Arabian swords

[Michael Blalock]

The 1st photo below from a post entitled "Riyadh's old Bazaar" . The next photo was taken at the Military Museum of Yemen. The sword on the left has a matching hilt. They are an interesting mix of the Yemeni guard and the Omani Pommel.

[TVV]

I remember this hilt form from the Riyadh bazaar thread. It is most interesting to see another example in a museum. Thank you,
Teodor

[Jim McDougall]

Thanks very much Michael for sharing these!! It is really interesting to these these well known forms in stripped down status, and I am presuming these are the Hadhramauti style sabres/ sa'if that are typically embellished with embossed silver hilts and chains. At the top seems of course the kattara.
Curious on the piso podang in there, but likely collected in trade?

It would be fantastic to visit these shops! so Michael you have really kind of given me an often wished for peek into them!!!

Best regards,
Jim

[ariel]

I look at the pics of the old bazaar and ... have wet dreams.
How much do these swords go for?

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Hello Im new to the Forum and first have to say how much I have enjoyed reading many of the detective stories over the last few months and what an excellent job the forum and its members have done.
Im based in Northern Oman and I have seen a few swords with hilts like that one in the museum case on the left of picture above. It looks like an extended and reworked form of old Omani Battle Sword Hilt.. I wonder if there is any history on that weapon and if it has been researched because it is so similar.

[A.alnakkas]

Salam ibrahim welcome to the forum. The 2nd sword in the 2nd picture (from right to left) is identical to one of my swords that i posted awhile ago.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Hello Im new to the Forum and first have to say how much I have enjoyed reading many of the detective stories over the last few months and what an excellent job the forum and its members have done.
Im based in Northern Oman and I have seen a few swords with hilts like that one in the museum case on the left of picture above. It looks like an extended and reworked form of old Omani Battle Sword Hilt.. I wonder if there is any history on that weapon and if it has been researched because it is so similar.

Welcome to the forum Ibrahiim !!!
Im really glad you have joined us, and agree, the detective work around here is fascinating and there is a tremendous core of knowledge in our membership. It really is a kind of historic weapons CSI

Naturally these swords have indeed been discussed many times through the years, and excellent observations on them and many Arabian swords are found in Robert Elgoods "Arms and Armour of Arabia".



All the best,
Jim

[Dom]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Hello Im new to the Forum

IBRAHIM

à +

Dom

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Michael Blalock

The 1st photo below from a post entitled "Riyadh's old Bazaar" . The next photo was taken at the Military Museum of Yemen. The sword on the left has a matching hilt. They are an interesting mix of the Yemeni guard and the Omani Pommel.

Salaams,

Salaams Michael and an important note for Forum, May I also add this letter to the TVV thread on the same subject?

Reference Motivate Publishing. The Craft Herritage of Oman. By Neil Richardson and Marcia Dorr in two volumes.

This was such a great thread as it is very relevant to the Omani Kattara history which continues to unfold. In fact on your thread here... I have said that the straight weapon was called Kattara whilst the curved is called a Sayf. This is true and untrue to the extent that ;

1. Regionally there appears to be some flexible name useage/mixup.
2. People I ask just guess and say the first thing in their heads!
3. People don't know.

So I return to your original thread here to give warning notice that we may have got it all the wrong way round.

The straight is a Sayf and the curved is a Kattara.

My reference is The Great Herritage of Oman by Richardson and Dorr, page 230. and page 455. I can seriously reccommend this book as the Omani artefact book .. The best I have seen... It even has reference pictures from My Fathers old store! I am embarrased somewhat by the fact that for decades I have been wrongly naming and referring to the swords when in fact they are the other way around....!!!

I started asking people a few months ago which was which and to my horror I realised no one had any proof and most were as usual guessing. Omani people call all swords Sayf or Saif or Kattara depending on which way the wind is blowing !! and come to think of it ... it makes little or no difference to them anyway. Trying to research under that arrangement drives me crazy !!

Forum please note! Straight Omani Swords are called Sayf and curved are Kattara. ~ I am very embarrassed and for the rest of the week I shall be wearing a set of donkeys ears !!

A curved kattara in the Bait al Zubair collection looks to be 18/19thC and attributed possibly to German origin. (page 455 same ref.) I believe you may have a sword similar in hilt to the wired up item.( page 454 of same ref.) The book also illustrates other curved kattara from Persia but used in Oman.

So the straight weapon is a Saif, The curved is a Kattara (or Kittara). There is another with a flambouyant wavy edge and a single fuller called Saif abu Falq. The blades with 3 fullers are termed abu thalath musayil. I heard the term for the first time today to describe the old Omani sword (turned down quillons ) as Yemeni Sayf !! though I proceed with great care along that road.

Some mystique continues to surround all things Omani and questions still arise in all sectors on origins particularly the so called European trade blades? I see a new derivative on the Old Omani Sword with a Royal Sa- idiyyah hilt. Regarding Ters Shields it is rumoured they came from Zanzibar and are of some amphibious animal hide that could be either/or Whale, Hippo, Rhino or Waterbuffalo.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams, sorry wrong thread.. moved ...Ibrahiim