Riyadh's old Bazaar

S.Al-Anizi · 20th January 2007, 01:26 PM

Hello,

This is the next section of coverage of my trip. This place is called 'souk al-zal', literally, the carpets market. However, not only rugs, but traditional clothes, and antiques are sold there, including swords. There are about five antiques stores, filled with antique arms and armour, at very cheap prices, and best of all, cheap wootz . They also have some replica stuff, but they would point out to it, unlike other places Ive seen where they rip you off by advertising a newly made wallhanger as old.

Ive taken photos from a total of four shops. There was one, Al-Ahaidib's, which was the largest on the souk, and contained no less than 500 swords!! Im not exxagerating, he had this large glass display, filled with swords, and large sacks, around the shop, also literally filled with swords. All at cheap, negotiable prices. He could have easily filled a museum with them. The owner says this is the work of 50 years in collecting. The newly made swords he has are very few, no more than 10 probably, the rest, all very old, valuable pieces. Unfortunately, when I first visited the shop, I did not have my camera with me, the second and third time I tried, the shop was closed

Lots of matchlocks and flintlocks, all for sale

A bunch of Jambiyas. Good news, none of these were stripped of their original, forged blades, as with ones coming out of Oman.

This shop has an abundance of newly made indian wallhangers, and old hadhrami saifs. No nejdi saifs to be seen.

Hejazi Jambiyas

Old, zanzibar saifs

Unfortunately, the picture does get ruined with the few cheap syrian wallhangers, that are invading the market

S.Al-Anizi · 20th January 2007, 01:36 PM

A faithfull reproduction of a Clauberg blade. During my stay, I had asked every old shopkeeper, and Nasir Al-Sufayyan about these blade. They seem to call them 'Abu Askiri', referring to the knight signature on the forte, and describe them as 'Anglais'. They hold these blades in high esteem, and regard them as the finest non-wootz blades (biyaadh).

closeup of the forte, notice the marks

the gold pieces on the scabbard are pure gold.

S.Al-Anizi · 20th January 2007, 02:02 PM

This is the second shop I went to. It had lots of very old hadhrami saifs, and very old karabellas, as well as French chaterllaut blades.

A bunch of swords, you can spot a couple of mutated kaskara's, which had their hilts replaced with brass saif hilts (syrian made), welded in.

A lot of martini henry's

A bunch of flintlocks

Newly made saifs, made in Ta'if

Lots of khanjars

Three very old karabellas, and one very old kattara, of a hilt design Ive never seen or heard of before.

A french chaterlaut sabre, which had its guard cut off, and made into a ghaddara

S.Al-Anizi · 20th January 2007, 02:32 PM

A very old blade, that looks very much like a Clauberg, except it had no signature, nor a knight on the forte. I guess it must be an old replica. It is so old, that its hilt has weathered off.

A newly made sword, which I found in the souk, one of the best. The all the fittings are silver, gold washed, with bone hilt slabs. Im not sure if the blade is old or not, it has some english digits engraved towards the forte, which could signify a european blade, however, it is too tip heavy to be a functional sword.

the hilt

the spine

Rick · 20th January 2007, 03:50 PM

I nominate this and the 'Museum' thread as photo posts of the year.

Great work my friend !
One man and a camera can make all the difference !

Thanks from all here for taking us along on your travels.

fernando · 20th January 2007, 07:21 PM

Hi S.Al-Anizi
I envy your trip, and those beautyfull pictures taken at such marvellous places. Thanks a lot for showing.
I have read you kind offer in the other ( Riyadh Museum ) thread, and ask you to mail me a full size picture taken at the old Bazaar, the one under the title "A bunch of Jambiyas. Good news, none of these were stripped of their original, forged blades, as with ones coming out of Oman."
Would that be possible ?
Thanks a lot - Shukran gazilan
fernando
fernandoviana@netcabo.pt

S.Al-Anizi · 20th January 2007, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

I nominate this and the 'Museum' thread as photo posts of the year.

Great work my friend !
One man and a camera can make all the difference !

Thanks from all here for taking us along on your travels.

