Kattara for comments

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 3rd March 2012, 02:25 PM

Salaams all~ KATTARA Type 1.

In this post I consider "what I call" Type 1 Kattara i.e. only those curved blades with the long Omani hilt Other types I include in the next post as Kattara Type 2.

The Curved Omani Sword. No matter what the blade is known as in other countries the name Kattara is applied from the Omani viewpoint. That means Shamshir, Nimcha, Shasqka etc all get the same label Kattara in Oman. The term appears to be a late addition into the language and "may be" a bastardised word from African, Indian or English (Cutter?) etc etc.

It comprises a curved blade often either Caucaz, Central European, German, Mediteranean, and in the Shamshir; Persian and Indian. In addition there is Red Sea influence and blades of Saudia, Yemeni, Zanzibari, manufacture etc. The main feature in the Omanisation process is in the long hilt which de-weaponises many of the swords since it does away with the quillons. The other addition is of course the Omani Scabbard. The item then achieves Iconic status; as this thread describes earlier.

The date guestimate of this variant hybrid coincides, perhaps, with the introduction of the dancing sword (in the above post) with which it shares hilt and scabbard style. Somewhere in the 18th Century and perhaps parallel to the current dynasty taking power. The exact date, however, is not yet proven.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 3rd March 2012, 02:41 PM

KATTARA TYPE 2. (i.e.the rest).
Picture with white hilt shows an actual Persian Shamshir for comparison.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 3rd March 2012, 03:02 PM

Hawksheads. (Nimcha) Known elsewhere as Karabela. In Oman because it is curved it simply gets the Kattara sticker though even amongst locals they sometimes call it a sayf ( a sword ). I show hawksheads as an overlapping form from the last post and as a separate style probably Yemeni and boun cing into there via the Red Sea and Zanzibar..sporting the usual range of European and copied blades as in the above post. One photo shows the Ottoman version..with luxurious horn hilt and conspicuous large rivvets and a likely contender of "origin of species" ! These certainly appear to be "weapons grade swords" with or without quillons and being reasonably short would have been ideal on board ships. From the lavish original style it seems to have degenerated into a general ships long knife, shortsword, cutlass retaining its hilt shape though in simple wood with leather over. In this way it has survived as a practical weapon though it is more seen on the periphery and on dhows. It is certainly not a pageantry item. It is tempting to try the label "Yemeni Nimcha."

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 3rd March 2012, 03:33 PM

Origin of species Omani Dancing sword SAYF. There are no details indicating the provenance or precise timeline of this swords' origins. It is assumed to have arrived in the 18th century but how and from where or what design is unproven. Perhaps someone simply dreamed it up, from the sword pictured below, as an honorary equipment in parallel with the current ruling familys control viz;

~ Imam Ahmed bin Said bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Busaidi (founder of the Al Busaidi state) was subsequently elected Imam in 1744. He was a popular and well-respected leader. Despite having to reconcile the warring factions after the civil war, Ahmad bin Said developed and built up the Oman navy into a fierce task force, which assisted in the expulsion of the Persians from Basra. He died in 1783 in Rustaq ~

The Possible Contender as to Origin.
It looks rather like a Red Sea variant sword known to have origins in Ottoman, Mamaluke, Abbasiid and likely Greek style. The hilt is, in fact, tantalizingly similar in style to the old Omani Sayf Yamani except it looks stretched since its long weighty blade requires a long handle for balance.
It is a weapon; i.e. it has a point and a spike at the pommel for the close in business. It is double edged and not flexible being stiff and powerful in make up for stabbing, thrusting and slashing. Looking closely there is what appears to be a hilt guard and though it is tenuous it does appear to be a reinforced structure forward of the grip.

On the other hand, and in the absence of proof, it may be totally unrelated.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Devadatta · 3rd March 2012, 09:41 PM

I wonder what sword does this man at the picture have, I guess it shall be a curved kattara or can it be straight saif?

David R · 3rd March 2012, 11:27 PM

Hi Ibrahiim, the subject of Omani "dancing swords" fascinates me. Perhaps you have posted elsewhere but..is there any chance of you posting a video of the sword dance in action. Believe it or not there is a tradition of UK sword dancing, called "Morris dancing" ie"Moorish Dancing" often claimed to have been brought back from the Crusades.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 4th March 2012, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David R

Hi Ibrahiim, the subject of Omani "dancing swords" fascinates me. Perhaps you have posted elsewhere but..is there any chance of you posting a video of the sword dance in action. Believe it or not there is a tradition of UK sword dancing, called "Morris dancing" ie"Moorish Dancing" often claimed to have been brought back from the Crusades.

Salaams David~ Morris dancing.. ? I think that is a festive seasonal English pageant structure built arround ancient beliefs no? In which case it is the same sort of reasoning behind the Funoon traditions in Oman but in the Morris they use sticks and bells (and drink lots of cider !) Its a tradition but the idea is similar)...

There is a dance routine enactment on web just tap into search Omani Sword Fighting I think..
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 4th March 2012, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devadatta

I wonder what sword does this man at the picture have, I guess it shall be a curved kattara or can it be straight saif?

Salaams Devadatta ~ Is it Straight Sayf or Curved Kattara?

