Middle Eastern Agate Jambiya Dagger, c.1955

A Jambiya dagger from the Middle East, acquired by a British Army soldier serving in Aden, now Yemen, in the 1950s. Arab artisan made, this knife is largely of polished agate, showing its raw colouration, including natural fissures and some cracks to the top pommel, as shown. Bound with decorated brass repoussé work, the characteristic 12 inch long curved knife has a steel blade measuring 4.5 inches, which shows signs of historic sharpening. Overall, a nice example.