Riyadh's old Bazaar

[S.Al-Anizi]

Hello,

This is the next section of coverage of my trip. This place is called 'souk al-zal', literally, the carpets market. However, not only rugs, but traditional clothes, and antiques are sold there, including swords. There are about five antiques stores, filled with antique arms and armour, at very cheap prices, and best of all, cheap wootz . They also have some replica stuff, but they would point out to it, unlike other places Ive seen where they rip you off by advertising a newly made wallhanger as old.

Ive taken photos from a total of four shops. There was one, Al-Ahaidib's, which was the largest on the souk, and contained no less than 500 swords!! Im not exxagerating, he had this large glass display, filled with swords, and large sacks, around the shop, also literally filled with swords. All at cheap, negotiable prices. He could have easily filled a museum with them. The owner says this is the work of 50 years in collecting. The newly made swords he has are very few, no more than 10 probably, the rest, all very old, valuable pieces. Unfortunately, when I first visited the shop, I did not have my camera with me, the second and third time I tried, the shop was closed

Lots of matchlocks and flintlocks, all for sale



A bunch of Jambiyas. Good news, none of these were stripped of their original, forged blades, as with ones coming out of Oman.



This shop has an abundance of newly made indian wallhangers, and old hadhrami saifs. No nejdi saifs to be seen.



Hejazi Jambiyas



Old, zanzibar saifs



Unfortunately, the picture does get ruined with the few cheap syrian wallhangers, that are invading the market