The Omani Khanjar

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 23rd January 2020, 02:42 PM

The above khanjar scabbard appears to be ready to accept The Al Saidi Dagger even though it is a 4 ringer... Remember that Royal Al Saidi Khanjars are designated by the hilt although it is often assumed there is influence in the scabbard as well...but technically the scabbard is nothing to do with it...Only the Hilt. Thus scabards are 4or 7 rings and there are some khanjars with more and even some with two) The simple fact is that before this style was invented by one of the rulers wives in about 1830 the Muscat khanjar had 7 rings and that the scabbard was adorned as it is today and unchanged... the only redone item or component was the hilt said to incorporate Indian design elements … the new fresh look said to have been done to brighten the day of the ruler. you may all remember that something similar happened in the sayf yemaani when it was iconized ..with a similar hilt.

It stands to reason therefor that the apparently fancy scabbard does not designate al saidi khanjar born out by simply looking at 347 which has that scabbard but not the hilt.. so it is probably a Muscat weapon...

Please see http://www.khanjar.om/Materials.html for an exacting description of coloured yarn useage in these scabbards ….and other materials.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 13th February 2020, 01:36 PM

I have never seen one of these variants with quite the hilt decoration and shape ...thus I should be quiet and take your ideas..perhaps http://www.khanjar.om/Materials.html has some clue to the style?

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 15th February 2020, 05:33 PM

Having looked at this odd species I assume the hilt simply isn't finished or that the new owner will round off the pommel or go for a Tee shaped style instead..What I do know is the material of the hilt .. It's Giraffe or as it has been called for centuries Zraff Hindi which roughly means Indian Rhino...which of course we now realise actually means African Giraffe.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 16th February 2020, 10:05 PM

Just a note to echo what is a relatively new type of fastener and buckle holder, often seen with the post 1970 Omani emblem of two curved bladed swords which appeared at about the same time as the demise of Saaid the Great in 1856 and via Zanzibar and combined with the Omani Khanjar but not used as an emblem until 1970 on the takeover by the previous ruler.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 16th February 2020, 10:23 PM

The belt with the dominant black leather showing more likely to be associated with a UAE dagger but may be seen on interior weapons Dhakiliyya...an area linked in history in this part of the world..The Weapon is an Omani Bussaidi Royal Khanjar.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 16th February 2020, 11:51 PM

I wanted to revisit this peculiar weapon which resembles its Yemeni cousin at #337 yet is distinct in two quite different regions in Oman ...The Dhofar region around Salalah in Southern Oman and the Sharqiyyah in the East of Oman...#350. all the above may usually be seen on a simple leather belt although I have seen Omani items on a silvered belt. The Yemeni variant is also often inscribed with script on either the front or back. I have also see a second belt on the Omani weapon with bullet slots often for Martini Henry Ammo.
In the weapons illustrated you can notice the central spine of the blade flanked by two other fullers not normally seen on other blades. It is assumed these are imported as are 99% of Omani Khanjar blades either from Solingen Germany or perhaps India or Yemen.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 27th February 2020, 07:47 PM

Here I place some pictures of the new tendency to build multiple daggers around the same scabbard. There is no hard and fast rule on this method although the Genoobi form will not fit the profile of the usual Northern Omani hilt. What is interesting is the use of the Royal "Busaidi" hilt on either the 7 ringer or 4 ringer scabbard... and since it is the hilt that determines that style not the scabbard; this is entirely correct.
It may also be noted that in creating the al Busaidi hilt on the old Omani Battle Sword or Saif Yemaani it is only the hilt which is given that configuration in circa 1840 AD which determines its form... The same applies to the Busaidi Khanjar... Just the hilt!

23rd January 2020, 02:42 PM	#1
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	The above khanjar scabbard appears to be ready to accept The Al Saidi Dagger even though it is a 4 ringer... Remember that Royal Al Saidi Khanjars are designated by the hilt although it is often assumed there is influence in the scabbard as well...but technically the scabbard is nothing to do with it...Only the Hilt. Thus scabards are 4or 7 rings and there are some khanjars with more and even some with two) The simple fact is that before this style was invented by one of the rulers wives in about 1830 the Muscat khanjar had 7 rings and that the scabbard was adorned as it is today and unchanged... the only redone item or component was the hilt said to incorporate Indian design elements … the new fresh look said to have been done to brighten the day of the ruler. you may all remember that something similar happened in the sayf yemaani when it was iconized ..with a similar hilt. It stands to reason therefor that the apparently fancy scabbard does not designate al saidi khanjar born out by simply looking at 347 which has that scabbard but not the hilt.. so it is probably a Muscat weapon... Please see http://www.khanjar.om/Materials.html for an exacting description of coloured yarn useage in these scabbards ….and other materials. Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 23rd January 2020 at 02:58 PM.

13th February 2020, 01:36 PM	#2
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	I have never seen one of these variants with quite the hilt decoration and shape ...thus I should be quiet and take your ideas..perhaps http://www.khanjar.om/Materials.html has some clue to the style? Attached Images

16th February 2020, 10:05 PM	#4
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Just a note to echo what is a relatively new type of fastener and buckle holder, often seen with the post 1970 Omani emblem of two curved bladed swords which appeared at about the same time as the demise of Saaid the Great in 1856 and via Zanzibar and combined with the Omani Khanjar but not used as an emblem until 1970 on the takeover by the previous ruler. Attached Images

16th February 2020, 10:23 PM	#5
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	The belt with the dominant black leather showing more likely to be associated with a UAE dagger but may be seen on interior weapons Dhakiliyya...an area linked in history in this part of the world..The Weapon is an Omani Bussaidi Royal Khanjar. Attached Images

16th February 2020, 11:51 PM	#6
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	I wanted to revisit this peculiar weapon which resembles its Yemeni cousin at #337 yet is distinct in two quite different regions in Oman ...The Dhofar region around Salalah in Southern Oman and the Sharqiyyah in the East of Oman...#350. all the above may usually be seen on a simple leather belt although I have seen Omani items on a silvered belt. The Yemeni variant is also often inscribed with script on either the front or back. I have also see a second belt on the Omani weapon with bullet slots often for Martini Henry Ammo. In the weapons illustrated you can notice the central spine of the blade flanked by two other fullers not normally seen on other blades. It is assumed these are imported as are 99% of Omani Khanjar blades either from Solingen Germany or perhaps India or Yemen. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 17th February 2020 at 12:02 AM.

15th February 2020, 05:33 PM	#3
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Having looked at this odd species I assume the hilt simply isn't finished or that the new owner will round off the pommel or go for a Tee shaped style instead..What I do know is the material of the hilt .. It's Giraffe or as it has been called for centuries Zraff Hindi which roughly means Indian Rhino...which of course we now realise actually means African Giraffe.

27th February 2020, 07:47 PM	#7
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Here I place some pictures of the new tendency to build multiple daggers around the same scabbard. There is no hard and fast rule on this method although the Genoobi form will not fit the profile of the usual Northern Omani hilt. What is interesting is the use of the Royal "Busaidi" hilt on either the 7 ringer or 4 ringer scabbard... and since it is the hilt that determines that style not the scabbard; this is entirely correct. It may also be noted that in creating the al Busaidi hilt on the old Omani Battle Sword or Saif Yemaani it is only the hilt which is given that configuration in circa 1840 AD which determines its form... The same applies to the Busaidi Khanjar... Just the hilt! Attached Images