Wow !! Very interesting picture which appears to be the local governor(Wali) of Salalah in 1902 ! He wears a medal and the Royal Khanjar and a long hilt sword. Is it a curved Kattara (hilt marginally longer than the straight and worn in the dress ceremonial (Iconic) role) rather than the Straight Sayf worn in preparation to dance or enact a pageant?

The Wali is like the lord mayor (seen here in full official regalia in special head dress and official robes) though with wide sweeping jurisdiction and legal powers acting to solve local water rights, grazing rights, land disputes or arguements over family problems and other affairs ...This looks like his official portrait photograph.

The Wali could easily hold a court session with up to 10 or more cases being dealt with symultaneously rather like the Caucasian chalk circle by Tolstoy ~ instant justice ~

The long curved Kattara therefor being the badge of office of the legal governor of Salalah. "The Wali Of Salalah" . Wali Mohamed bin Salim Mirindani. Brilliant post thankyou !

Therefor it is The Omani Curved Kattara.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

3rd March 2012, 02:25 PM	#1
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Salaams all~ KATTARA Type 1. In this post I consider "what I call" Type 1 Kattara i.e. only those curved blades with the long Omani hilt Other types I include in the next post as Kattara Type 2. The Curved Omani Sword. No matter what the blade is known as in other countries the name Kattara is applied from the Omani viewpoint. That means Shamshir, Nimcha, Shasqka etc all get the same label Kattara in Oman. The term appears to be a late addition into the language and "may be" a bastardised word from African, Indian or English (Cutter?) etc etc. It comprises a curved blade often either Caucaz, Central European, German, Mediteranean, and in the Shamshir; Persian and Indian. In addition there is Red Sea influence and blades of Saudia, Yemeni, Zanzibari, manufacture etc. The main feature in the Omanisation process is in the long hilt which de-weaponises many of the swords since it does away with the quillons. The other addition is of course the Omani Scabbard. The item then achieves Iconic status; as this thread describes earlier. The date guestimate of this variant hybrid coincides, perhaps, with the introduction of the dancing sword (in the above post) with which it shares hilt and scabbard style. Somewhere in the 18th Century and perhaps parallel to the current dynasty taking power. The exact date, however, is not yet proven. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 3rd March 2012 at 04:08 PM.

3rd March 2012, 02:41 PM	#2
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	KATTARA TYPE 2. (i.e.the rest). Picture with white hilt shows an actual Persian Shamshir for comparison. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 3rd March 2012 at 03:46 PM.

3rd March 2012, 03:02 PM	#3
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Hawksheads. (Nimcha) Known elsewhere as Karabela. In Oman because it is curved it simply gets the Kattara sticker though even amongst locals they sometimes call it a sayf ( a sword ). I show hawksheads as an overlapping form from the last post and as a separate style probably Yemeni and boun cing into there via the Red Sea and Zanzibar..sporting the usual range of European and copied blades as in the above post. One photo shows the Ottoman version..with luxurious horn hilt and conspicuous large rivvets and a likely contender of "origin of species" ! These certainly appear to be "weapons grade swords" with or without quillons and being reasonably short would have been ideal on board ships. From the lavish original style it seems to have degenerated into a general ships long knife, shortsword, cutlass retaining its hilt shape though in simple wood with leather over. In this way it has survived as a practical weapon though it is more seen on the periphery and on dhows. It is certainly not a pageantry item. It is tempting to try the label "Yemeni Nimcha." Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 4th March 2012 at 02:39 PM. Reason: text alteration

3rd March 2012, 03:33 PM	#4
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Origin of species Omani Dancing sword SAYF. There are no details indicating the provenance or precise timeline of this swords' origins. It is assumed to have arrived in the 18th century but how and from where or what design is unproven. Perhaps someone simply dreamed it up, from the sword pictured below, as an honorary equipment in parallel with the current ruling familys control viz; ~ Imam Ahmed bin Said bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Busaidi (founder of the Al Busaidi state) was subsequently elected Imam in 1744. He was a popular and well-respected leader. Despite having to reconcile the warring factions after the civil war, Ahmad bin Said developed and built up the Oman navy into a fierce task force, which assisted in the expulsion of the Persians from Basra. He died in 1783 in Rustaq ~ The Possible Contender as to Origin. It looks rather like a Red Sea variant sword known to have origins in Ottoman, Mamaluke, Abbasiid and likely Greek style. The hilt is, in fact, tantalizingly similar in style to the old Omani Sayf Yamani except it looks stretched since its long weighty blade requires a long handle for balance. It is a weapon; i.e. it has a point and a spike at the pommel for the close in business. It is double edged and not flexible being stiff and powerful in make up for stabbing, thrusting and slashing. Looking closely there is what appears to be a hilt guard and though it is tenuous it does appear to be a reinforced structure forward of the grip. On the other hand, and in the absence of proof, it may be totally unrelated. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 4th March 2012 at 02:47 PM. Reason: text alterations

3rd March 2012, 09:41 PM	#5
Devadatta Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 118	I wonder what sword does this man at the picture have, I guess it shall be a curved kattara or can it be straight saif? Attached Images

3rd March 2012, 11:27 PM	#6
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,120	Video, please. Hi Ibrahiim, the subject of Omani "dancing swords" fascinates me. Perhaps you have posted elsewhere but..is there any chance of you posting a video of the sword dance in action. Believe it or not there is a tradition of UK sword dancing, called "Morris dancing" ie"Moorish Dancing" often claimed to have been brought back from the Crusades.