Syrian Khanjar
Syrian Khanjar
Arab - Druze
Majdal Shams, Ottoman Syria (Syria)
First quarter of the 20th century (ca. 1910 - 1925)
Steel, horn, bone, brass, lead or pewter, wood, iron
Blade: 6 5/8" (16.8cm)
Hilt & Blade: 11 1/4" (28.6cm)
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 11 3/4" (29.8cm)
Collection Date: 2026
Collection Number: 518
Ex. Harry Wagner Collection: Columbus, Ohio (2026)
A very good khanjar dagger from Syria during the Ottoman period of the early 20th century. This example comes from the Druze town of Majdal Shams, or Tower of the Sun, famous for their workshops of steel making blades. The knives are known for their intricate and beautiful patterns of mosaic inlays. They are often known as Majdali daggers by collectors.
The curved, double- edged steel blade presents a raised medial ridge leading to a very sharp acute point. The forte on each side of the blade has an acid etched panel of untranslated Arabic inscriptions, presumably portraying an Islamic poem or Koran verse.
The hilt is layered in segments of goat horn and bone, with a brass ferrule and pommel. Decorated with strips and circular inlays of bone, red dyed bone, brass nails, and lead or pewter stars. Brass pommel plate engraved with a series of circle- dot motifs.
The wooden interior sheath is completely incased in brass sheet, finely chased in traditional Levant stippled and circle- dot designs. Attached are two iron suspension rings. A very good and older khanjar with Arabic verses on the blade and complete with its original sheath in traditional Syrian construction.
[1] https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/31771
[2] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=4786
[3] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=5015
[4] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=4795
[5] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=5781
[6] https://vikingsword.com/lew/w0016/w0016.html
[8] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/syrian-khanjar-dagger-b0941168e1