Kattara restoration

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Hello

I need some help to restore a kattara.
I looked on the forum and unfortunatly I didn't find any thread to help me.
The hilt is plain wood without leather.

I have two options,

I can cover it with plain leather black or brown.
May be with printed motives (with hot iron).

My second option is more ambitious, to cover the hilt with
a geometric design of metal wire.
I have seen on many kattara.
But I don't know which kind of wire to use
and how to proceed...

Many thanks in advance
K.

Hi can we see a photo of the item... it will inspire ideas... basically it sounds like you are going back to the sword at stage 3 of a 5 stage process... Im guessing... OK lets see a picture and we can take it on from there...
Any ethnographic history attached to this item ??

Ibrahiim al Balooshi

[Kubur]

Dear Ibrahim,

It's simple you have already some photos on the site:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=kattara

I don't know anything about the guy who put these photos.
What I know is the sword was in the collection of Eric Laudes who sold it to a guy who sold it to a guy who sold it me...
It's a nice sword but needs a little bit of improvement for the handle/grip.
What do you think?

Choukran
Kubur

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Dear Ibrahim,

It's simple you have already some photos on the site:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=kattara

I don't know anything about the guy who put these photos.
What I know is the sword was in the collection of Eric Laudes who sold it to a guy who sold it to a guy who sold it me...
It's a nice sword but needs a little bit of improvement for the handle/grip.
What do you think?

Choukran
Kubur

Salaams Kubur, I see that site was blocked but since the weapon now belongs to you we assume(I hope) that the details may now be accepted and since this is quite possibly an interesting variant of straight Omani Dancer...My post continues below....

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Salaams Kubur, I see that site was blocked but since the weapon now belongs to you we assume(I hope) that the details may now be accepted and since this is quite possibly an interesting variant of straight Omani Dancer...My post continues below....

Salaams Kubur, A similar hilt appears on http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ttara+comments at #325 on a curved kattara. You can see how the silver sits inserted into the cut away hilt and I assume this would be the same on your sword.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Dear Ibrahim,

It's simple you have already some photos on the site:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=kattara

I don't know anything about the guy who put these photos.
What I know is the sword was in the collection of Eric Laudes who sold it to a guy who sold it to a guy who sold it me...
It's a nice sword but needs a little bit of improvement for the handle/grip.
What do you think?

Choukran
Kubur

Salaams Kubur, This looks like an Abu Falaj...the one with the falaj...A dancing sword with one fuller ~ or channel ~ along its whole length. Before I go any further I also assume that you have seen the hilts etc. on Omani Saif...and Omani Kattara...below;

1.see http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ght=omani+sayf

2. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=Omani+Kattara


Usually (but not always ) these weapons get the name tag of straight = Omani Sayf or Saif ... but when the blade is curved they are called Omani Kattara. The styling is often the same on both weapons regarding decoration to the hilt and scabbard. References above refer...and there is an especially beautiful hilt at #2 of reference 2.

I have, however, one burning question... Does the blade bend quite easily and return immediately to straight from the tip ... bending through about 90 degrees ... Is the blade in other words ...quite flexible?

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Kubur]

Sabah al-khair Ibrahiim,

Thank you very much.
i have seen these threats.
The object is stored elsewhere, I will check your request next week.
My questions are : is it an imported blade?
And should I use leather or metal wire to cover the hilt?

Best wishes,
Kubur

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Sabah al-khair Ibrahiim,

Thank you very much.
i have seen these threats.
The object is stored elsewhere, I will check your request next week.
My questions are : is it an imported blade?
And should I use leather or metal wire to cover the hilt?

Best wishes,
Kubur

Salaams Kubur... I cannot say because I need to know the answer on flexibility first since a stiff blade will give a totally different answer. Omani flexible dancing blades, on the other hand, were made in Oman. I have seen cross hilted straight blades which are stiff and inflexible masquerading as dancing blades but which were imported via Yemen from Ethiopia, originally imported from Germany...and given the cross hilt treatment in Muscat for the tourist market...proliffic since 1970.

Thus the importance of the flexibility indicator question.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

I have seen cross hilted straight blades which are stiff and inflexible masquerading as dancing blades but which were imported via Yemen from Ethiopia, originally imported from Germany...and given the cross hilt treatment in Muscat for the tourist market...proliffic since 1970.

Thus the importance of the flexibility indicator question.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Don't take this statement as absolute though as the strong bladed types from antiquity exist and are not masquerading as dance swords, they are what they are, strong fighting swords.
But beware, there are rubbish types with poor looks and ugly handles seen in the tourist dens that carry old blades. it is important to be able to distinguish the types.

Gavin

Gavin

[spiral]

Yes indeed chaps, sometimes we need to remember our imagination or belief is not an information resource.

Spiral

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by SwordsAntiqueWeapons

Don't take this statement as absolute though as the strong bladed types from antiquity exist and are not masquerading as dance swords, they are what they are, strong fighting swords.
But beware, there are rubbish types with poor looks and ugly handles seen in the tourist dens that carry old blades. it is important to be able to distinguish the types.

Gavin

Gavin

No they aren't. Omani flexi dance blades came about at the beginning of the current dynastic rule period somewhere around (just after ) 1744..and continuously until today.. They were and still are used in pageants and march past salutation and dance and are incorporated into the Funoon. See below;
1.For Funoon see http://www.octm-folk.gov.om/meng/introduction.asp
2.For details on The Omani Dancing Sword see http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ght=Omani+Sayf

They were never used in battle as battle swords. Palace guards and Omani tribal soldiers did carry them... but only because it was one of their main duties... to raise a salute to the Sultan.

