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Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi
Salaams ...Look at http://khanjar.om/Old.html go to al Wustah and see the almost identical weapon. Observe the very close link between Sur and Jazzan and join the dots. Being about half way to Zanzibar and an important trade point/hum Jazzan was a magnet for Oman to Zanzibar shipping. Oman pumped shiploads of Ivory herbs and slaves through this ancient port but mainly in the 19th C .... The region was in Yemen at the time. |
The craftmanship on the khanjar posted on khanjar.com is near identical to one crafted by Hussain alDajani (posted on this topic as well) without the back side posted there is very little to say of it and I am yet to see such an example tracked back to an Omani maker. I have contacted them with the request of sending photos of the back side. It wouldn't be so Omani if the palm and swords logo is there :-)
This is not the first item and especially not the first khanjar made somewhere else that is identified as Omani in a publication. Though I am all ears, any item of provenance? a single inscription that traces back to an Omani maker or an Omani user?
There is plenty tracing to Saudi but I reckon reading Arabic might be difficult.
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However if you are not convinced please feel free to possit an alternative theory... Your idea that Ahsa and the Asir have got the same weapon is interesting and I can go along with that since I can see how both regions were supplied by the same Omani source weapon;...The Asir by sea...and al Ahsa by camel train....but the origin of species is Al Wustah. From what is now the al Wustah Region...Quote" Al-Wusta lies south of Ad-Dakhliyah Region and is bordered on the east by Arabian Sea, and on the west by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is the second largest Region geographically after Dhofar, but the smallest demographically, with a population of only 23 thousand''.Unquote. I mean don't believe me if you don't want to but I spent a part of my life in this region ... but please absorb the detail surrounding Said the Great where you will note how pivotal this region was in the entire Zanzibar story.
The al Wustah weapon appears to have influenced a number of regional and international styles including the Royal Omani Khanjar (in about 1835) as well as the weapon seen in Yemen at the time...now in Saudia (Asir) after 1923...and more than likely the eastern Saudia region of Al Ahsa...
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.
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You confuse my argument, I am not denying any Omani influence on this style of dagger or Arab arms. Oman was a hub for the weapon smuggling network that spanned all the way to Kuwait. To dismiss Oman is abit foolish.
I still await a source that proves the existence of the name Habaabi for any type of weapon.