Thanks alot my friend. You hang on there, the best has yet to come!

20th January 2007, 01:26 PM	#1
S.Al-Anizi Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Arabia Posts: 278	Riyadh's old Bazaar Hello, This is the next section of coverage of my trip. This place is called 'souk al-zal', literally, the carpets market. However, not only rugs, but traditional clothes, and antiques are sold there, including swords. There are about five antiques stores, filled with antique arms and armour, at very cheap prices, and best of all, cheap wootz . They also have some replica stuff, but they would point out to it, unlike other places Ive seen where they rip you off by advertising a newly made wallhanger as old. Ive taken photos from a total of four shops. There was one, Al-Ahaidib's, which was the largest on the souk, and contained no less than 500 swords!! Im not exxagerating, he had this large glass display, filled with swords, and large sacks, around the shop, also literally filled with swords. All at cheap, negotiable prices. He could have easily filled a museum with them. The owner says this is the work of 50 years in collecting. The newly made swords he has are very few, no more than 10 probably, the rest, all very old, valuable pieces. Unfortunately, when I first visited the shop, I did not have my camera with me, the second and third time I tried, the shop was closed Lots of matchlocks and flintlocks, all for sale A bunch of Jambiyas. Good news, none of these were stripped of their original, forged blades, as with ones coming out of Oman. This shop has an abundance of newly made indian wallhangers, and old hadhrami saifs. No nejdi saifs to be seen. Hejazi Jambiyas Old, zanzibar saifs Unfortunately, the picture does get ruined with the few cheap syrian wallhangers, that are invading the market

20th January 2007, 03:50 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,263	Photo Posts of the Year I nominate this and the 'Museum' thread as photo posts of the year. Great work my friend ! One man and a camera can make all the difference ! Thanks from all here for taking us along on your travels.

20th January 2007, 07:21 PM	#6
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	Great trip Hi S.Al-Anizi I envy your trip, and those beautyfull pictures taken at such marvellous places. Thanks a lot for showing. I have read you kind offer in the other ( Riyadh Museum ) thread, and ask you to mail me a full size picture taken at the old Bazaar, the one under the title "A bunch of Jambiyas. Good news, none of these were stripped of their original, forged blades, as with ones coming out of Oman." Would that be possible ? Thanks a lot - Shukran gazilan fernando fernandoviana@netcabo.pt Last edited by fernando; 20th January 2007 at 07:53 PM.

20th January 2007, 01:36 PM	#2
S.Al-Anizi Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Arabia Posts: 278	A faithfull reproduction of a Clauberg blade. During my stay, I had asked every old shopkeeper, and Nasir Al-Sufayyan about these blade. They seem to call them 'Abu Askiri', referring to the knight signature on the forte, and describe them as 'Anglais'. They hold these blades in high esteem, and regard them as the finest non-wootz blades (biyaadh). closeup of the forte, notice the marks the gold pieces on the scabbard are pure gold.

20th January 2007, 02:02 PM	#3
S.Al-Anizi Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Arabia Posts: 278	This is the second shop I went to. It had lots of very old hadhrami saifs, and very old karabellas, as well as French chaterllaut blades. A bunch of swords, you can spot a couple of mutated kaskara's, which had their hilts replaced with brass saif hilts (syrian made), welded in. A lot of martini henry's A bunch of flintlocks Newly made saifs, made in Ta'if Lots of khanjars Three very old karabellas, and one very old kattara, of a hilt design Ive never seen or heard of before. A french chaterlaut sabre, which had its guard cut off, and made into a ghaddara

20th January 2007, 02:32 PM	#4
S.Al-Anizi Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Arabia Posts: 278	A very old blade, that looks very much like a Clauberg, except it had no signature, nor a knight on the forte. I guess it must be an old replica. It is so old, that its hilt has weathered off. A newly made sword, which I found in the souk, one of the best. The all the fittings are silver, gold washed, with bone hilt slabs. Im not sure if the blade is old or not, it has some english digits engraved towards the forte, which could signify a european blade, however, it is too tip heavy to be a functional sword. the hilt the spine