Buying Khanjars in Omani souks

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by sksiazki

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

Salaams Sksiazki ~ Salalah is a great souk because as it is relatively close to the Yemen border the flavour of daggers there is influenced by Yemeni styles. There are also Southern Omani and Jebali Dhofari daggers for sale and use... It is important to realise that although ethnographic arms in the west tends to mean items that were used in antiquity, that is not the case in Oman. These weapons are certainly historical and traditional but also living, breathing artefacts worn and used today. They are the badge of office of the head of the family and very much current as well as used in traditional historical dance routines and pageants.

What is not well known outside of Southern Oman is the traditional Jebali tribal dagger dance and if you get a chance to see that please do.

Good luck in your visit to Oman.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.