The Omani Shamshiir.

Excalibur2025 · 11th March 2025, 03:50 PM

Hi all, I have an Omani shamshir that was found in Zanzibar.

I just wondered, is this thread still active and is Mr al Balooshi still available?

I am looking to get some additional information about the shamshir.

kahnjar1 · 13th March 2025, 05:11 AM

Any Photos?

Excalibur2025 · 17th March 2025, 12:51 PM

The sword was dug up from the earth (but not that deep - just below the surface).

We assume the grip would have been walrus ivory but it looks like the ivory has completely decomposed until there's nothing left. Does anyone know how long it would take walrus ivory to decompose in tropical conditions?

(I tried to post a photo but it wouldn't upload. I will try again later).

Excalibur2025 · 17th March 2025, 03:11 PM

Photo of the hilt:

kahnjar1 · 19th March 2025, 09:29 PM

Persian? Others will no doubt may have a better idea.

Excalibur2025 · 21st March 2025, 05:44 PM

Yes, it's Persian, but most likely would have been owned by an Omani.

Just trying to figure out if the ivory blocks on the grip have been removed or decomposed while underground. We're looking at potentially more than four years in soil exposed to a tropical climate including heat and torrential rain in the rainy seasons.

kahnjar1 · 21st March 2025, 09:09 PM

Not necessarily owned by an Omani. Many countries traded thru Zanzibar including the Omanis.
Why do you think that the grip was ivory? Could just as easily been bone or giraffe hoof, or for that matter a wood of some sort. If it was ivory (suggesting a high class owner) it would also point to the grip dressing being silver. From your photos it would appear that the grip is not silver.
Could you post a photo of the whole sword please.

Jim McDougall · 24th April 2025, 03:00 PM

As well noted by Kahnjar, Zanzibar was a key trade center in the 19th century and of course being an Omani sultanate, there were considerable numbers of the types of edged weapons commonly in use in Arabia in that context.

The Persian shamshir was a highly prized sword by Arabs throughout the Dar al Islam, so presence of this example in Zanzibar is not unusual. It seems unusual that the hilt material is gone as I thought bone, ivory etc. would survive in an archaeological deposit. More likely of course the ivory would have been taken for its value and the sword discarded.
By the same token, if the hilt was silver, that too would have been taken.

Always fascinating when any weapon is found in situ, and speculating how, when and why it ended up where found. Thank you for posting this!

17th March 2025, 12:51 PM	#3
Excalibur2025 Member Join Date: Mar 2025 Posts: 13	Omani / Persian shamshir found in Zanzibar The sword was dug up from the earth (but not that deep - just below the surface). We assume the grip would have been walrus ivory but it looks like the ivory has completely decomposed until there's nothing left. Does anyone know how long it would take walrus ivory to decompose in tropical conditions? (I tried to post a photo but it wouldn't upload. I will try again later). Attached Images

17th March 2025, 03:11 PM	#4
Excalibur2025 Member Join Date: Mar 2025 Posts: 13	Omani shamshir found in Zanzibar Photo of the hilt: Attached Images

11th March 2025, 03:50 PM	#1
Excalibur2025 Member Join Date: Mar 2025 Posts: 13	Hi all, I have an Omani shamshir that was found in Zanzibar. I just wondered, is this thread still active and is Mr al Balooshi still available? I am looking to get some additional information about the shamshir.

13th March 2025, 05:11 AM	#2
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,786	Any Photos?

19th March 2025, 09:29 PM	#5
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,786	Persian? Others will no doubt may have a better idea.

21st March 2025, 05:44 PM	#6
Excalibur2025 Member Join Date: Mar 2025 Posts: 13	Yes, it's Persian, but most likely would have been owned by an Omani. Just trying to figure out if the ivory blocks on the grip have been removed or decomposed while underground. We're looking at potentially more than four years in soil exposed to a tropical climate including heat and torrential rain in the rainy seasons.

21st March 2025, 09:09 PM	#7
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,786	Not necessarily owned by an Omani. Many countries traded thru Zanzibar including the Omanis. Why do you think that the grip was ivory? Could just as easily been bone or giraffe hoof, or for that matter a wood of some sort. If it was ivory (suggesting a high class owner) it would also point to the grip dressing being silver. From your photos it would appear that the grip is not silver. Could you post a photo of the whole sword please.

24th April 2025, 03:00 PM	#8
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	As well noted by Kahnjar, Zanzibar was a key trade center in the 19th century and of course being an Omani sultanate, there were considerable numbers of the types of edged weapons commonly in use in Arabia in that context. The Persian shamshir was a highly prized sword by Arabs throughout the Dar al Islam, so presence of this example in Zanzibar is not unusual. It seems unusual that the hilt material is gone as I thought bone, ivory etc. would survive in an archaeological deposit. More likely of course the ivory would have been taken for its value and the sword discarded. By the same token, if the hilt was silver, that too would have been taken. Always fascinating when any weapon is found in situ, and speculating how, when and why it ended up where found. Thank you for posting this!