The Omani Khanjar

Tatyana Dianova · 7th November 2018, 08:47 AM

Hello Ibrahiim,
Thank you for the great and interesting analysis! I hope this example will help your research!

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 7th November 2018, 01:56 PM

Showing the weapon around to associates I often get the call that this is a Busaidi Khanjar if you cover the hilt with one hand they will say 'Saiidi Khanjar then show the hilt they say saifaani! Some like their Royal Daggers like this !! at which point it becomes almost a personal preference . Saifaani being a Rhino horn type. Very much favoured in the past. Khanjar descriptions often mingle between styles and there are many variations add ons and subtractions...So technically this is a Saifaani 'Saiidi .
Thanks for your kind words.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 12th November 2018, 04:48 PM

Reference;
A. Omanisilver.com/contents/en-us/d365_Omani_khanjar.html

Some detail on the subject of Khanjar blades which tend to get sidelined and I have to admit not a great deal is available. This group all have some sort of wootz decoration whereas the majority are steel non wootz.

The reference above mentions earlier blades as being from Europe or Iran in its Von Oppenheimer book but that the British Museum suggests blades made in Sanaa were used in the collection of Ingrams Khanjars. (Harold Ingrams was a famous historian and chief secretary at Zanzibar in the early 20thC) I think all regions in the hub may have been responsible as well as some Omani production.

Richard G · 12th November 2018, 07:04 PM

I am always surprised at how little tang there is on these blades.
Regards
Richard

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 13th November 2018, 01:21 PM

It baffles me as well! Perhaps the vibrations through a longer tang would wreck the hilt? The only thing holding the blade in the hilt is the short tang and some glue and to stop the blade twisting a small bit of the broad blade slots in. Blades dropping out is quite common.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 14th November 2018, 03:01 PM

I should log in the usual load of normal lower quality blades available at most workshops and although some do now carry a few wootz examples these are the blade types normally seen. On being asked the shop people usually either don't know where they are obtained or say India; Rajastan

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 4th January 2019, 05:41 PM

THE BEST ALTERNATIVE HILT TO RHINO

I've looked at cowhorn and sandalwood and ceramic and plastic alternatives but have not seen a good horn equivalent until today where an Indian hilt has stolen second place to Rhino in the business of top class hilts for Khanjars.
Its name is Qarn Zaraf al Hindi and it looks bovine or could be a large deer horn. It is dark and after a few years has slight translucent properties but is excellent for Omani khanjar hilts as it accepts silver pins easily and in quantity without splitting. While a little costly it is far less than Rhino and could help save it from further extinction. I will present the examples in my next post.

12th November 2018, 04:48 PM	#3
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Reference; A. Omanisilver.com/contents/en-us/d365_Omani_khanjar.html Some detail on the subject of Khanjar blades which tend to get sidelined and I have to admit not a great deal is available. This group all have some sort of wootz decoration whereas the majority are steel non wootz. The reference above mentions earlier blades as being from Europe or Iran in its Von Oppenheimer book but that the British Museum suggests blades made in Sanaa were used in the collection of Ingrams Khanjars. (Harold Ingrams was a famous historian and chief secretary at Zanzibar in the early 20thC) I think all regions in the hub may have been responsible as well as some Omani production. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 12th November 2018 at 05:31 PM.

14th November 2018, 03:01 PM	#6
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	I should log in the usual load of normal lower quality blades available at most workshops and although some do now carry a few wootz examples these are the blade types normally seen. On being asked the shop people usually either don't know where they are obtained or say India; Rajastan Attached Images

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7th November 2018, 08:47 AM	#1
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 762	Hello Ibrahiim, Thank you for the great and interesting analysis! I hope this example will help your research!

7th November 2018, 01:56 PM	#2
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Showing the weapon around to associates I often get the call that this is a Busaidi Khanjar if you cover the hilt with one hand they will say 'Saiidi Khanjar then show the hilt they say saifaani! Some like their Royal Daggers like this !! at which point it becomes almost a personal preference . Saifaani being a Rhino horn type. Very much favoured in the past. Khanjar descriptions often mingle between styles and there are many variations add ons and subtractions...So technically this is a Saifaani 'Saiidi . Thanks for your kind words.

12th November 2018, 07:04 PM	#4
Richard G Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 415	I am always surprised at how little tang there is on these blades. Regards Richard

13th November 2018, 01:21 PM	#5
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	It baffles me as well! Perhaps the vibrations through a longer tang would wreck the hilt? The only thing holding the blade in the hilt is the short tang and some glue and to stop the blade twisting a small bit of the broad blade slots in. Blades dropping out is quite common.

4th January 2019, 05:41 PM	#7
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	THE BEST ALTERNATIVE HILT TO RHINO I've looked at cowhorn and sandalwood and ceramic and plastic alternatives but have not seen a good horn equivalent until today where an Indian hilt has stolen second place to Rhino in the business of top class hilts for Khanjars. Its name is Qarn Zaraf al Hindi and it looks bovine or could be a large deer horn. It is dark and after a few years has slight translucent properties but is excellent for Omani khanjar hilts as it accepts silver pins easily and in quantity without splitting. While a little costly it is far less than Rhino and could help save it from further extinction. I will present the examples in my next post.