The Omani Work Knife.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by ariel

Elgood, in his book, cites Keane's diary of his 1877 travel to Mecca. The beduin who accompanied him, was very proud of his knife: " Rogers!". It was, indeed, Rodgers' carving knife. The beduin proudly gave the point a significant spring, and made a motion of cutting a throat: : " In the name of God! The God is great! Infidel!". Keane " didn't care care to continue the subject" :-)
Further, he noted that "any blade with English characters on it, or even a native blade of well- proven metal obtains that name". It became a synonym of a good blade.

Beauty and mystique of Indian and Persian wootz notwithstanding, European blades became the favorites of the natives throughout the "Orient", from West Africa to India proper. Since the natives used them for their intended battle purposes and definitely knew a thing or two about steel quality, it speaks volumes about comparative mechanical characteristics of the local metallurgical vs. scientific industrial qualities.

Water Scott's fictional description of the superiority of the "saracen" blade of Saladin over the sword of Richard the Lionheart (" The Talisman") hypnotized the minds of the Europeans for centuries.


The funniest thing, this story is still cited in the professional literature as a valid reason to study the metallurgy of "jouhar", the only example of contemporary fiction passed as a valid reference by the reviewers of scientific journals. Truly, a pen sometimes IS mightier than the sword:-)

Salaams ariel Superb references and comments /detail especially on the Joseph Rodgers knife...thanks!

Please see http://www.eggintongroup.co.uk/histo...h-rodgers.html

Quote "Like many of Sheffield cutlery firms, the early history of Joseph Rodgers is a little unclear. It is claimed that a cutler called Joseph or John Rodgers operated out of a building in Hawley Croft close to location of Sheffield’s present day cathedral. In 1730 what are claimed to be his two sons Maurice and Joseph took over.

The mark of *The Star and Maltese Cross was originally registered in March 1682 by a Benjamin Rich. However, it is with Rodgers that this mark will forever by associated and they registered it in 1764". Joseph Rodgers’ success is evident in the firm’s appointment to five successive sovereigns - George IV, William IV, Queen Victoria, Edward II and George V.Unquote.

*The Star and Maltese Cross mark is seen on my knife at # 6.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[spiral]

Fascinating Ibrahiim, Thank You!

Spiral

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

This subject goes very much hand in hand with The Omani Khanjar as it is often the knife which is tucked behind the Khanjar used for small tasks ...They are often rehilted English butter knives.

The bigger single knife may be worn on its own on a simple leather belt. The pictures below show newly fitted blades to silvered hilts.

Please See;
https://www.eggintongroup.co.uk/hist...h-rodgers.html

[Ian]

Ibrahiim:

Thanks so much for posting this useful information. The adaptation of high quality European steel to practical working knives is yet one more example of local reuse of materials for a new purpose. Functional work knives are not always so pretty as these, and have been a particular favorite of mine for a long time. Mostly I collect SE Asian and southern Asian examples, but these Omani knives are much prettier than a utilitarian bolo, parang, pisau, hansia, dha, etc.

Excellent thread!

Ian.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams Ian, Many thanks. The Rogers steel was greatly admired across Arabia no more so than in Oman for in particular "Sikkeen" blades on work knives.

[Pukka Bundook]

A very interesting thread, Ibrahiim!

I have a few of these Sheffield carbon steel knives and keep them in the kitchen drawer.
We have a drawer full of knives, yet it is these old springy razor sharp knives that we use for Everything.
I often marvel at the steel;
So paper-thin and springy, it can be bent to a great angle and yet springs back. We can not buy new knives with these characteristics.
New steel is thick and dull, whatever you do to it!

Your Omani chaps knew what they were doing when they sought out these little knives!

Richard.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Pukka Bundook

A very interesting thread, Ibrahiim!

I have a few of these Sheffield carbon steel knives and keep them in the kitchen drawer.
We have a drawer full of knives, yet it is these old springy razor sharp knives that we use for Everything.
I often marvel at the steel;
So paper-thin and springy, it can be bent to a great angle and yet springs back. We can not buy new knives with these characteristics.
New steel is thick and dull, whatever you do to it!

Your Omani chaps knew what they were doing when they sought out these little knives!

Richard.

Salaams Pukka Bundooq ~ I am delighted to get praise on Forum entries and this month was even more appreciated than others as we push the envelope on Omani weapons..
Here is a Solingen name well known in the cutlery world ...These Solingen knives are also greatly respected and worn in behind the Khanjar either left or right of the main weapon . In this case I was quite surprised to see the hilts which in Omani Arabic are transliterated as Horn Z'raffe Afrique . Omani traders called the Rhino Hilt Z'raffe ! An odd twist in the history of trade through Zanzibar which reached its peak in the first half of the 19thC.