Silver thouma jambiya

TVV · 8th January 2025, 06:39 PM

I do not know how to date the jambiya, but the scabbard and belt are definitely very high quality, congratulations.

Marc M. · 9th January 2025, 10:32 AM

Thanks Teodor, in Gracie's book there are quite a lot of thouma jambiyas of very high quality, made by Jewish and Arab silversmiths. There is a single jambiya in the book that can somewhat compare to mine. Doesn't mean, of course, that it was made by one of those great silversmiths in the book. There are no marks on it but as you said made by an excellent craftsman. The jambiyas themselves from the book are reasonably uniform and simple, but mostly with a handle made of rhino horn and a decent blade. Hence my doubt that they belong together. Most of the jambiyas I have fit into this sheath, so not that difficult to fill the empty sheath.

Regards
Marc

David R · 9th January 2025, 12:54 PM

Very nice!

Marc M. · 9th January 2025, 02:52 PM

Thanks David. After reading an older post about a Bousani jambiya with a stamp on the back of one of the silver pieces on the belt, I went to look on the back of one of the pieces because I thought it was damage or bad soldering. Turns out to be some kind of stamp after all.
Is there anyone who can make out what it is, doesn't look like the stamps from Gracie's book.
Regards
Marc

Marc M. · 9th January 2025, 03:00 PM

Photo.

Pertinax · 9th January 2025, 03:15 PM

Hi Marc!

I also have a jambiya that does not fit the sheath.

The sheath is presumably from the early 20th century, made of silver with open filigree work. The inlay of the sheath is very typical for Saudi daria (or sabiki) daggers, which are also called the Wahhabi dagger.

Presumably the work of Jewish jewelers from Yemen, they moved to Israel when it was born in 1949.

The jambiya itself is younger, presumably from the mid-20th century, the handle of the jambiya, traditional for these sheaths, has a different design. Perhaps the blade is original and the handle was replaced due to its breakage for some reason.

Regards,
Yuri

Pertinax · 9th January 2025, 03:19 PM

Here is an example of a jambiya for such a scabbard

Marc M. · 10th January 2025, 10:23 AM

Better photo may help?

Marc M. · 10th January 2025, 10:30 AM

Hi Yuri
Nice asib jambiya from the coastal region in western Yemen according to Gracie's book. Jambiya's that are not original with the sheath is commonplace due to all kinds of reasons. Misschie a jambiya with rhinoceros hilt sold out of need for money and replaced with a cheap piece to still carry the jambiya, who knows.

Regards
Marc

9th January 2025, 02:52 PM	#4
Marc M. Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Belgium Posts: 276	Thanks David. After reading an older post about a Bousani jambiya with a stamp on the back of one of the silver pieces on the belt, I went to look on the back of one of the pieces because I thought it was damage or bad soldering. Turns out to be some kind of stamp after all. Is there anyone who can make out what it is, doesn't look like the stamps from Gracie's book. Regards Marc Attached Images

9th January 2025, 03:00 PM	#5
Marc M. Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Belgium Posts: 276	Photo. Attached Images

9th January 2025, 03:15 PM	#6
Pertinax Member Join Date: Dec 2023 Location: City by the Black Sea Posts: 242	Hi Marc! I also have a jambiya that does not fit the sheath. The sheath is presumably from the early 20th century, made of silver with open filigree work. The inlay of the sheath is very typical for Saudi daria (or sabiki) daggers, which are also called the Wahhabi dagger. Presumably the work of Jewish jewelers from Yemen, they moved to Israel when it was born in 1949. The jambiya itself is younger, presumably from the mid-20th century, the handle of the jambiya, traditional for these sheaths, has a different design. Perhaps the blade is original and the handle was replaced due to its breakage for some reason. Regards, Yuri Attached Images

9th January 2025, 03:19 PM	#7
Pertinax Member Join Date: Dec 2023 Location: City by the Black Sea Posts: 242	Here is an example of a jambiya for such a scabbard Attached Images

10th January 2025, 10:23 AM	#8
Marc M. Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Belgium Posts: 276	Better photo may help? Attached Images

8th January 2025, 06:39 PM	#1
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,664	I do not know how to date the jambiya, but the scabbard and belt are definitely very high quality, congratulations.

9th January 2025, 10:32 AM	#2
Marc M. Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Belgium Posts: 276	Thanks Teodor, in Gracie's book there are quite a lot of thouma jambiyas of very high quality, made by Jewish and Arab silversmiths. There is a single jambiya in the book that can somewhat compare to mine. Doesn't mean, of course, that it was made by one of those great silversmiths in the book. There are no marks on it but as you said made by an excellent craftsman. The jambiyas themselves from the book are reasonably uniform and simple, but mostly with a handle made of rhino horn and a decent blade. Hence my doubt that they belong together. Most of the jambiyas I have fit into this sheath, so not that difficult to fill the empty sheath. Regards Marc

9th January 2025, 12:54 PM	#3
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,120	Very nice!

10th January 2025, 10:30 AM	#9
Marc M. Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Belgium Posts: 276	Hi Yuri Nice asib jambiya from the coastal region in western Yemen according to Gracie's book. Jambiya's that are not original with the sheath is commonplace due to all kinds of reasons. Misschie a jambiya with rhinoceros hilt sold out of need for money and replaced with a cheap piece to still carry the jambiya, who knows. Regards Marc