Tribal Bedouin Gusbi Jambiya Dagger from Hadhramout

Gusbi is the name wrongly common between collectors to describe the Jambiya daggers with high rising scabbard tip coming from the Hadhramout region. It is actually limited to specific form of daggers with bulbous pommel made from R horn and scabbard decorated with red stones (usually carnelian) or red glass pieces. The red stones / glass supposedly ensures good health to the bearer of the Jambiya. This type of daggers are made in Habban and Al'bayda regions of Hadhramouth.

The Gusbi Jambiya offered here is of classical form. Very well made and solid blade with a central rib. R Horn handle with bulbous pommel set with silver mounts and rosettes. The U shaped scabbard is covered with tooled leather and mounted with silver plate set with 9 oval glass pieces and high rising tail also set with oval glass piece and with a red coral bead at the tip. This Jambiya come with its original simple leather belt.

Blade 7 inches (18cm) long. Total length 12 1/2 inches (32 cm). Very good condition. Original leather cover. Min or loss to the silver cover on the back of the handle. Minor dents to the silver tip of the scabbard.

For a very similar Gusbi  Jambiya see: Stephen Gracie " Jambiya Daggers from the Ancient Souqs of Yemen" page 142