The Omani Sayf. ( The Omani Straight Dancing Sword)

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Regarding the curved 'kattara' (using the generally held term for Omani swords with cylindrical hilt), these I think would be likely to have evolved from these type hilts being placed on 'trade' or perhaps even 'surplus' European blades entering Omani trade sphere. This would most likely have occurred post the hypothetical mid 18th century benchmark for these type hilts.

While the open, guardless hilt is certainly not a unique characteristic of course, and is well known in swords such as the shashka In Central Asia and certain other instances. Obviously we cannot arbitrarily presume influences of these toward the broadsword with such hilt which became known in association with these pageantry events mid18th century, but by the same token cannot ignore the potential.

It would seem to me that these style hilts becoming popularized in these clearly very important traditional events might be adopted into actual weapons intended for regular military use. The 'cross over' of weapons commonly held to be 'non combat' ceremonial or dress weapons in many cases fail to recognize that often such weapons, like the smallsword and other military officers swords are in fact sully capable of deadly use.

Also, many true combat level arms are used in various traditional ceremonies, with sword dances in Scotland, India, Africa, and many other cases. Despite use of combat weapons in these, the production of less formidable blades on similiar hilt forms was common as well as the continuation of these kinds of ceremonies sometimes called for less potential for accidental harm to participants.

Returning to the original question of the curved blades, I think as noted these probably were the result of availability of these blades in the trade spheres and preferences of local consumers. Obviously the sabre had become highly favored throughout Arabia as well as many of the cultural spheres, and even in North Africa, where broadswords typically reigned supreme from the Sudan into Saharan regions...sabres such as the Manding form in Mali and contiguous areas and that of Tuareg regions termed 'aljuinar' were present by the 19th century.
As with the Manding swords, it seems most of the sabre blades were German with names like FW Holler and some French examples, but I have seen even British blades with MOLE.

I have often noticed and often mentioned that it would seem there are compelling similarities between the Manding sabres and their open cylindrical hilts and the Omani hilts. The interesting hilt style is of course quite contrary to the typical crossguard form hilts of takouba and kaskara as well as the military hilts of the sabres which often provided curved blades.
This has always led me to the well established connection with these Saharan regions via caravan routes into eastern Africa and ultimately Zanzibar, where the Omani Sultanate thrived in trade.

When the other broadsword with cylindrical hilt, the Maasai 'seme' comes to mind, it becomes even more tempting to consider these routes of diffusion for these type hilts. The availability and increased favor of the sabre may well have carried across these same routes, and conversely toward Oman, in these 19th century times.

Again, all admittedly speculation, however with somewhat compelling plausibility I would think. Hopefully I have not digressed too much in trying to offer my views.

Hi Jim,
I should point out that it is not the curved Omani sword at issue here, but the straight fighting bladed Omani hilted sword, about which Gavin and Ibrahiim are at loggerheads. I do not like the word FAKE particularly, but since it has been well used to describe these so-called "nonexistant" swords made by suppliers to the tourist market, then the word should also sit squarely on Khanjars which are being modern made and sold at exhorbitant prices to the unwitting tourist. These also would then be classified as FAKES.

[Jim McDougall]

Exactly Stu, and realizing that the curved kattara was of course off topic, I tried to address that aspect as well as trying to express my views toward the dancing/combat etc. issues.

I also personally pretty much detest the unfortunate term 'fake' , especially in the world of ethnographic arms. While obviously there are commercial exploitations of many distinct weapon forms which are made explicitly to be hawked to wide eyed tourists. However there are many examples of such forms which are modernly produced as part of the traditional costume and accoutrements worn in accord with local customs, and made observing established traditional guidelines. This is at least the understanding I have in many accounts I have been made aware of with these kinds of circumstances.
It does seem that in this context, often tourists will try to purchase a weapon actually being worn by an individual, in thier hopes of acquiring an 'authentic' traditional weapon over a 'bazaar' piece from off a display table. At least temporally they feel they have acquired an item from the tribal context which they are attempting to 'experience. In such cases, the individual who relinquishes his weapon for sale simply replaces it. While industriously off center in degree, the weapons themselves do have also in degree some level of interpretive authenticity.

It would be incredibly naieve to assume that many weapons are not indeed produced expressly to be hawked in bazaars or shops for the less adventurous or time constrained souvenier hunters. Again, as collectors, I think that there can never be too much knowledge at hand, and it is incumbent on that collector to be wary of these conditions and of course caveat emptor.

Again to the topic at loggerheads...there can be no doubt that weapons (regardless of term, in this case the Omani broadswords long generally termed as 'kattara') used in pageantry events have been produced expressly for that purpose. It does not seem inconceivable that equivilent examples of said type might have been produced as combat or military arms. As I noted, by the same token, the availability of imported trade blades or already mounted examples certainly might have become used in certain cases in these pageants.
What has been said is that the inflexibility of certain blades would in most cases impair the key element of the exhibition of swords, being the undulation and movement of the blades and thier effects. Again, certainly there might be cases where fully functional combat level bladed weapons might have been used.

