The Omani Khanjar

chregu · 22nd February 2012, 04:45 PM

Hi
I have a question. Why is it called again and another time Jambiya Khanjar?
I always thought the Arabic curved daggers caled Jambiya , North African Koummya and Indo-Persian and Ottoman Khanjar.
is always a different word with the same meaning?
ask for clarification.
then i can show my curved daggers! smile
greeting Chregu

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 22nd February 2012, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chregu

Hi
I have a question. Why is it called again and another time Jambiya Khanjar?
I always thought the Arabic curved daggers caled Jambiya , North African Koummya and Indo-Persian and Ottoman Khanjar.
is always a different word with the same meaning?
ask for clarification.
then i can show my curved daggers! smile
greeting Chregu

Salaams chregu ... Nomenclature of arms and armour. Omani Khanjar. Yemeni Jambiyya. The rest as you note... Different countries with differing styles locked in time; Style, culture, decorative technique, blade material, design: all different.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

chregu · 24th February 2012, 05:50 PM

Hello Ibrahim
Thank you for the information.
The words are sometimes a bit confusing!
Omani Khanjar. Yemeni Jambiyya has to do with the difference of language? because the dagger is indeed the same!
chregu

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 25th February 2012, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chregu

Hello Ibrahim
Thank you for the information.
The words are sometimes a bit confusing!
Omani Khanjar. Yemeni Jambiyya has to do with the difference of language? because the dagger is indeed the same!
chregu

Salaams chregu ~ The different cultural aspects of these previously locked, time warp frozen countries is apparent in the different decorative techniques and designs of the Jambiyya and Khanjar. Yes! there are similarities but the blades are different as the Omani blade is less curved and the Yemeni blade tends to be bigger and the scabbards are highly monumentally developed in the two countries(much more so in the Yemen) for reasons that are not at all clear... but which are under scrutiny . On top of that is the word use which we all know in ethnographic arms and armour is a subject with no beginning and no end. In addition the belts, decorative style, technique and accoutrements are very different.
Therefor, the two daggers, though they are Arabian ethnographic weapons, are treated differently in research terms.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 18th March 2012, 09:40 AM

Salaams all~ Note to Library.

Both the Omani Khanjar and the Jambias in southern Arabia have a somewhat peculiar turned scabbard far greater than the blade size and in some cases monumental in the turn at about 180 degrees. The Omani turn is standard at about 90 degrees but still well in excess to the blade..

In an effort to get to the answer on the shape of the Omani Khanjar and hilt(known only to one person in Muttrah who swears that if we guess it right he will confirm the story) we have completed our exhaustive search of possible ideas which developed as a small list viz ~

1. It is for design and balance and the rest is lost in time going back beyond mediaeval times. The added weight of the additional curve and the belt design tips the weapon over slightly about 10 degrees allowing for a quicker draw..

2. The toe of the scabbard is called the same as the top of a Mosque dome..(quba) perhaps indicating a religious reason. The direction of Mecca is indicated by simply laying the entire thing flat on the ground and lining the khanjar and scabbard up with north; the line indicated by the toe or dome(quba) end of the scabbard is the direction of Mecca and could be used as a sort of compass to indicate prayer direction. In the case of Yemeni scabbards the curve is greater thus indicating the difference in direction from there.

3. The Khanjar is a dagger for seagoing merchants/sailors of old and the curve of the scabbard is to reflect the bows of the dhows..

4. Originally the weapon was a skinning weapon or tool .. Could the blade shape have anything to do with that idea? Though we have no idea why the scabbard would be curved because of this ...

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 26th March 2012, 03:42 PM

Salaams All ~ You may recall the UAE dagger we made~ see; Exciting Project; Historic Khanjar. The UAE KHANJAR.

Since then we have been commissioned to make several more with a likelihood of a further substantial quantity being required later as VIP gifts. Here are 4 more in a group soon to be belted-up and presented. It shows what can be achieved with a small, dedicated, specialist workshop which has breathed life into an old design; now back in demand.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 29th March 2012, 05:24 PM

Salaams all, Library note; For the ultimate historical notes on Omani Silver decoration including some Khanjar details; see Ruth Hawley, Omani Silver. (Longmans) (ISBN0 582 78070 5). The author brilliantly exposes the myriad of esigns that make up Omani solver work as if she is chatting over coffee with the reader... in a quite dazzling style she acquired by hands on experience and research on the subject. This is a "must have" for students of Omani Silver.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

NovelsRus · 17th June 2012, 06:32 PM

[QUOTE=Ibrahiim al Balooshi]Salaams all~ Note to Library.

