The Omani Khanjar

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Focusing on a little Ethnographics ...The Funun is the set of Traditions played out in Oman in dance music poetry and singing in a form of pantomime to rhythm and often an ancient musical score . In fact this entire set of Genres was the means by which traditional performance passed these performances down the generations so that in researching weapons the Sword or Khanjar dances can be traced far into the past. Please see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87h_...rt_radio=1#t=1 for the Bara'a The Khanjar Dance

Thank you so much for adding this visual look into these important traditional events, in which the weaponry is so much an integral part. These have long been overlooked in the study of Omani arms, which in itself has only ever had a brief inclusion in the study of the arms of Arabia.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Thanks Jim, The Funun is almost completely overlooked in appreciating Omani weapons . The key is that here are the passed down enacted Traditions some beginning at the outset of the religion here. The weapons Genres are vital in our understanding of their place in Omani history and point to their use in the socio religious reason for their use and development. No study of Omani weapons can take place without looking at The Funun.

Below is rather an odd one out since it appears in Salalah in Southern Oman …(Dhofar) where it is worn by Jebali mountain tribesmen. This weapon is the same essentially to what their distant cousins wear in close by regions of Yemen...What is also peculiar is that the same weapon crops up in the OMANI Wahiba desert in North East Oman. In this case the hilt is the now well known (on these pages) use of Giraffe Horn (now endangered) from African sources called in Omani Arabic zraf hindi. Typically worn on a simple narrow leather belt.

In Salalah they call it al Genoobi and in the Sharqiyya al Hanshiah. for further detail see http://khanjar.om/Parts.html and look under TYPES.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

This example looks lethal... and something about the slender hilt makes it look dangerous ..It has two new studs and pin decorations surrounding and is in fact Rhino and looking at the wear on the hilt it is old..So zraf afrique it is...and with a new cuff. The scabbard is non existent thus it seems this old dagger is looking for a match...This style could be a degraded Royal Khanjar hilt with all the silver stripped off or... possibly this two star design is called as shams, which means sun, and this kind of handle is locally known as the Al Sifani handle. This type of handle named after the Bani Saif family or Omani tribes in Ash Sharqiah governorate. This family was well known for this type of handle according to the Omani khanjar makers.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

The incidence of double or trebble dagger and only one scabbard are increasing so the owner can change his preferred dagger to suit.. The weapon suddenly becomes a Royal Khanjar ... I don't like it, however, as there's too much silver plate work on the Royal Khanjar in my opinion and there are missing pins and a stud on the left hand dagger type... they are both too shiny for my liking … but that is often the case with new silver.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Here a good well made geometric pattern throughout and well designed reflections in silver stitched leather below the belt accurately drawn and executed... In the split palmette style but with clever and artistic interpretation throughout.( PERHAPS A HINT OF MAGIC SQUARES ) Hilt in African Giraffe Horn ...Zraf Hindi. Unusually at the cuff is the ancient VVVVVVV pattern also seen on some of the cuffs of the battle swords Sayf Yamaani. The Qoba (crown) is given quite delicate treatment here with artistic decoration in the same material as the rest of the weapon... new silver ...which will develop a Patina very quickly.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

The use of gold coloured cord to wrap the lower scabbard in a typical rendition of the Royal Khanjar ... You may recall that the Royal khanjar is designated by the hilt (only) change made in about 1830 /40 by Sheherazad one of the wives of Saiid the Great... Thus not constrained by the number of rings in the scabbard it can have 4 or 7 rings... Cloth belt antique examples can be seen at the excellent rendition on http://omanisilver.com/

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Possibly one of the nicer khanjars I have viewed this week . Its a Nizwani (of Nizwa) and has a zraf hindi hilt...a misnomer... (Giraffe African) Hammered into the horn adding weight and design are silver and brass pins in a geometric design.This weapons scabbard has a silver sheet backing it below the belt which is just visible. The newer chain dangling off one edge may have any accouterments on it such as the tweezers or a tobacco pouch in silver with silver pipe.. It has the crossed swords and khanjar at centre on a button. The emblem of Oman... Thus the chain is post about 1970.

