, perhaps, even the one on the right) wera their Jambiyas outside the belt. Using the little rings? Any ethnic preferences? Any other thoughts?

Salaams Ariel~So far as I can see you have sorted the rings out...Omani Khanjars don't have these peculiar rings except in the case of the weapons shown which are Jebali Salalah variety very closely aligned to the Yemeni form. You can see that when the belt is tightened around the waist that the top weapon lies flat as opposed to vertically. The rings in this case are decorated florally..and function as ties to the two section belt.

Another picture is shown below and at http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...8&page=5&pp=30 at #127 with it configured on an Omani style belt showing the 3 rings reduced to two on each side and somewhat redundant.. The weapon has apparently been fully retro fitted with the mid-scabbard Khanjar style of silver belt wired to big support rings. In the case of the small rings you are analysing it seems the position is variable but is determined by how the weapon sits with the belt....flat or more upright.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[kahnjar1]

I agree with Ibrahiim's comment regarding placement of the anchor rings. They always seem to be in the position suited to the way a particular style of Jambiya is worn on the belt.
Just a comment regarding the pic of Richard's showing the way Thouma Jambiya from Yemen are attached. This style in my experience does NOT have rings but is attached as shown by lacing to the back covering of the scabbard.
I have attached a few pics of different styles of Jambiya WITH rings showing how they sit on their particular belts. I note that even though these all have attachment rings, they do not all use them. Some as you can see use a strap across the scabbard even though rings are present.
Stu