Both the Omani Khanjar and the Jambias in southern Arabia have a somewhat peculiar turned scabbard far greater than the blade size and in some cases monumental in the turn at about 180 degrees. The Omani turn is standard at about 90 degrees but still well in excess to the blade..

In an effort to get to the answer on the shape of the Omani Khanjar and hilt(known only to one person in Muttrah who swears that if we guess it right he will confirm the story) we have completed our exhaustive search of possible ideas which developed as a small list viz ~

1. It is for design and balance and the rest is lost in time going back beyond mediaeval times. The added weight of the additional curve and the belt design tips the weapon over slightly about 10 degrees allowing for a quicker draw..

2. The toe of the scabbard is called the same as the top of a Mosque dome..(quba) perhaps indicating a religious reason. The direction of Mecca is indicated by simply laying the entire thing flat on the ground and lining the khanjar and scabbard up with north; the line indicated by the toe or dome(quba) end of the scabbard is the direction of Mecca and could be used as a sort of compass to indicate prayer direction. In the case of Yemeni scabbards the curve is greater thus indicating the difference in direction from there.

These both sound sensible to me, Ibrahiim. Whatever the angle of the curve, I've admired the Omani Khanjar (I still think of it as a Jambiya) as the most beautiful variety of all similar jambiyas or khanjars. The amount of work in the silver threading, the repousse work (baffling how they can do that!), the Quba and hilt, etc., are all just incredibly artistic and gorgeous.
Never could afford one, though, contenting myself with the Moroccan Koummya in its various forms. BUT....that has changed.

It's Father's Day here in America, and for a Dad's Day present my wife BOUGHT me the most outrageously beautiful Omani Khanjar I've ever seen. I'm still speechless over this. I can die happy now; my walls are full of Arabic daggers, scimitars and the like. Ahhh....peace and contenment reign.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 18th June 2012, 07:09 PM

[QUOTE=NovelsRus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Salaams all~ Note to Library.

Both the Omani Khanjar and the Jambias in southern Arabia have a somewhat peculiar turned scabbard far greater than the blade size and in some cases monumental in the turn at about 180 degrees. The Omani turn is standard at about 90 degrees but still well in excess to the blade..

In an effort to get to the answer on the shape of the Omani Khanjar and hilt(known only to one person in Muttrah who swears that if we guess it right he will confirm the story) we have completed our exhaustive search of possible ideas which developed as a small list viz ~

1. It is for design and balance and the rest is lost in time going back beyond mediaeval times. The added weight of the additional curve and the belt design tips the weapon over slightly about 10 degrees allowing for a quicker draw..

2. The toe of the scabbard is called the same as the top of a Mosque dome..(quba) perhaps indicating a religious reason. The direction of Mecca is indicated by simply laying the entire thing flat on the ground and lining the khanjar and scabbard up with north; the line indicated by the toe or dome(quba) end of the scabbard is the direction of Mecca and could be used as a sort of compass to indicate prayer direction. In the case of Yemeni scabbards the curve is greater thus indicating the difference in direction from there.

These both sound sensible to me, Ibrahiim. Whatever the angle of the curve, I've admired the Omani Khanjar (I still think of it as a Jambiya) as the most beautiful variety of all similar jambiyas or khanjars. The amount of work in the silver threading, the repousse work (baffling how they can do that!), the Quba and hilt, etc., are all just incredibly artistic and gorgeous.
Never could afford one, though, contenting myself with the Moroccan Koummya in its various forms. BUT....that has changed.

It's Father's Day here in America, and for a Dad's Day present my wife BOUGHT me the most outrageously beautiful Omani Khanjar I've ever seen. I'm still speechless over this. I can die happy now; my walls are full of Arabic daggers, scimitars and the like. Ahhh....peace and contenment reign.

Salaams NovelsRus ~ Nice to hear from you. Your Fathers day present is indeed beautiful. I gave up worrying about the name Khanjar versus Jambia ages ago~ though there is always discussion around the origin of words as Khanjar is an Arabic word but Jambia is more shrouded in African terminology. This is of course the Royal Omani Khanjar showing its Indian influence and created by Said Bin Sultans wife Sheherazad in the mid 19th C.
What else to give as a present for the man who has everything ~

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

26th March 2012, 03:42 PM	#6
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Salaams All ~ You may recall the UAE dagger we made~ see; Exciting Project; Historic Khanjar. The UAE KHANJAR. Since then we have been commissioned to make several more with a likelihood of a further substantial quantity being required later as VIP gifts. Here are 4 more in a group soon to be belted-up and presented. It shows what can be achieved with a small, dedicated, specialist workshop which has breathed life into an old design; now back in demand. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 26th March 2012 at 06:16 PM.

