Yemeni Sayfs? Omani Kattaras?

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 11th October 2012, 05:29 PM

Salaams all~ These are Saudia swords and often found in Yemen close to the Saudia border. I have shown examples on Kattara for comment. The blades are not flexible though they often sport a single short fuller or sometimes a long fuller in the Ethiopian style which I suspect is on the first sword illustrated.
The hilt bears an uncanny relationship to the old Omani battle sword in that it appears similar yet somehow stretched. So far as I can see however they are unrelated otherwise.
I have an identical hilt fitted to an Ethiopian blade(originally German) Michael Blalock has shown similar swords from both regional souks and military museums. Occasionally they pitch up in Muscat Souk but are also very common in Sanaa.
It appears that there is a link through sword style to the Mamluke period which in turn copied styles of Abbasiid swords.

These are absolutely not Omani types.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

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11th October 2012, 05:29 PM	#8
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Salaams all~ These are Saudia swords and often found in Yemen close to the Saudia border. I have shown examples on Kattara for comment. The blades are not flexible though they often sport a single short fuller or sometimes a long fuller in the Ethiopian style which I suspect is on the first sword illustrated. The hilt bears an uncanny relationship to the old Omani battle sword in that it appears similar yet somehow stretched. So far as I can see however they are unrelated otherwise. I have an identical hilt fitted to an Ethiopian blade(originally German) Michael Blalock has shown similar swords from both regional souks and military museums. Occasionally they pitch up in Muscat Souk but are also very common in Sanaa. It appears that there is a link through sword style to the Mamluke period which in turn copied styles of Abbasiid swords. These are absolutely not Omani types. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi.