Recently made Omani Kattara / Saif

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by ariel

I have an analogous question: what about the kattaras that do not bend 90 degrees and are not vibrating? The majority I have seen are just like that, mine included, and it is not new, with pretty sturdy and crude blade and a "genoese" gurda marking. Does it make sense that there would be 2 different "models", one for dancing and another for fighting?

I see not so much problem with "straying into logic", but rather straying out of it. Even European court swords were meant not only for show, but were manufactured under decent fighting standards. Male sword dancing is a sacral experience in all cultures, and creating an intentionally non-battle-ready swords for such an activity would be utterly illogical. Especially in a close, "dark age", society like 19-cen. Oman.
BTW, my quilloned Kattara has no markings. Plain, sturdy, locally-made, unsophisticated killer. Love it!

Salaams ariel ~ Last point first ... You are right about the old omani battle sword ... its a Quilloned killer ! ... They call all straight swords here Sayf... Thus the important detail of passing that name and the shield on in what looks like the mid 19thC. Interesting that you call it "locally made" however as that isnt quite proven yet and its nickname is Sayf Yamaani it could be a Hadramaut job though I suspect Nizwa . The Omani Dancing flexible long sword defies logic... I agree. I am about to wax lyrical upon the subject on Kattara for comments... please join the discussion there if you can.

First paragraph which I missed initially... Again I think you refer to Sayfs; straight blades and in this case apparently mounted on Omani long hilts. In the Omani jargon; If they dont bend through 90 degrees from the tip they aren't Omani dancing swords. They may have been rehilted in Muscat after 1970 and sold to a visitor... or are Red Sea blades of some sort. There are stiff Saudia, Yemeni and Ethiopian blades(European in the case of the latter) that fit the description and as an interesting thought some resemble Schiavona blades. I see a lot in Muscat souk and often they have fake running woolf marks etc.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.