..not so unusual as you might think after all that is what happens in many armies today especially officers on parade who carry swords to conduct salutes with... especially in front of senior dignitaries and Royalty...

The Omani Battle Sword is different... The Sayf Yamaani... Library refers.

The bendy dancing sword has its "impersonators"... since there are some weapons of Red Sea providence which are very similar but which have been rehilted on Omani hilts but which are stiff...non flexible blades... These are from Ethiopian / German imports...often entering Oman via Yemeni traders and rehilted in Muscat.

The shop/workshops that carry out this work have vast supplies of varied quality blades some of which I would categorise as low value, however,some are original and excellent and have even found their way into important collections including museums; private and national.

With regard to the rehilts ~ They have been pumped onto the world stage in considerable quantities since about 1970 thus the peculiar appearance across the globe of apparently non flexible Omani Dancing Swords redesignated as fighting swords (which everyone here finds hilarious since they certainly werent used for that here)... but oddly may well be concoctions rehilted here... but which originally were actual battle blades from Ethiopia!!

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Sabah al-khair Ibrahiim,

Thank you very much.
i have seen these threats.
The object is stored elsewhere, I will check your request next week.
My qu
And sestions are : is it an imported blade?hould I use leather or metal wire to cover the hilt?

Best wishes,
Kubur

Salaams Kubur You may see that quite a storm errupts arround the controvertial Omani Dancing Sword. Although you may not be aware of it these swords change hands for reasonably large fees since many (if they are genuine) are held in families as heir looms...and the important ones seldom come up for sale. Library resource contains The Omani Kattara , The Omani Saif(or the Omani Dancing Sword) and Kattara for Comments. All of these have samples of decorative style.

Your Questions ....
1. Is it an imported blade? To help you decide if this is an imported blade I request the blade bend test to measure flexibility.

2. To use wire or leather to cover the hilt. The designs at library references are clear and offer a variety of approaches. I would consider replacing the silver thumb and forefinger position silver ring or cuff...at the forefront of the hilt. This will enhance the look of the sword and return it to a hilt original look...and it will correctly lenghten the hilt by about 2 inches. You have the possibility of using leather as well...and or silver wire. You didn't mention a scabbard? The typical pattern to scabbard and often to hilt are the Omani Swirl patterns ... Quite a lot to consider...

For me the important question revolves around the flexibility test...It looks like an old blade therefor please take the usual precautions for bending such a blade ...which I suggest should be done carefully and about 2 to 5 degrees at a time

If the blade refuses to bend or does not return to straight immediately... stop! Otherwise it may snap...

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Gavin Nugent]

I do continue as the absoluteness of your statements and belief is incorrect and you wish to press this notion elsewhere other than the links you refer to.

My sword offer was replied with a flat NO with not the slightest bit of interest it looking at further options as your belief doesn't allow expansion.

The sword shown here, its origin has been mentioned, my name is not Eric???

I have no problem with what I state about what I have held, surely that is obvious with the volumes of text in these pages....

you ask me to stay on subject but do not yourself, how is one to accept this request?

I know not what is missed with my statements?

It is simple; I am not taking anything away from your dance swords, dance with them, let them bend, this is your dance sword you passionately defend, present them any way you like.

There is another of the same type that does not bend... if these swords of the past were hung on hips, left by beds or used to travel to far away lands as was anyone's want. It does not need classification as your dance sword or to be reputed as souk rubbish...souk rubbish is very obvious and differences in types is obvious in the hand...it is not anyone else's fault....consider changing your absolute views on the subject

Gavin

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

There is another of the same type that does not bend...
Gavin[/QUOTE]
************************************************** *********


Salaams SwordsAntiqueWeapons, It would be great if there was one (why would I deny it?)... however;

No there isn't. Not counting the Omani Shamshiir which I put down to being a VIP Sword/dignatories only, there are 3 sword types designated Omani viz;

1. Omani Battle Sword.. or Sayf Yamaani. For Fighting.
2. Omani Curved Sword .. or Kattara. The slavers sword.
3. Omani Dancing Sword .. or Sayf (Saif). Pageants and Salutation only.

The designation Omani Dancing Sword carries the description Conical Hilt, broad, flexible blade often fullered with 1, 2 or three grooves. A flat spatulate tip, rounded. Sharpened on both edges. The flexible blade easily bending through 90 degrees so that the sword can be vibrated whilst dancing. This action is carried out with the flick of the wrist and is vital to the swords duel function in the traditional march past and pageants or "Funun".

A sword that looks like the dancing sword but is of Ethiopian/German origins and is stiff is considered as a Tourist sword sold in the souk to tourists since 1970...and occasionally fetching high prices apparently. Omani people don't buy them since as they dont bend they cannot be danced with thus are useless for the march past and Funun.

Omani Dancing Swords are not fighting weapons. They never were. Think of them as Dynastic swords invented just after 1744 for Celebration and Pageantry...Salutation and Parades...for what is in fact the current Dynasty..

No matter how warlike you may consider them they were never used in war.

There is no other derivative except the style that has been played with by the souk workshops for the Tourist market. Viz;

German>Ethiopia>Yemen >Oman > Souk> World. Here is a picture of one such blade (stiff)...from the workshop that has been converting thousands of such blades since 1970...brought in from Sanaa... previously of Ethiopian ownership...a German Blade...they are not all tripple fullered ...this one happens to be SEE #241 on http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ttara+comments

Ibrahiim al Balooshi.