The Omani Khanjar

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 27th June 2014, 06:05 PM

Constructive comments are always welcome so please join in. Voltaire is reputed to have said......"I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it!!".

Salaams All...Under scrutiny right now is the picture of a Muscat Khanjar at one of the most important references ~ Ruth Hawleys Omani Siver. This remains one of the best resource publications possibly ever and over the last 36 years...even though it is a small pamphlet its historical data is impeccable.

One picture, however, remains rather grainy and difficult to decipher.. The picture is below.. Is it A Muscat Khanjar or in fact a very similar weapon of KSA proportions...? From Al Hasa?? Note that the first questions were recieved from Stu who has quite rightly questioned the point about this weapon being from KSA and on another thread recently Richard G has me focussed on the possibility of a rogue illustration in what was virtually a sacrasanct publication..The problem being that Muscat Khanjars are very rare... but anyway what does Ruth Hawley say about it~

In fact she never mentions Muscat... That mistake is all mine !

She says~ Quote "A beautifully and traditionally decorated Khanjar.showing the blade . This one was probably made in the Sharqiyah and it is in particularly good condition. The handle is entirely covered with silver, and it has an inscription on the back. The decoration which forms the centre of the pattern of squares and appears at the end of the curve is made of silver balls forming a pyramid; this is typical of work all over Oman". Unquote.

I think it is worth considering that it may be from KSA; Al Hasa.

What concerns me is the woven silver beneath the rings and the loop UUUUUU
style pattern above the rings. The dagger at http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18700 is similar. More red lights flash up when considering the belt which is not typically Omani. The huge turn in the scabbard would tend to point to KSA style, however, these factors may still be coincidental and more research is needed...It is apparently inscribed at the back but I haven't seen the actual item (in itself inscriptions are not unknown in Omani work but it is not at all usual). The dagger does not appear in the latest doctrine on Omani Khanjars. Mulberry fruit cluster silver ball decoration and square geometry are not specific to Oman.

Comments welcome.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 28th June 2014, 04:59 PM

Salaams All ~ With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight and with great respect I hereby re-identify the Khanjar shown above from Omani Silver by Ruth Hawley at the section on "khanjars knives and swords" and said to be Sharqiyah(Eastern Oman) made, as being a design of K.S.A. weapon from the Al Ahsa Oasis.

This weapon is said to have taken its design from The Muscat Khanjar.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 9th July 2014, 08:10 PM

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 11th July 2014, 09:07 PM

Smaller rings like these on a presentation style may be possibly for the Dubai market but quite attractive all the same... Hilt poly, goldwash above the belt. ...Typical Omani belt of the woven variety...Unusual linkages belt to Khanjar...

blue lander · 16th July 2014, 08:49 PM

Do men still deploy these daggers to resolve disputes? Or is that all in the past? Do you have any information about how these were/are used as a weapon? I read that with the Jambiya they'd strike between the clavicles and split the body cavity open in one blow.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 17th July 2014, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue lander

Do men still deploy these daggers to resolve disputes? Or is that all in the past? Do you have any information about how these were/are used as a weapon? I read that with the Jambiya they'd strike between the clavicles and split the body cavity open in one blow.

Sounds decidedly painful...

Salaams Blue Lander... So far as I know the dagger is more symbolic of the head of the family and is a national Icon. Pulling a blade on someone is totally alien but even the act of taking the blade out during a dispute is awarded with a prison sentence... It is simply not on.
As a weapon it was classed as a defensive one..and the weapon seems to originate way back in the past as a skinning item... skinning animals and cutting meat. I have seen a Khanjar used to kill animals for feasts ie ...goats cows and camels.
The central ridge in the blade lends itself to the downward strike I suppose although I have no evidence of it in a fight...Certainly the broad blade is a vicious shape wherever it gets inserted but as I say... Iconic thesedays and not pulled in anger.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

blue lander · 21st July 2014, 03:53 PM

Thank you. In the Omani Sayf thread we see many 100+ year old photos of men wearing Khanjars that look more or less the same as modern ones. Do you think that even that far back the khanjar was a "symbolic" weapon rather than a practical one? I'm wondering when the khanjar ceased being a practical weapon, and how did those practical khanjars differ from what we see now (if at all)?

27th June 2014, 06:05 PM	#1
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Constructive comments are always welcome so please join in. Voltaire is reputed to have said......"I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it!!". Salaams All...Under scrutiny right now is the picture of a Muscat Khanjar at one of the most important references ~ Ruth Hawleys Omani Siver. This remains one of the best resource publications possibly ever and over the last 36 years...even though it is a small pamphlet its historical data is impeccable. One picture, however, remains rather grainy and difficult to decipher.. The picture is below.. Is it A Muscat Khanjar or in fact a very similar weapon of KSA proportions...? From Al Hasa?? Note that the first questions were recieved from Stu who has quite rightly questioned the point about this weapon being from KSA and on another thread recently Richard G has me focussed on the possibility of a rogue illustration in what was virtually a sacrasanct publication..The problem being that Muscat Khanjars are very rare... but anyway what does Ruth Hawley say about it~ In fact she never mentions Muscat... That mistake is all mine ! She says~ Quote "A beautifully and traditionally decorated Khanjar.showing the blade . This one was probably made in the Sharqiyah and it is in particularly good condition. The handle is entirely covered with silver, and it has an inscription on the back. The decoration which forms the centre of the pattern of squares and appears at the end of the curve is made of silver balls forming a pyramid; this is typical of work all over Oman". Unquote. I think it is worth considering that it may be from KSA; Al Hasa. What concerns me is the woven silver beneath the rings and the loop UUUUUU style pattern above the rings. The dagger at http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18700 is similar. More red lights flash up when considering the belt which is not typically Omani. The huge turn in the scabbard would tend to point to KSA style, however, these factors may still be coincidental and more research is needed...It is apparently inscribed at the back but I haven't seen the actual item (in itself inscriptions are not unknown in Omani work but it is not at all usual). The dagger does not appear in the latest doctrine on Omani Khanjars. Mulberry fruit cluster silver ball decoration and square geometry are not specific to Oman. Comments welcome. Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 27th June 2014 at 07:10 PM.

28th June 2014, 04:59 PM	#2
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Dagger Re-identified. Salaams All ~ With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight and with great respect I hereby re-identify the Khanjar shown above from Omani Silver by Ruth Hawley at the section on "khanjars knives and swords" and said to be Sharqiyah(Eastern Oman) made, as being a design of K.S.A. weapon from the Al Ahsa Oasis. This weapon is said to have taken its design from The Muscat Khanjar. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

11th July 2014, 09:07 PM	#4
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Smaller rings like these on a presentation style may be possibly for the Dubai market but quite attractive all the same... Hilt poly, goldwash above the belt. ...Typical Omani belt of the woven variety...Unusual linkages belt to Khanjar... Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 12th July 2014 at 08:06 AM.

16th July 2014, 08:49 PM	#5
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	Do men still deploy these daggers to resolve disputes? Or is that all in the past? Do you have any information about how these were/are used as a weapon? I read that with the Jambiya they'd strike between the clavicles and split the body cavity open in one blow. Last edited by blue lander; 16th July 2014 at 09:44 PM.

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9th July 2014, 08:10 PM	#3
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408

21st July 2014, 03:53 PM	#7
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	Thank you. In the Omani Sayf thread we see many 100+ year old photos of men wearing Khanjars that look more or less the same as modern ones. Do you think that even that far back the khanjar was a "symbolic" weapon rather than a practical one? I'm wondering when the khanjar ceased being a practical weapon, and how did those practical khanjars differ from what we see now (if at all)?