The Omani Khanjar

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by NovelsRus

Salaams, Ibrahim,

Long time no talk to! How have you been keeping? How's the shop going? I know you're especially busy this time of year, so I'll try to be brief. Unfortunately, I am a novelist (i.e., a windbag), so please bear with me.

Ibrahim, in your business, do you have much dealing with older copper, bronze, brass or silver materials? I've lately begun collecting ancient Viking relics from the Baltic region, where they first began sailing around raiding their neighbors and acting like outlaw bikers of the sea, back in the 7th Century. As a result, I'm dealing with a lot of truly ancient, long-buried items that are as much as 1200-1300 years old. You can imagine what they look like by the time I see them. Most don't even resemble the items they used to be (jewelry, flints, arrowheads, etc.) I'll attach a couple of Before and After photos of some Viking rings I bought recently, so you can see what these old pieces can turn into after the right amount of massaging, rubbing and begging.

So, my question, good sir, is this: Do you know of any do-it-yourself, home recipes for cleaning ancient bronze, brass or copper? I'm looking for something you can whip together in your own kitchen that's inexpensive, effective, yet gentle (especially on brass). Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks in advance, my friend, for any advice you might have.

Sincerely,

John, i.e., NovelsRus

Salaams NovelsRus, See http://robertbeauford.net/cleaning_ancient_coins and see how the expert on antiquity and restoration of such items carefully explains the whole thing... This website has everything you will need. The cleaning tips are well researched ~ just follow his advice.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi

[NovelsRus]

Thanks, Ibrahim! I'll check out the site ASAP.

All best wishes,

John

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams All ~ Note to Forum. The Muscat Khanjar with cloth belt and money container worn on the belt.(often 2)

The Muscat Khanjar another example of which is at Ruth Hawleys masterwork Omani Silver

The Muscat Khanjar is typically made with a TEE shaped hilt and the main body of the scabbard displays the same ring formation as the Royal Khanjar(see #1) and must surely have been the main influence on Sheherazade who designed the Royal Khanjar hilt matching it to a 7 ringer Scabbard in similar fashion...in about 1850

What is nice about the little money container is that it has 33 little circles decorating the front cover illustrating the geometric indicator for all the words for God... in the short version 33... In the full version 100.

This Khanjar was bought in Mutrah in the early 70s and is a fine example with a cowhorn hilt and very nice silver work.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams; Support to above post. The unit has a work knife of which the best are English or German Sheffield or Solingen cake/butter knives with reworked silver handles(occasionally gilded in gold wash like this one). Please note the way the belt is fixed to the buckle... This is the correct way using a simple leather strip as opposed to silver buttons. Both methods are correct but the leather way is the simpler...The overall design is based on the square within a square combined with the geometric figure 5 motif. and an all over filigree dense surround.. and at its centre the silver Mulberry fruit cluster (not cannon balls!) The Mulberry tree is common throughout Oman.

Meanwhile the hilt is nicely finished off on the back with sheet silverwork.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams all Note to Forum;

Fine old UAE KHANJAR made in the Dhakiliyya (Interior of Oman) and refitted from the parts shown earlier on this thread..see #97. It still needs to be cleaned up and polished for wearing on a clean dishdash but here it is refitted and almost ready... The Belt is a traditional and famous UAE pattern hand stitched on leather.
For interest I show the Omani silver stitched belts for comparison in design. The UAE belt shows a lot of leather echoing the leather displayed below the belt whereas in Omani Khanjars the belt reflects the more intricate design in the same part of the scabbard.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams all, Note to Forum; Good Khanjar from the Baatinah coast with an old blade, belt and mangash (tweezer and spikes set) The hilt is cowhorn.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams all Note to Forum ~ There are several other items that may or may not be attached to the Khanjar and Belt (or gunbelt) Here are some below... Note that the Mungash is a combination item with tweezers and spikes both in steel and carried in a bullet cartridge shaped container similar to the Kohl container.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.