The Omani Khanjar

[mrcjgscott]

Hello Ibrahiim,

A wonderful and very useful thread, even for a layman like myself.

A further question if I may on my friend's khanjar we spoke about recently:

What are the standard blade length's encountered with Sur sailors jambiya?

Many thanks,

Chris

[kahnjar1]

[QUOTE=mrcjgscott]Hello Ibrahiim,

A wonderful and very useful thread, even for a layman like myself.

A further question if I may on my friend's khanjar we spoke about recently:

What are the standard blade length's encountered with Sur sailors jambiya?

Many thanks,

Chris[/QUOTE
Hi Chris,
Two things....these are not "sailors" Khanjars as such. As with most regions of Oman there is a port, but the origin relates to the REGION and not the port.
Now to blade length. Mine has a 6" blade which in my experience is about the length found on most Omani Khanjars no matter where they originate. There are no doubt some which are shorter and some which are longer, but on average that appears to be the general length.
Stu

[mrcjgscott]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Hi Chris,
Two things....these are not "sailors" Khanjars as such. As with most regions of Oman there is a port, but the origin relates to the REGION and not the port.
Now to blade length. Mine has a 6" blade which in my experience is about the length found on most Omani Khanjars no matter where they originate. There are no doubt some which are shorter and some which are longer, but on average that appears to be the general length.
Stu

Hello Stu,

Many thanks indeed.

I understand it is a regional definition.

I have not handled too many Khanjar's, but I have seen blade lengths from 6 to 7.5, so just wondered of there was an overall, or regional standard.

I suppose it depends quite a bit on the owner's needs, and what the khanjar itself is to be used for.

Many thanks,

Chris

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams All, The Sharqiyyah region is further subdivided into Sur the Port, Sinaw, Muthaibi and a few other villages with vibrant Souks...and the huge area of desert and dunes that make up most of the rest of the region. There are variations in the subdivision in terms of Khanjars... Firstly I remind you that the dagger or blade size slightly different in Oman from region to region with some of the bigger weapons being on the Baatinah or coastal strip roughly between Muscat and Mussandam. The one area where smaller blades occur is in Sur. This is because of the seafaring tendency for smaller Khanjars on board ships. A big full sized khanjar was probably too cumbersome for that task. Also dotted around the Sharqiyyah you see the floral pinned Rhino hilt called Saifani and of course other names fly off the wheel like Sinawi and Muthaibi. and Sharqiyyah... The smaller form from Sur for example is called Suri. The largest is actually from Nizwa and is called Nizwani though I have seen a collosal one off Khanjar worn in Bahla about 20 years ago when I was visiting a giant...This chap was 72 years old and 7 foot plus tall. Bahala is famous for giants and his Khanjar was about twice the normal size as were his hands..!! They don't make them like that anymore !! A custom made Khanjar for a local Giant.

Confusion slips in when considering the UAE Khanjar mainly because it adopted the interior dagger of that part of Oman now adjacent the UAE...so they almost share a style.. Dhaakiliyyah (the Omani interior) and UAE.


It is very easy to underestimate the influence of Sur. This was the trade Hub and powerhouse driving Oman in the Zanzibar days...and before. It was a magnet for trade between Oman and Africa; slavery, Rhino, Ivory, ...everything. It was a hotbed of trade with Zanzibar,The Red Sea, Yemen and Africa....as well as India and all stations north.

See map at http://www.maplandia.com/oman/a-sharqiya/
See a Suri at #2 on this thread...Note from http://khanjar.om/Parts.html That Suri style often contains a money container silver decorated (Bakhsha) ...see webpage.