Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 20th November 2011, 04:13 PM

Salaams All,

The investigation continues and we are at a crossroads in the research rather than a stall point. Various additional information has come to light including the alternative use of a sandal as a shield in the absence of the Terrs and some indicators of stamp maker marks on old Kattara from the interior plus a very recent pair of perhaps old 18th C curved Sayf blades possibly from Salalah with identical "god is great stamps" different to any seen so far.

I offer the following framework so far uncovered to date;

We have concluded that extensive evidence indicates an early Abbasid influenced straight sword, rigid, with turned down quillons, 8 sided hilt and Islamic pommel with occasionally blade dots; Sword variously Shown on this thread. Date of design and inception 751 AD , parallel with the appearance in Oman of The First Immam, Ibn Julanda. The early Kattara used as the "Heraldic" Ibathi Sword used against the Abbasids garrisoned in Oman whose Caliphs in Iraq vehemently disagreed with the formation of the splinter group Ibathi sect.

Thus; The Omani Sword known as Kattara used in unison with the Terrs Shield and displayed in the Funoon as both an ancient ritual parade sword dance and mimic martial dance notably in The Razha; The Sword Dance... in the mid 8thC. A.D.

The sword went on for a thousand years or more (Gaining Iconic status in the last 200 years) though perhaps in the 17th C a replacement thinner lighter more flexible blade appeared possibly from European sources. It is likely that with the advent of gunpowder sparked the demise of bladed weapons though the loss of expertise in making original wing shaped cross sectioned blades may also have led to the cheaper replacements. In fact the story could be a reversal of that since all males over about 16 years of age are eligible to yield a Kattara and that more men now have a sword for ritual dancing than ever before.

Some time later perhaps in the 18th ? 19th C a complete sword appeared i.e. blade hilt and pommel as one piece. This blade was very Flexible capable of a 90 degree bend from the spatulate tip. It was to revolutionise the Funoon. It has been suggested it is a European Trade Blade though no solid proof exists. The blades carry a variety of blademarks many of which are fake or copies. No ships manifests have yet been discovered of numbers of blades in the hold for delivery to Oman. It is suggested by association that since Africa was awash with German blades then Oman must also have been. Yet no evidence exists, no other place in the Red Sea, Africa, Yemen India or Iran sport these blades. They are entirely specific to Oman and no blade stamps are conclusive as to origin. Tantalising blades similar but not flexible and much thicker seem to come from Saudia and or Yemen as #1 on this thread which may or may not be related and carry distinctive blade marks suggested as being either a european copy (Peter Cull cross) or Islamic forms of Akhbar(great) short calligraphy form of the god is great stamp.

This was a dancing sword and could be buzzed in the air. Whats more it was peculiar to Oman only and the reason why it turned up in Zanzibar was because Oman owned it.. The sword encompassed the Terrs and inherited the name Kattara.

The point of the research is to try to define where did the new blades originate and when?

By normal trade inside Oman, through and between souqs, recent blades (aprox within the last 100 years) appear. Two known sources are Ras Al Khaimah and Salalah. It is likely that other centres have knocked out suitably made blades including Nizwa and Muscat. How much has leaked into Oman from Yemen, Persia, India, Sri Lanka, Zanzibar, Africa, Europe or other centres is unknown but is probably substantial. It could be that in searching for a mass influx at some point in time in the last 200 years of a vast quantity of blades is in fact chasing shadows but we are not alone in history and perhaps the art of "tilting at windmills" is still alive.

The search continues.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

I will show the pair of Salalah Sayf in my next letter ..In detail... It may come as a shock to some...

20th November 2011, 04:13 PM	#153
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Salaams All, The investigation continues and we are at a crossroads in the research rather than a stall point. Various additional information has come to light including the alternative use of a sandal as a shield in the absence of the Terrs and some indicators of stamp maker marks on old Kattara from the interior plus a very recent pair of perhaps old 18th C curved Sayf blades possibly from Salalah with identical "god is great stamps" different to any seen so far. I offer the following framework so far uncovered to date; We have concluded that extensive evidence indicates an early Abbasid influenced straight sword, rigid, with turned down quillons, 8 sided hilt and Islamic pommel with occasionally blade dots; Sword variously Shown on this thread. Date of design and inception 751 AD , parallel with the appearance in Oman of The First Immam, Ibn Julanda. The early Kattara used as the "Heraldic" Ibathi Sword used against the Abbasids garrisoned in Oman whose Caliphs in Iraq vehemently disagreed with the formation of the splinter group Ibathi sect. Thus; The Omani Sword known as Kattara used in unison with the Terrs Shield and displayed in the Funoon as both an ancient ritual parade sword dance and mimic martial dance notably in The Razha; The Sword Dance... in the mid 8thC. A.D. The sword went on for a thousand years or more (Gaining Iconic status in the last 200 years) though perhaps in the 17th C a replacement thinner lighter more flexible blade appeared possibly from European sources. It is likely that with the advent of gunpowder sparked the demise of bladed weapons though the loss of expertise in making original wing shaped cross sectioned blades may also have led to the cheaper replacements. In fact the story could be a reversal of that since all males over about 16 years of age are eligible to yield a Kattara and that more men now have a sword for ritual dancing than ever before. Some time later perhaps in the 18th ? 19th C a complete sword appeared i.e. blade hilt and pommel as one piece. This blade was very Flexible capable of a 90 degree bend from the spatulate tip. It was to revolutionise the Funoon. It has been suggested it is a European Trade Blade though no solid proof exists. The blades carry a variety of blademarks many of which are fake or copies. No ships manifests have yet been discovered of numbers of blades in the hold for delivery to Oman. It is suggested by association that since Africa was awash with German blades then Oman must also have been. Yet no evidence exists, no other place in the Red Sea, Africa, Yemen India or Iran sport these blades. They are entirely specific to Oman and no blade stamps are conclusive as to origin. Tantalising blades similar but not flexible and much thicker seem to come from Saudia and or Yemen as #1 on this thread which may or may not be related and carry distinctive blade marks suggested as being either a european copy (Peter Cull cross) or Islamic forms of Akhbar(great) short calligraphy form of the god is great stamp. This was a dancing sword and could be buzzed in the air. Whats more it was peculiar to Oman only and the reason why it turned up in Zanzibar was because Oman owned it.. The sword encompassed the Terrs and inherited the name Kattara. The point of the research is to try to define where did the new blades originate and when? By normal trade inside Oman, through and between souqs, recent blades (aprox within the last 100 years) appear. Two known sources are Ras Al Khaimah and Salalah. It is likely that other centres have knocked out suitably made blades including Nizwa and Muscat. How much has leaked into Oman from Yemen, Persia, India, Sri Lanka, Zanzibar, Africa, Europe or other centres is unknown but is probably substantial. It could be that in searching for a mass influx at some point in time in the last 200 years of a vast quantity of blades is in fact chasing shadows but we are not alone in history and perhaps the art of "tilting at windmills" is still alive. The search continues. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. I will show the pair of Salalah Sayf in my next letter ..In detail... It may come as a shock to some...