Gile Dagger

Martin Lubojacky · 28th October 2023, 09:35 PM

It is an exceptional piece. Congratulations ...!

Sajen · 28th October 2023, 10:03 PM

What is the handle material? Rhino? Beautiful example! Congrats.

Marc M. · 29th October 2023, 03:31 PM

Greetings

Nice piece, perhaps more Yemeni than Afar or Isse.

Best regards
Marc

TVV · 29th October 2023, 04:25 PM

Fantastic piece, thank you for sharing it here. Perhaps an Afar or Issa had this commissioned and made in Yemen, but it was clearly meant to be worn and used back on the African side of the Red Sea.

Montino Bourbon · 3rd November 2023, 03:48 AM

it’s definitely an exceptional dagger, but what I like best is the incredibly good construction of the blade. In shape, it resembles a Moghul dagger. Extremely functional, and really an excellent piece. Congratulations! i’d love to see a photograph of the point, taken in the plane of the edge.

Battara · 4th November 2023, 12:30 AM

Best (and only) gile jambiya (I love the alliteration

) I've seen. Love the silver filigree.

Looks like wood, unless it is rough translucent rhino horn.

G. Mansfield · 6th November 2023, 09:37 PM

In my opinion, this gile is not from Yemen. Rather it is likely from the Djibouti Region with Yemeni influence. Yemen is only 32- kilometers through the Bab al- Mandeb Straight and during the late 19th century, French expansionism had attracted many workers and merchants from Yemen in a significant migration in search of better economic opportunities. By 1927, 45 percent of the population in Djibouti city was of Yemini origin. See attached article for reference. (https://sanaacenter.org/publications...ications/17445). It is also known that many Yemenite Jews had settled in Djibouti at this time known for their skills as silversmiths and craft jewelers, noted for their use of fine granulation and filigree work on Yemeni jambiya. In Yemen the silversmith trade was held almost exclusively by Jews from the 18th – mid 20th century. As with other production centers in the region, it has probably gone through an “assembly line” of skilled tradesmen of different vendors within the local market producing different components and pieced together (bladesmith, silversmith, leatherworker, handle carver, etc.).

As for the blade angle and hilt material, I have attached more photos. The handle is of rhino, not too translucent, only on the outer edges as the horn is quite thick. I have another gile similar although not as elaborate, while most are made of a hardwood, some are horn. The blade is similar to Yemeni jambiya without the large medial ridge through the entirety. The medial ridge here stops short of the point with two concavities present on either side of the ridge. This type of blade can also be seen in Afar spearheads. Here is an example from the British Museum showing a spear blade in similar form. https://www.britishmuseum.org/collec...Af1913-1211-39

-Geoffrey

3rd November 2023, 03:48 AM	#5
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 295	incredibly well constructed blade! it’s definitely an exceptional dagger, but what I like best is the incredibly good construction of the blade. In shape, it resembles a Moghul dagger. Extremely functional, and really an excellent piece. Congratulations! i’d love to see a photograph of the point, taken in the plane of the edge.

6th November 2023, 09:37 PM	#7
G. Mansfield Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 78	In my opinion, this gile is not from Yemen. Rather it is likely from the Djibouti Region with Yemeni influence. Yemen is only 32- kilometers through the Bab al- Mandeb Straight and during the late 19th century, French expansionism had attracted many workers and merchants from Yemen in a significant migration in search of better economic opportunities. By 1927, 45 percent of the population in Djibouti city was of Yemini origin. See attached article for reference. (https://sanaacenter.org/publications...ications/17445). It is also known that many Yemenite Jews had settled in Djibouti at this time known for their skills as silversmiths and craft jewelers, noted for their use of fine granulation and filigree work on Yemeni jambiya. In Yemen the silversmith trade was held almost exclusively by Jews from the 18th – mid 20th century. As with other production centers in the region, it has probably gone through an “assembly line” of skilled tradesmen of different vendors within the local market producing different components and pieced together (bladesmith, silversmith, leatherworker, handle carver, etc.). As for the blade angle and hilt material, I have attached more photos. The handle is of rhino, not too translucent, only on the outer edges as the horn is quite thick. I have another gile similar although not as elaborate, while most are made of a hardwood, some are horn. The blade is similar to Yemeni jambiya without the large medial ridge through the entirety. The medial ridge here stops short of the point with two concavities present on either side of the ridge. This type of blade can also be seen in Afar spearheads. Here is an example from the British Museum showing a spear blade in similar form. https://www.britishmuseum.org/collec...Af1913-1211-39 -Geoffrey Attached Images

28th October 2023, 09:35 PM	#1
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 836	It is an exceptional piece. Congratulations ...!

28th October 2023, 10:03 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,563	What is the handle material? Rhino? Beautiful example! Congrats.

29th October 2023, 03:31 PM	#3
Marc M. Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Belgium Posts: 116	Greetings Nice piece, perhaps more Yemeni than Afar or Isse. Best regards Marc

29th October 2023, 04:25 PM	#4
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,601	Fantastic piece, thank you for sharing it here. Perhaps an Afar or Issa had this commissioned and made in Yemen, but it was clearly meant to be worn and used back on the African side of the Red Sea.

4th November 2023, 12:30 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Best (and only) gile jambiya (I love the alliteration ) I've seen. Love the silver filigree. Looks like wood, unless it is rough translucent rhino horn.