North Afrika Sword ?

Jim McDougall · 4th October 2011, 07:18 PM

Hi Chregu,
I must apologize for lack of attention to your posting of this type sword, which a number of years ago would have brought a hornets nest of activity. I have anxiously been hoping that Ibrahiim, our resident authority on these swords from Oman, would respond. He has completed a great deal of considerably thorough research, coupled with the fact that he is situated in Oman.
I will add what I can recall from our discussions and try to describe more on this extremely desirable sword from Oman that you have posted.

In Robert Elgood's "Arms and Armour of Arabia" (p.17, fig. 2.13 and 2.15) he illustrates and describes these curious and ancient looking swords from Oman with the suggestion that they may be a proto-kattara (these being the long blade broadswords with cylindrical hilt).

Apparantly as revealed in fascinating discussions with Ibrahiim held here last May, these downward quilloned swords are from the interior of Oman, situated around the capital of Nizwa, and are of a form extant for many centuries. These seem to have evolved from earlier Abbasid battle swords from about 8-9th centuries, and remained in use by the tribes in the interior who are primarily followers of the Ibadi sect of Islam. It appears that the coastal regions of Oman, known as Muscat, is where the other form of kattara developed with the maritime trade and mercants there.

With constant conflict between the Ibadi tribes of the interior and the quite separate religiously and culturally Muscat coastal regions, the schism resulted in virtually two disconnected parts to Oman. With this, these traditional form swords stood in use concurrently with the more famliar cylindrical hilted kattara typically carried by the merchants of Muscat and becoming well known from coastal trade ports into Africa and Omans Zanzibar Sultanate.

Examples of this type also seen in "Arms and Armour of the Muslim Knight" (p.79, #43) where the form is generally regarded as 17th-18th century, but certainly remained in use much later, probably even into 20th century. Again, these would be considered an Omani sa'if in the sense that it is from Oman, but separate in form from the distinctive and familiar cylindrical hilted 'kattara' well known throughout Arabian trade routes.

I hope this helps, and hopefully Ibrahiim will come in and better detail my admittedly rough explanation.

All best regards,
Jim

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4th October 2011, 07:18 PM	#11
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,200	Hi Chregu, I must apologize for lack of attention to your posting of this type sword, which a number of years ago would have brought a hornets nest of activity. I have anxiously been hoping that Ibrahiim, our resident authority on these swords from Oman, would respond. He has completed a great deal of considerably thorough research, coupled with the fact that he is situated in Oman. I will add what I can recall from our discussions and try to describe more on this extremely desirable sword from Oman that you have posted. In Robert Elgood's "Arms and Armour of Arabia" (p.17, fig. 2.13 and 2.15) he illustrates and describes these curious and ancient looking swords from Oman with the suggestion that they may be a proto-kattara (these being the long blade broadswords with cylindrical hilt). Apparantly as revealed in fascinating discussions with Ibrahiim held here last May, these downward quilloned swords are from the interior of Oman, situated around the capital of Nizwa, and are of a form extant for many centuries. These seem to have evolved from earlier Abbasid battle swords from about 8-9th centuries, and remained in use by the tribes in the interior who are primarily followers of the Ibadi sect of Islam. It appears that the coastal regions of Oman, known as Muscat, is where the other form of kattara developed with the maritime trade and mercants there. With constant conflict between the Ibadi tribes of the interior and the quite separate religiously and culturally Muscat coastal regions, the schism resulted in virtually two disconnected parts to Oman. With this, these traditional form swords stood in use concurrently with the more famliar cylindrical hilted kattara typically carried by the merchants of Muscat and becoming well known from coastal trade ports into Africa and Omans Zanzibar Sultanate. Examples of this type also seen in "Arms and Armour of the Muslim Knight" (p.79, #43) where the form is generally regarded as 17th-18th century, but certainly remained in use much later, probably even into 20th century. Again, these would be considered an Omani sa'if in the sense that it is from Oman, but separate in form from the distinctive and familiar cylindrical hilted 'kattara' well known throughout Arabian trade routes. I hope this helps, and hopefully Ibrahiim will come in and better detail my admittedly rough explanation. All best regards, Jim