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Originally Posted by Michael Blalock
The 1st photo below from a post entitled "Riyadh's old Bazaar" . The next photo was taken at the Military Museum of Yemen. The sword on the left has a matching hilt. They are an interesting mix of the Yemeni guard and the Omani Pommel.
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Salaams,
Salaams Michael and an important note for Forum,
May I also add this letter to the TVV thread on the same subject?
Reference Motivate Publishing. The Craft Herritage of Oman. By Neil Richardson and Marcia Dorr in two volumes.
This was such a great thread as it is very relevant to the Omani Kattara history which continues to unfold. In fact on your thread here... I have said that the straight weapon was called Kattara whilst the curved is called a Sayf. This is true and untrue to the extent that ;
1. Regionally there appears to be some flexible name useage/mixup.
2. People I ask just guess and say the first thing in their heads!
3. People don't know.
So I return to your original thread here to give warning notice that we may have got it all the wrong way round.
The straight is a Sayf and the curved is a Kattara.
My reference is The Great Herritage of Oman by Richardson and Dorr, page 230. and page 455. I can seriously reccommend this book as the Omani artefact book .. The best I have seen... It even has reference pictures from My Fathers old store! I am embarrased somewhat by the fact that for decades I have been wrongly naming and referring to the swords when in fact they are the other way around....!!!
I started asking people a few months ago which was which and to my horror I realised no one had any proof and most were as usual guessing. Omani people call all swords Sayf or Saif or Kattara depending on which way the wind is blowing !! and come to think of it ... it makes little or no difference to them anyway. Trying to research under that arrangement drives me crazy !!
Forum please note! Straight Omani Swords are called Sayf and curved are Kattara. ~ I am very embarrassed and for the rest of the week I shall be wearing a set of donkeys ears !!
A curved kattara in the Bait al Zubair collection looks to be 18/19thC and attributed possibly to German origin. (page 455 same ref.) I believe you may have a sword similar in hilt to the wired up item.( page 454 of same ref.) The book also illustrates other curved kattara from Persia but used in Oman.
So the straight weapon is a Saif, The curved is a Kattara (or Kittara). There is another with a flambouyant wavy edge and a single fuller called
Saif abu Falq. The blades with 3 fullers are termed
abu thalath musayil. I heard the term for the first time today to describe the old Omani sword (turned down quillons ) as Yemeni Sayf !! though I proceed with great care along that road.
Some mystique continues to surround all things Omani and questions still arise in all sectors on origins particularly the so called European trade blades? I see a new derivative on the Old Omani Sword with a Royal Sa- idiyyah hilt. Regarding Ters Shields it is rumoured they came from Zanzibar and are of some amphibious animal hide that could be either/or Whale, Hippo, Rhino or Waterbuffalo.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.