It has two replacement linkages holding it to the belt...which is a standard leather with slver wire stitching . I dont like the linkages ! but they are now acceptable. The scabbard shows wear under the silver weaving probably termite in places.. and I think there's glue holding the weave together but it will last a few more years then maybe a refit.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

A couple of Royal Khanjars to compare. Sheherazad really set a standard with this very ornate hilt and it was only the hilt that she re modelled. The scabbard is or was a typical design of what was the Muscat Khanjar. Indian design is prevalent in her hilt pattern to brighten up the day of her husband; Saiid Sultan ...also known as Saiid the Great...Thus was born The Saiidi Khanjar...or The Royal Khanjar. in about 1830.

Generally I tend to advise collectors to avoid this style as it is the one most copied for the tourist and gift market but in one picture here you can see that this is a serious Khanjar outlet with rows of weapon parts for buyers to see.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

THE COLOUR RANGE IN ZRAF HINDI HILTS.

These two OMANI khanjars illustrate the colour range of Giraffe Horn. The material accepts silver pins without cracking and is now often seen on these weapons despite the danger of the diminishing of animals in the wild.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Blades are an interesting subject these days with all manner of items entering the system ...the incidence of wootz looking blades is on the increase from as far afield as Russia... and simply called Russi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

This Omani Khanjar displays a famous pattern internationally renowned from the Scottish Paisley Tie design taken from the Indian "Miri Bota" leaf pattern as in the textile displayed below.

I would probably have the blade cleaned up and the dark marks on the cuff polished off or cleaned with toothpaste..The hilt is Giraffe..

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Silver goes almost black with age and patina ..This one is developing age nicely ...but dont worry as it quickly returns after cleaning ... Heres a Rhino Hilt on a well balanced Khanjar set up.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

At last a sensible alternative to Rhino and Giraffe .OLIVE WOOD..Discovered as a brilliant hilt for Khanjars; accepting dense silver pins and a beautiful polish ...In a report in The Oman Observer 27/01/2018 Ray Petersen stated;
Quote"The wood of the olive tree, known by its botanical name of Olea Europaea, has become the latest ‘must have’ men’s fashion accessory according to Nizwa silver craftsman, and businessman, Daoud Al Tiwani. Due to restricted supplies of ivory and horn, in particular, Tiwani was drawn to using olive wood in the manufacture of his business’s amazing traditional khanjars quite by accident. He was using some windfall olive wood for traditional canes when he discovered tone of the polishing processes offered an astounding depth of color and emphasized the grain, which is the natural pattern and direction of the wood, to an amazingly appealing degree."Unquote.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Hizam ...or... Hizak. The name of the Khanjar Belt.

Its a while since we looked at Khanjar belts and the predominant pattern on silver stitched on leather styles with rectangles filled with geometric little squares being illustrated below.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

A good short write up on Omani Khanjars and a few of its makers is at https://www.thenational.ae/arts-cult...-made-1.834999

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

I bring to the table what looks like Elephant Tusk. But it isn't.
This is a composite material like high density plastic...Here its
called Ameriki… A clue to where it is made...and a great
substitute for Elephant (Fils)

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

The real stuff looks like this..

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Zraff al Hindi IS THE OMANI Arabic for what is in fact African Giraffe. This material takes a lot of pins and when there were plentiful of that species running wild it was thought of as an excellent material.. It is endangered now thus should and is protected. There are superb hardwoods available instead such as Sandalwood and Olive which fit the bill for quality and accepting pins. Giraffe does not reflect light and has a rather dull reaction thus in my view another good reason to go for the alternatives.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Rhino is easy to spot as a powerful mobile fone light shows it up immediately. See below the reaction to light and what it looks like with no illumination. Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

This "4 ringer" arranged on a Giraffe horn hilt (Zraff Hinde) actually African Giraffe. The silver pins applied in a parallel lines with two tramlines of pins running around the perimeter of the work and the lines quite uniform. Please see 302 for a similar set up. Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

This weapon offers a chance to look at some detective work on the construction … There are two possible locations ...Dhofar or Sharqiyya and the material which is Rhino likely taken from an earlier weapon as a rehilt job. There are old silver parts appearing to be suggesting turned down silver projections at the ears of the pommel but they are from an old Khanjar as miniature Terrs or shields usually over the end rings on the Khanjar. The silver is in the Omani fashion and is pure silver not mixed with copper...The blade is a replacement as is the brand new scabbard I will show later...

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Heres the full Monty; Here's the full Monty; This weapon has had a total rebuild but is something of a train crash using parts of other weapons unrelated to each other thus the difficulty of placing it … despite a fully rebuilt, brand new, scabbard. It thus achieves the stamp "Runt" yet has a degree of charm about it. Who knows maybe someone will rebuild the weapon sympathetic to the original style whatever that was or is...