29th March 2012, 05:24 PM	#7
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Ruth Hawley; Omani Silver. Salaams all, Library note; For the ultimate historical notes on Omani Silver decoration including some Khanjar details; see Ruth Hawley, Omani Silver. (Longmans) (ISBN0 582 78070 5). The author brilliantly exposes the myriad of esigns that make up Omani solver work as if she is chatting over coffee with the reader... in a quite dazzling style she acquired by hands on experience and research on the subject. This is a "must have" for students of Omani Silver. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Attached Images

17th June 2012, 06:32 PM	#8
NovelsRus Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 41	Omani Khanjar/Jambiya [QUOTE=Ibrahiim al Balooshi]Salaams all~ Note to Library. Both the Omani Khanjar and the Jambias in southern Arabia have a somewhat peculiar turned scabbard far greater than the blade size and in some cases monumental in the turn at about 180 degrees. The Omani turn is standard at about 90 degrees but still well in excess to the blade.. In an effort to get to the answer on the shape of the Omani Khanjar and hilt(known only to one person in Muttrah who swears that if we guess it right he will confirm the story) we have completed our exhaustive search of possible ideas which developed as a small list viz ~ 1. It is for design and balance and the rest is lost in time going back beyond mediaeval times. The added weight of the additional curve and the belt design tips the weapon over slightly about 10 degrees allowing for a quicker draw.. 2. The toe of the scabbard is called the same as the top of a Mosque dome..(quba) perhaps indicating a religious reason. The direction of Mecca is indicated by simply laying the entire thing flat on the ground and lining the khanjar and scabbard up with north; the line indicated by the toe or dome(quba) end of the scabbard is the direction of Mecca and could be used as a sort of compass to indicate prayer direction. In the case of Yemeni scabbards the curve is greater thus indicating the difference in direction from there. These both sound sensible to me, Ibrahiim. Whatever the angle of the curve, I've admired the Omani Khanjar (I still think of it as a Jambiya) as the most beautiful variety of all similar jambiyas or khanjars. The amount of work in the silver threading, the repousse work (baffling how they can do that!), the Quba and hilt, etc., are all just incredibly artistic and gorgeous. Never could afford one, though, contenting myself with the Moroccan Koummya in its various forms. BUT....that has changed. It's Father's Day here in America, and for a Dad's Day present my wife BOUGHT me the most outrageously beautiful Omani Khanjar I've ever seen. I'm still speechless over this. I can die happy now; my walls are full of Arabic daggers, scimitars and the like. Ahhh....peace and contenment reign. Attached Images

22nd February 2012, 04:45 PM	#1
chregu Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: switzerland Posts: 298	Hi I have a question. Why is it called again and another time Jambiya Khanjar? I always thought the Arabic curved daggers caled Jambiya , North African Koummya and Indo-Persian and Ottoman Khanjar. is always a different word with the same meaning? ask for clarification. then i can show my curved daggers! smile greeting Chregu

24th February 2012, 05:50 PM	#3
chregu Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: switzerland Posts: 298	Hello Ibrahim Thank you for the information. The words are sometimes a bit confusing! Omani Khanjar. Yemeni Jambiyya has to do with the difference of language? because the dagger is indeed the same! chregu

18th March 2012, 09:40 AM	#5
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Salaams all~ Note to Library. Both the Omani Khanjar and the Jambias in southern Arabia have a somewhat peculiar turned scabbard far greater than the blade size and in some cases monumental in the turn at about 180 degrees. The Omani turn is standard at about 90 degrees but still well in excess to the blade.. In an effort to get to the answer on the shape of the Omani Khanjar and hilt(known only to one person in Muttrah who swears that if we guess it right he will confirm the story) we have completed our exhaustive search of possible ideas which developed as a small list viz ~ 1. It is for design and balance and the rest is lost in time going back beyond mediaeval times. The added weight of the additional curve and the belt design tips the weapon over slightly about 10 degrees allowing for a quicker draw.. 2. The toe of the scabbard is called the same as the top of a Mosque dome..(quba) perhaps indicating a religious reason. The direction of Mecca is indicated by simply laying the entire thing flat on the ground and lining the khanjar and scabbard up with north; the line indicated by the toe or dome(quba) end of the scabbard is the direction of Mecca and could be used as a sort of compass to indicate prayer direction. In the case of Yemeni scabbards the curve is greater thus indicating the difference in direction from there. 3. The Khanjar is a dagger for seagoing merchants/sailors of old and the curve of the scabbard is to reflect the bows of the dhows.. 4. Originally the weapon was a skinning weapon or tool .. Could the blade shape have anything to do with that idea? Though we have no idea why the scabbard would be curved because of this ... Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi.