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Originally Posted by SwordsAntiqueWeapons
Don't take this statement as absolute though as the strong bladed types from antiquity exist and are not masquerading as dance swords, they are what they are, strong fighting swords.
But beware, there are rubbish types with poor looks and ugly handles seen in the tourist dens that carry old blades. it is important to be able to distinguish the types.
Gavin
Gavin
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No they aren't. Omani flexi dance blades came about at the beginning of the current dynastic rule period somewhere around (just after ) 1744..and continuously until today.. They were and still are used in pageants and march past salutation and dance and are incorporated into the Funoon. See below;
1.For Funoon see
http://www.octm-folk.gov.om/meng/introduction.asp
2.For details on The Omani Dancing Sword see
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ght=Omani+Sayf
They were never used in battle as battle swords. Palace guards and Omani tribal soldiers did carry them... but only because it was one of their main duties... to raise a salute to the Sultan.
..not so unusual as you might think after all that is what happens in many armies today especially officers on parade who carry swords to conduct salutes with... especially in front of senior dignitaries and Royalty...
The Omani Battle Sword is different... The Sayf Yamaani... Library refers.
The bendy dancing sword has its "impersonators"... since there are some weapons of Red Sea providence which are very similar but which have been rehilted on Omani hilts but which are stiff...non flexible blades... These are from Ethiopian / German imports...often entering Oman via Yemeni traders and rehilted in Muscat.
The shop/workshops that carry out this work have vast supplies of varied quality blades some of which I would categorise as low value, however,some are original and excellent and have even found their way into important collections including museums; private and national.
With regard to the rehilts ~ They have been pumped onto the world stage in considerable quantities since about 1970 thus the peculiar appearance across the globe of apparently non flexible Omani Dancing Swords redesignated as fighting swords (which everyone here finds hilarious since they certainly werent used for that here)... but oddly may well be concoctions rehilted here... but which originally were actual battle blades from Ethiopia!!
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.