Thank you for the replies Gents. 
Khanjar1:  Good point, as this is my first real delve into buying traditional, historical items, I'm not quite sure on my strategy.  I would probably prefer something in its more original form however with my schedule and my purse I dont have a ton of time or money to dedicate to restoring these items.  I will have to spend some time on this issue, good point.  Im just real excited about seeing these items and what there is available. 
 
Ibrahiim al Balooshi:  Thank you for your reply.  I was able to go through a good amount of pages on the site before my internet died again so I have been following your posts and indeed had read your post about the Omani souks etc.  ha I was kind of hoping you would respond.  I hadnt read your post on the Khanjar though, am doing so now.  If I visit Oman, it will probably be Salalah, not Muscat unfortunately, or I would meet up with you. 
 
Would anyone care to expound a little more on the discussion of not being able to get as good of a deal purchasing these types of items directly from the source?  I would have thought that purchasing from Oman, or Saudi, or Iraq or wherever, for the piece you are looking for, would give you a better deal however this is not so?  My initial thinking (just by assumption) was that I may be able to purchase items not otherwise as prevalent in the States, at a discounted rate from the States and thus perhaps purchase several, selling some of them in order to pay for the ones I keep for my starting collection. 
 
Thanks again
		 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
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