Hi from Saudi Arabia

G

guitarted

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Jan 4, 2007
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Hi blade blade brothers.

I am a 33 year old Saudi who lived as a student in the UK for a while where I was introduced to spyderco and blade forums.

The knife scene here is non existent. Knives and swords were appreciated in the old days and were made and imported from all over the place. swords, daggers and knives were made here also in the past. Unfortunately, not any more. All we have now is utility Chinese and pakistani knives of poor quality. The Art is totally lost.

The only type of knives that are still valued is the Arabian dagger (Khanjar) (خنجر) these are hi quality knives still made, carried and collected especially by tribes men in the south of Arabia and the Yemen.

Here are a few pictures

dagger1_s.jpg

khanjar.jpg

Kanjer3.jpg

Kanjer2.jpg

11454550142qv.jpg

image001.jpg

ph-0.jpg

1149856930381_20jamjac9e.JPG
 
Welcome to the forums, and what a great contribution.
Please tell us more about the knives. I would be especially interested in the modern makers of such knives--I assume that they are small operations, or even single custom makers? Don't worry, the more detail, the better.:D
 
Thanks shaldag,

Yup, these are only made by custom makers. The material usually used for the sheath are silver, wood or leather among other material. The real masters who make these are very few. there are allot of cheep replica made in Pakistan for tourists but they are worthless. There are no companies that will make these daggers. Only a few custom makers and some dealers and small time brokers who reserve them or by whatever the maker finishes.

These are not only weapons or tools but are considered part of a mans costumes and dress. Unfortunately, They are banned by law in some cities. Some countries like Oman and Yemen still allow men to ware them in the market place or generally in public.

the evil of modernity :o
 
guitarted said:
Some countries like Oman and Yemen still allow men to ware them in the market place or generally in public.
Click to expand...

Great post - really enjoyed the pictures - beautiful knives.

Are the above knives manufactured in their respective countries - Oman & Yemen?

Are they of good quality, or are they the Pakistani replicas you spoke of.?

Thanks
 
shaldag said:
Welcome to the forums, and what a great contribution.
Please tell us more about the knives. I would be especially interested in the modern makers of such knives--I assume that they are small operations, or even single custom makers? Don't worry, the more detail, the better.:D
Click to expand...

Jot Singh Khalsa makes really beatiful Kirpans (a Sikh dagger), and I'm sure he could make a Khanjar. http://khalsakirpans.com/bio
 
Hi theoldawg.
Yes, these pictures are of the good quality ones. Yes They are made in Yemen and Oman. Oman particularly is famous for quality. Most of the good ones are still made of carbon steel regardless of how expensive the sheath and handle are. I don't know if there are ones made of stainless steel because most makers stick to what they know. I don't know if they can get or grind stainless steel . Most of the cost goes into the workmanship as they are entirely handmade. The really expensive ones have rhino horns ivory for the handle. (poor Rhyno's). They use allot of silver for the sheath (nails, wire, and melted silver. Also for the base that is used to mount the knife on the leather belt that is worn by the men.
 
Very cool and thanks for the pictures.

Question: What is the significance of the "J" shape of the sheath, when the blade is not exactly the same shape nor fills up the whole sheath?
 
Saunterer said:
Very cool and thanks for the pictures.

Question: What is the significance of the "J" shape of the sheath, when the blade is not exactly the same shape nor fills up the whole sheath?
Click to expand...

Hi, I don't know, maybe it is just the way they are traditionally made. Maybe they are made that way so they don't poke the person who wears them as men traditionally sit on the ground. a straight sheath would probably be uncomfortable.

The handle is designed for quick draw if you like. they are not the most comfortable for long cutting.
 
Welcome, Saudi brother.

If it matters, I can 'second' him. I have seen and even handled a few of these knives. They are very finely made with obvious signs of real craftsmanship. The balance seems a bit odd, but they are truly things of beauty. Believe I've only seen blades of Omani make.

A number of my peers have khanjars -- they came as personal gifts. Fortunately, the military bureaucracy did not insist on repatriating these particular gifts. Most impressive gifts of this sort end up in US government hands -- you can see some on display at the Pentagon, State, CIA Hq, and in other, similar facilities.
 
Welcome, guitarted.

I too was curious about the J-shaped sheathes. However, after seeing the photo of the man wearing the knife, one possibility is that it allows the sheath to be fastened to the belt at two points, and thus securely holds the knife at a certain angle. It may also have become a specific decorative attribute over time, as others have suggested. Just a thought.

Very interesting knives, by the way. It's nice to see traditional knives such as these, and to read about places where they are still worn the way they have been for generations.
 
Love the pics.

What are the costs of a good quality knife like the ones you have pictured?

Keep the pics coming.

Thanks.
 
Very beautiful. Carry has been either prohibited or firmly discouraged since at least the early 1990s except at special "desert retreats" where traditional sword dances, stories are told, and there are rich communal feasts.
The worksmanship on silver bracelets, lockets, necklaces, and, of course, knives and swords can be quite breathtaking.

IMHO, there is little more beautiful than the desert at sunrise.
here's a couple pics from the concise britannica: http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=5769
http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=5949 - used to camp near the base of that plateau...
 
Thank you all for the welcome.
This is a small variant of the khanjar found in the aria

normal_Poignards.jpg


This is a slightly larger version called Janbiyah:
03-09-19-1860469548.jpg
 
Terry Newton said:
Love the pics.

What are the costs of a good quality knife like the ones you have pictured?

Keep the pics coming.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Hi Terry,

I am really no expert but the prices vary according to the maker and aria. Good ones Could cost a thousand dollar or more. Some for a few hundred.
 
Nice looking knives. I would certainly like to hand one of those..just get get an idea of how they feel.
 
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