KATTARA/SAYF (SAIF) CLASSIFICATION

kahnjar1 · 25th November 2011, 07:48 AM

I read with interest Ibrahiim's latest conclusion that the Omani Kattara is in fact not a Kattara at all, but in fact is a Sayf. His opinion is that the term Kattara is used to describe a curved blade sword and not one with a straight blade, flys in the face of any books I have seen on this subject.
Elgood, Tirri and Cameron Stone among others, all describe these STRAIGHT bladed Omani swords as KATTARA.
In fact Ibrahiim himself in his preamble regarding Omani swords which appears on his website, describes them as Kattara.
While a lot of useful information on these swords has been written on other threads currently live on this Forum, I personally feel that things are now getting rather confusing to those who are trying to learn by reading what has been written.
If there is some CONCLUSIVE PROOF of the correct name, then let it be published here.
Regards Stuart

25th November 2011, 07:48 AM	#1
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,739	KATTARA/SAYF (SAIF) CLASSIFICATION I read with interest Ibrahiim's latest conclusion that the Omani Kattara is in fact not a Kattara at all, but in fact is a Sayf. His opinion is that the term Kattara is used to describe a curved blade sword and not one with a straight blade, flys in the face of any books I have seen on this subject. Elgood, Tirri and Cameron Stone among others, all describe these STRAIGHT bladed Omani swords as KATTARA. In fact Ibrahiim himself in his preamble regarding Omani swords which appears on his website, describes them as Kattara. While a lot of useful information on these swords has been written on other threads currently live on this Forum, I personally feel that things are now getting rather confusing to those who are trying to learn by reading what has been written. If there is some CONCLUSIVE PROOF of the correct name, then let it be published here. Regards Stuart