4 ms·

How are the scabbards so curvy? Is the blade simply very short?

by Icko 3y ago

JKCalhoun 3y ago
Yeah, the first photo kind of shows you that. Does seem like a large part of the lower end of the scabbard is for "show"?
- foobarian 3y ago
  Reminds me of shoe designs in that part of the world ending up with a pointy front that curves up.
- gms 3y ago
  Indeed. (source: I'm from the region)
- Terr_ 3y ago
  The only practical use I can think of it is that it makes it easier to ensure that when you pull on the handle, the blade comes out quickly instead of yanking the whole assembly along.
fakedang 3y ago
A bit of the two. The blade isn't the full length of the scabbard, but reaches a good length of it (usually four-fifths of it). But it's also reasonably curved enough.
arthem 3y ago
Historically in the Arab countries, people mainly rode camels or horses while wearing a dagger in their belt. A pointy scabbard would foible the wearer in the leg and groin. Curving the scabbard solves that problem nicely. The blades do tend to be fairly short but longer than you would imagine as they too are curved.
- citizenpaul 3y ago
  >A pointy scabbard would foible the wearer in the leg and groin. Curving the scabbard solves that problem nicely. This is one of those comically out of touch armchair historian takes. Curved blades were made back then for the same reason they are still made. They are effective at killing other humans quickly. Aimed at a throat or other vulnerable point the blade is highly likely to drag across an artery on the withdrawal thereby quickly ending your confrontation. Curved blades don't work as well on animals with fur and thick hides.
  - blincoln 3y ago
    Many of the scabbards in the article are so curved that it would be impossible to pull a blade of the same shape out of them. I'm sure that's what arthem was referring to.
    - arthem 3y ago
      With the daggers that I have seen and handled, the blade is curved but does not run the full length of the scabbard. It is not unusual for the blade of a L shaped scabbard to be cresent shaped[1], meaning that it is quite easy to pull the blade out. [1] https://www.rct.uk/collection/62815/jambiya-dagger-and-scabbard https://www.rct.uk/collection/62815/jambiya-dagger-and-scabb...
  - arthem 3y ago
    >This is one of those comically out of touch armchair historian takes. Having lived in the Middle East and owned a traditional curved dagger, I can safely say that the type of dagger mentioned in the original article is not used primarily for warfare. They serve as a symbol of manhood and social status. It is seen as highly disrespectful and dishonorable for a man to draw his dagger. > Curved blades were made back then for the same reason they are still made. Traditional Arab swords and blades intended for warefare are normally 2+ feet long. Not too sure that a 3" dagger is too effective.
    - citizenpaul 3y ago

How are the scabbards so curvy? Is the blade simply very short?

by Icko 3y ago

How are the scabbards so curvy? Is the blade simply very short?

Yeah, the first photo kind of shows you that. Does seem like a large part of the lower end of the scabbard is for "show"?

foobarian 3y ago
Reminds me of shoe designs in that part of the world ending up with a pointy front that curves up.
gms 3y ago
Indeed. (source: I'm from the region)
Terr_ 3y ago
The only practical use I can think of it is that it makes it easier to ensure that when you pull on the handle, the blade comes out quickly instead of yanking the whole assembly along.

fakedang 3y ago

A bit of the two. The blade isn't the full length of the scabbard, but reaches a good length of it (usually four-fifths of it). But it's also reasonably curved enough.

arthem 3y ago

Historically in the Arab countries, people mainly rode camels or horses while wearing a dagger in their belt. A pointy scabbard would foible the wearer in the leg and groin. Curving the scabbard solves that problem nicely. The blades do tend to be fairly short but longer than you would imagine as they too are curved.

citizenpaul 3y ago
>A pointy scabbard would foible the wearer in the leg and groin. Curving the scabbard solves that problem nicely. This is one of those comically out of touch armchair historian takes. Curved blades were made back then for the same reason they are still made. They are effective at killing other humans quickly. Aimed at a throat or other vulnerable point the blade is highly likely to drag across an artery on the withdrawal thereby quickly ending your confrontation. Curved blades don't work as well on animals with fur and thick hides.
- blincoln 3y ago
  Many of the scabbards in the article are so curved that it would be impossible to pull a blade of the same shape out of them. I'm sure that's what arthem was referring to.
  - arthem 3y ago
    With the daggers that I have seen and handled, the blade is curved but does not run the full length of the scabbard. It is not unusual for the blade of a L shaped scabbard to be cresent shaped[1], meaning that it is quite easy to pull the blade out. [1] https://www.rct.uk/collection/62815/jambiya-dagger-and-scabbard https://www.rct.uk/collection/62815/jambiya-dagger-and-scabb...
- arthem 3y ago
  >This is one of those comically out of touch armchair historian takes. Having lived in the Middle East and owned a traditional curved dagger, I can safely say that the type of dagger mentioned in the original article is not used primarily for warfare. They serve as a symbol of manhood and social status. It is seen as highly disrespectful and dishonorable for a man to draw his dagger. > Curved blades were made back then for the same reason they are still made. Traditional Arab swords and blades intended for warefare are normally 2+ feet long. Not too sure that a 3" dagger is too effective.
  - citizenpaul 3y ago