Original 19th Century Arabian Horn Handled Jambiya Dagger with Decorated Scabbard and Leather Belt – Circa 1820 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. Jambiya, also spelled janbia, janbiya, and jambia (Arabic: جنبية‎ janbīyah), is the Arabic term for dagger, but it is generally used to describe a specific type of dagger with a short curved blade. The term jambiya is used in various Arab countries and India, it is closely associated with the people of Yemen and is prevalent among Muslim men in the Horn of Africa (primarily the Afars of Djibouti).

If you look at original photographs of LAWRENCE OF ARABIA in his traditional Arab robes, this is exactly the type of ARAB Dagger Captain T.E. Lawrence carried in his waist band. This is the Classic Arab Dagger of the Sinai and great deserts of the Middle East that stretch all the way down to Yemen and the Oman on the Indian Ocean.

Here we have a very fine Arabian jambiya dagger, with the characteristic wide curved blade with a central rib. Close examination of the blade shows that it is quite old, and shows wear from use and oxidation. It does have a nice texture, and could possibly made from “Wootz Steel”, an early form of laminated crucible steel, similar to “Damascus Steel”. This is what we call the “classic style”, as carried by “Lawrence of Arabia” in all his WWI photographs. This dagger is in fact considerably older, perhaps even 75 – 100 years older.

The grip on this lovely example is dark brown animal horn, and has some lovely silver adornments on the front, while the back has an iron plate on it. The center of the grip has an embossed iron band, which goes over the silver embellishments, and there is a silver fitting around the ricasso end of the hilt. The scabbard is wooden, and the throat and tip are covered with silver on the front side only, and has lots of filigree and embossed designs. The rest of the scabbard is covered with red velvet.

The scabbard is attached to a lovely felt backed leather belt, which looks to be from the mid Victorian area, probably a bit after the knife and scabbard, but still quite old. It has a working buckle, and some lovely chain work on the front of the belt where it goes around the scabbard. This is a very high quality edged weapon and shows that all the effort goes into the front side, leaving the rear of the scabbard almost totally unadorned. A lovely example with a fantastic decorative belt.

Almost certainly a War Trophy brought back from the Desert Campaign during WWI. by some soldier so he could relate his brave deeds of battle to his Grand Children.

Dimensions:
Blade length: 8”
Blade Style: Double Edged Curved
Overall length: 12 1/4”
Crossguard: 2”
Scabbard: 8″L x 7 1/2″W