In my own opinion, I cannot see where there must be hard and fast rules or circumstances dictating which swords by nature of thier blades must be confined to specific use by the varying degree of blade flexibility. Obviously in cases of extremely flimsy blades, they would serve poorly in actual combat, but as these are slashing weapons in a secondary use situation it seems they might have served for lack of better weapon.

These situations would be toward much earlier instances as in more modern times, the use of guns and bayonets would be of course in place in combat circumstances, and there would be no place for such traditional swords.
This then would again look toward this discussion at hand, and it would seem clear that in earlier times, there were indeed combat swords and lighter ceremonial swords of the straight blade, cylinder hilt form.

It is duly noted that at present, and in more recent years, examples of these same form swords have been produced, whether to serve as implements in the pageantry described or of course, in the cottage industry of weapons for souvenier hunters and unwary collectors. In my impression, there are apparantly some artisans and dealers who perform refurbishing of some of these sword forms using authentic components and traditionally observed methods of restoration. As long as properly described and presented, these I believe are not within the again unfortunate, 'fake' classification, and should be accepted by collectors for exactly what they are.

[kahnjar1]

Hi Jim,
I have to agree with the last part of your last paragraph above, where you mention new built/restored items being passed off as genuine old collectors pieces. As we all know by now these are being openly advertised on the Net at huge prices, and with no mention that they are not genuine old pieces. So as you state, Caveat Emptor.
With regard to the "Loggerheads issue", I do not see a resolve here unless there is progress made by ALL parties towards the acceptance that JUST MAYBE there COULD BE swords of the Omani Saif type with stiff fighting blades.
Also it should be born in mind that this is a DISCUSSION Forum, the opinions written here are only the opinions of the writer, and should not necessarily be taken as 100% correct. The unfortunate thing here is that there appears to be absolutely no room for movement, or anyone else's view.
Stu

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Hi Jim,
I should point out that it is not the curved Omani sword at issue here, but the straight fighting bladed Omani hilted sword, about which Gavin and Ibrahiim are at loggerheads. I do not like the word FAKE particularly, but since it has been well used to describe these so-called "nonexistant" swords made by suppliers to the tourist market, then the word should also sit squarely on Khanjars which are being modern made and sold at exhorbitant prices to the unwitting tourist. These also would then be classified as FAKES.

Salaams Khanjar 1 ~You write with a bitter taste in your pen...no?

It is a fact that the two styles are called Sayf or Saif for the straight dancer and Kattarah for the great curved sword. Im not sure if the collectors care one way or the other what they are called in Oman and I gave up worrying about that ages ago.

Be advised that ethnographic arms generally applies to collectors of such weapons that are not in vogue/newly made/used/ today... For antiques part of their charm may in fact be because they are artefacts used in battles before... a long time ago. In fact a lot of collectors tend to ringfence more modern weapons because of this fact. Weapons in some countries, however, are made as a continuum of that process i.e. They never fell from grace... they are still worn in honour of the forefathers and they are still made new today. A new Omani Khanjar expertly made will no doubt in future become a collectors item and joins the long respected and honourable process of antiquity in due course. This is the peculiar position in Oman.

Naturally many Omani weapons are heirloom items which almost never get sold but are passed down the family line... they quite often come in for repair but don't usually appear for sale. Equally local people also demand brand new pieces... made in the time honoured way with the same tools and by expert craftsmen who learned the trade from their fathers and who still even use the same old tools. On top of that there are some workshops in India and now in China that do cheap copies and which also do appear mixed all together in the souks in particular Sharjah and Muscat ~ mixed with stuff from the Yemen and Saudia as well as Syria and as those countries come under pressure internally the percentage of stuff from these regions climbs ..

I estimate the level of non Omani gear in Muttrah is somewhere in the region of 80 to 90% but in Sharjah it's different and worse .. The vast bulk of it is non UAE..with authentic and mixed fake work eminating from Afghanistan, India and China... and everywhere else ... about 99% fake.

I use the word "fake" and I mean it. A sword deliberately cross hilted after 1970 for selling onto the tourist market with a 19th C. blade (or any other age) from the Red Sea regions with a hilt of Omani style and sold as an Omani Sword is a Fake. A khanjar made for the Omani market isn't. A Khanjar made as a deliberate fake aimed at hoodwinking tourists is.

It is a matter of experience...Countless hours spent in the old workshops of The Baatinah, Nizwa, Sanau and Muscat coupled with the experience of many decades studying and talking to the makers... it rather undermines your case; The fact that a few fake Khanjars may be encountered in Sharjah Souk (or other) is unrelated to the canny, crafty way the Muttrah sword, cross hilting, situation has inserted itself since 1970. Thats life.

What is important is not to grumble about it... ... but conversely to inform this important international panel of collectors so that they may be aware of it. I mean you do realise that buying in any souk it must be down to the individual not to get stupidly ripped off ! The best defence against that surely is knowledge..and Forum is honourably packed with that.


Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.