Exciting Project; Historic Khanjar. The UAE KHANJAR.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Hi Ibrahiim,

Very interesting project!

I was recently examining an old Khanjar of similar style, with the sparse decoration on black background and I was suprised by the striking contrast with the scabbards where every millimetre is covered with wire stitching.

Could explain the significance of these 'simpler' (for want of a more correct word) scabbards?

Clearly a Sheikh could have any design he wished. Why not a fully embroidered silver one or even silver and gold?

Best
Gene

Salaams Gene,
Good question ~ It depends which area the Khanjar comes from but generally if its off the Oman Coast (The Baatina) usually it is completely stitched and all the leather is covered by the pattern whereas if its from the interior there is often a vast expanse of leather showing. The other main type is from the Eastern region (The Sharqiyya) and differs both in the ring number (TOTAL 7) and design... plus the Al Bu Saidi which differs in the hilt(derived from an Indo or Indo Persian) and it too has 7 rings.
Designs are fixed by tradition and silversmiths dont make designs which are not set acceptable patterns. In this case all we had was an old photo of The Father of the UAE in the photo wearing his traditional design. He could have had a solid gold dagger made but that wasn't his style and it would never have occured to him to wear anything so over the top as that.. He was extremely highly regarded and could be thought of as the last of the great Bedouin.
I hope you like the dagger style. The UAE Khanjar.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Salaams Gene,
Good question ~ It depends which area the Khanjar comes from but generally if its off the Oman Coast (The Baatina) usually it is completely stitched and all the leather is covered by the pattern whereas if its from the interior there is often a vast expanse of leather showing. The other main type is from the Eastern region (The Sharqiyya) and differs both in the ring number (TOTAL 7) and design... plus the Al Bu Saidi which differs in the hilt(derived from an Indo or Indo Persian) and it too has 7 rings.
Designs are fixed by tradition and silversmiths dont make designs which are not set acceptable patterns. In this case all we had was an old photo of The Father of the UAE in the photo wearing his traditional design. He could have had a solid gold dagger made but that wasn't his style and it would never have occured to him to wear anything so over the top as that.. He was extremely highly regarded and could be thought of as the last of the great Bedouin.
I hope you like the dagger style. The UAE Khanjar.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Hi Ibrahiim,

Thank you for helping us understand these subtle differences.
I humbly submit that these regional differences are worthy of an educational thread of their very own (with many pictoral examples to illustrate).

I do like the dagger style a lot. Very fine work indeed.

Best
Gene

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Hi Ibrahiim,

Thank you for helping us understand these subtle differences.
I humbly submit that these regional differences are worthy of an educational thread of their very own (with many pictoral examples to illustrate).

I do like the dagger style a lot. Very fine work indeed.

Best
Gene

Salaams Atlantia,

I use the words generally and usually quite liberally when describing the area from which a Khanjar originates~ In fact it is more likely that other than the Al bu Said Khanjar( Khanjar sa'idiyyah) which is really the only Khanjar which is "classifiable" in its own right ~ all other khanjars can be made in all silversmiths locations... these days. Having said that certain silversmiths specialise in this or that floral geometric or arabesque design but it is actually hugely difficult to pinpoint or even to say this is from Sur or this style is Bedu. Making it more difficult is the local habit of upgrading weapons; changing hilts, adding accoutrements to the waistbelt and so on but in general you could say a khanjar with a lot of leather showing on the lower scabbard is from the Interior (Dhakiliyyah) whilst massively stitched showing no leather is off the Coast. Daggers with rounded pommels are from the Sharqiyyah(east) whilst T shaped hilts are coastal (baatinah)or elsewhere ~ Generally !

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.