The Omani Kattara. (Curved sword on a long hilt)

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 8th February 2013, 10:03 AM

Salaams all ~ Here I propose a new thread specific to the Curved Omani Kattara, famous as a slave traders and sea merchants/ VIP weapon and badge of office. Thought so far to be a hilt introduced in the mid to late 1700s but as yet not pinpointed. The hilt leather or silver on leather decorated is virtually identical to the Omani Straight Dancing Sword or Sayf. The blades of varying length and weight with a single cutting edge and heavy backblade. This weapon is generally viewed to be European though not all are. Although fake blademarks appear across the spectrum this did not always infer a fake blade but on the contrary was an age old form of giving a blade a form of grading or in honour of good blades preceeding it... and probably good blademakers! Thus wolf marks and other European strikes abound along with local designs

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 10th February 2013, 09:42 AM

Salaams Nice example of the Omani Longhilt from the Bayt Zubair collection;

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 16th February 2013, 01:25 PM

Salaams All ~ The Great curved sword (The Omani Kattara.) as a badge of Office~No finer example exists than The Ruler of Oman wearing the sword in the portrait photo below.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 17th February 2013, 12:18 PM

Salaams All ~ It continues to intrigue as to the nature of the hilt and if it was influenced by African Style or Red Sea variants..both...or none of them ? Neither is it clear if the Omani Curved Kattara or the Omani Straight Sayf were given this identical hilt at the same time or when?

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 22nd June 2013, 04:53 PM

Salaams all ~ Note to Library;

It is now abundantly clear that the curved Omani Kattara gave rise to the longhilt on which the straight Omani Sayf became designed onto from its inception in 1744 at the start of the current Dynasty as a pageant and dancing sword only.

The single edged, curved Kattara, although in its own right a European battle blade, was mounted on a long hilt whose design "may have been influenced" by an African hilt namely the Manding long hilt... perhaps because of the long association with the Slavery Trade in parts of East and Central Africa long dominated by Oman from the powerful and influencial hub of Zanzibar. This weapon could deliver a formidable blow, however, though it may have been used agressively on occasions there seems to be no doubt that this was also a badge of office of an important dignitary; VIP, Sea Captain or important Trader.

I show the two types which suggests (correctly as it turns out) that the well known curved kattara hilt was designed onto the straight dancing blade for the new Dynasty of 1744... and until today.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

8th February 2013, 10:03 AM	#1
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	The Omani Kattara. (Curved sword on a long hilt) Salaams all ~ Here I propose a new thread specific to the Curved Omani Kattara, famous as a slave traders and sea merchants/ VIP weapon and badge of office. Thought so far to be a hilt introduced in the mid to late 1700s but as yet not pinpointed. The hilt leather or silver on leather decorated is virtually identical to the Omani Straight Dancing Sword or Sayf. The blades of varying length and weight with a single cutting edge and heavy backblade. This weapon is generally viewed to be European though not all are. Although fake blademarks appear across the spectrum this did not always infer a fake blade but on the contrary was an age old form of giving a blade a form of grading or in honour of good blades preceeding it... and probably good blademakers! Thus wolf marks and other European strikes abound along with local designs Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Attached Images

10th February 2013, 09:42 AM	#2
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Salaams Nice example of the Omani Longhilt from the Bayt Zubair collection; Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Attached Images

16th February 2013, 01:25 PM	#3
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Salaams All ~ The Great curved sword (The Omani Kattara.) as a badge of Office~No finer example exists than The Ruler of Oman wearing the sword in the portrait photo below. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Attached Images

17th February 2013, 12:18 PM	#4
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Salaams All ~ It continues to intrigue as to the nature of the hilt and if it was influenced by African Style or Red Sea variants..both...or none of them ? Neither is it clear if the Omani Curved Kattara or the Omani Straight Sayf were given this identical hilt at the same time or when? Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Attached Images

22nd June 2013, 04:53 PM	#5
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Salaams all ~ Note to Library; It is now abundantly clear that the curved Omani Kattara gave rise to the longhilt on which the straight Omani Sayf became designed onto from its inception in 1744 at the start of the current Dynasty as a pageant and dancing sword only. The single edged, curved Kattara, although in its own right a European battle blade, was mounted on a long hilt whose design "may have been influenced" by an African hilt namely the Manding long hilt... perhaps because of the long association with the Slavery Trade in parts of East and Central Africa long dominated by Oman from the powerful and influencial hub of Zanzibar. This weapon could deliver a formidable blow, however, though it may have been used agressively on occasions there seems to be no doubt that this was also a badge of office of an important dignitary; VIP, Sea Captain or important Trader. I show the two types which suggests (correctly as it turns out) that the well known curved kattara hilt was designed onto the straight dancing blade for the new Dynasty of 1744... and until today. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 22nd June 2013 at 05:09 PM.