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

A reminder of the African Giraffe head horn of the male of (the endangered)species. (A.K.A. Zraf Hindi translatable as Rhino/Giraffe of India) This hilt not of silver plate but of thousands of tiny individual hammered in silver nails giving a heavyweight feel to this hilt. It was my view that this pinning decoration mimicked the grain of Rhino Horn when viewed from the pommel end under sharp torchlight... This colour of giraffe horn is very light almost olive and can vary up to a dense dark brown shade...occasionally streaked through with light bands. Please see #318 above.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Another Khanjar example...Khanjars are available in single double or triple combinations depending how much you want to spend and a vast choice of matched belts can be made ...Here are a few short belt selection which would be matched with a long belt …

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

This is a first. I have never seen such a straight forward Omani Dhakiliyyah (Interior) new Khanjar. The architecture is superb, precise and exact for a working dagger. No decoration other than the basics...simple yet effective.. Everything right historically here … even a simple belt. Whoever made this weapon knows his Interior style.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

A most unusual looking Khanjar. So what is it?

This is a 4 ringer Omani Khanjar from Muscat. Remember that it was the hilt that marked the style as "Royal" ...Which this is! The body is constructed using silver wound and gold wound cord plus some silver decoration. The hilt is Busaidi form ...Thus a Royal Khanjar.

[Edster]

Ibrahiim,

Thank you so much for sharing these magnificent khanjars. They are truly works of art not just ethnographic weapons. It seems that their quality has increased over time. I have a few questions that would enhance my appreciation of them.

What % silver alloy is used?

Are the blades, while excellent, considered a commodity, as the vehicle that gives the silver work a weapon quality?

Range of man-hours to make a complete first-class outfit: grip, scabbard and belt?

Range of retail prices for the complete first-class outfit?

Market? Omanis or export to Gulf states or local visitors? I imagine that they would be a prestige item to be worn only on special occasions as opposed to daily dress.

Does Oman have any regulations to prohibit, control or otherwise manage the importation and use of giraffe horn?

Best regards,
Ed

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams Ed Great questions and here goes~

The Silver is highest grade obtainable and used to be around the 92% which was why they used Maria Theresa Thalers melted down . The other source is silver on the international market again of the highest quality. They import a lot from China but also have their own mines at Sohar .. Megan ...Silver extracted as they dig out copper … Ingots can be purchased there and again top quality stuff . The other source has always been traditionally from a ladys dowry when she dies and since that is always 100% top quality it was a way of retaining a degree of purity in silver. Silver when it is mixed with other metals is dull and lifeless but harder and lasts longer . Pure silver goes into a patina all of its own as it oxidises fast.

CITES is in effect here and the rules are strict for use of hilt material. It amazes me why more use is not made of mammoth and other excellent materials and I am just about to show a white material composite fibrous ceramic that looks and feels like Ivory and takes all the pins like the real thing. Regretably not everyone will take notice of the dwindling stocks of these wild animals. Giraffe horn comes off dead adult African giraffes usually fully grown adult males. The fact is they are protected in law.

Price I cant speak about but the top makers can demand high end valuations and any that are low priced are usually not original Omani crafted..It is quite incredible that the main tools are still a six inch nail and a toffee hammer!

Usually make time is about a month ...It varies on the degree of decoration...The maker will make the belt and scabbard and hilt but may also farm out parts to other makers so you can have a master scabbard maker and a belt maker a hundred or more miles apart... The maker just puts them together although there are makers that can do the whole thing themselves.

The Blade is the most important part. The inspection of a blade looks quite ridiculous ! Taste smell musical note when struck !! So far as I can tell all blades are imported. It is said that meteorite metal is the best ...though not easy to find? New products include Russian blades nicely made in some type of wootz or even only a surface decoration ?

Most Omani Khanjars go to the demand in Oman as other countries close by have their own styles like UAE Bahrain Saudia and Yemen thus the tradition is very strong right here. Naturally the network of Arabian style souks presents Omani work around the region but its best market is right here at home. Millions of tourists also have a massive world market effect.


The weapon is Iconic and the badge of office of Omani heads of family thus can be worn at any time for any occasion by heads of state or men of any age including Eids, weddings, tribal and other meetings or just worn to go down the souk...