Original Item: Only One Available. Now this is a lovely dagger originating from the Middle East! During my time in the United States Marine Corps we often encountered these items and brought them home, so this one most likely was brought back to the US by an American service member. The design is quite intricate and the dagger itself displays very well.

A jambiya, also spelled janbiya, jambya, jambia and janbia, also known as a shibriyeh in the Levant, is a specific type of dagger with a short curved blade with a medial ridge that originated from the Hadhramaut region of Yemen. They have spread to other countries in the Middle East, to other countries in the Arab world (Somalia), and to parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia. Men typically above the age of 14 wear it as an accessory to their clothing.

The jambiya were taken by travelers to other cultures including the Ottoman Empire, Persia and India, where they were adopted with slight differences to the blade, hilt and scabbard.

Hilt or handle
A significant part of a jambiya is its hilt (handle). The saifani hilt is made of rhinoceros horn, which can cost up to $1500 per kilogram. It is used on the daggers of wealthier citizens. Different versions of saifani hilts can be distinguished by their color. Other jambiya hilts are made of different types of horn, wood, metal and ivory from elephants and walruses. Apart from the material used for the hilt, the design and detail is a measure of its value and the status of its owner. This example is constructed of wood with inlaid checked steel plates to give the user better grip.

Blade, sheath and belt
The double edged blade of the jambiya is constructed of steel which in some cases is damascus or wootz steel with this example having the feel of sheet steel. The blade is stored in a sheath known as 'Asib, usually made of wood covered with metal, leather or cloth like this example. The sheath can be decorated with various ornaments that signify status. These include silver work, semi-precious stones, and leather with this one being a mixture of both silver and leather. The sheath can be fixed to a leather belt, which is normally 2–3 inches wide. The belt is usually worn around the lower abdomen. There are often other items attached to this belt, such as a silver purse for containing money and change. Sometimes, Jambiyas are made from shrapnel left over from missiles in a war, which is what this one has the appearance of being made from.

Almost certainly a War Trophy brought back from a Desert Campaign.

A lovely example ready for further research and display.