The Omani Work Knife.

spiral · 5th December 2012, 10:42 AM

Fascinating Ibrahiim, Thank You!

Spiral

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 25th November 2017, 12:21 PM

This subject goes very much hand in hand with The Omani Khanjar as it is often the knife which is tucked behind the Khanjar used for small tasks ...They are often rehilted English butter knives.

The bigger single knife may be worn on its own on a simple leather belt. The pictures below show newly fitted blades to silvered hilts.

Please See;
https://www.eggintongroup.co.uk/hist...h-rodgers.html

Ian · 25th November 2017, 02:34 PM

Ibrahiim:

Thanks so much for posting this useful information. The adaptation of high quality European steel to practical working knives is yet one more example of local reuse of materials for a new purpose. Functional work knives are not always so pretty as these, and have been a particular favorite of mine for a long time. Mostly I collect SE Asian and southern Asian examples, but these Omani knives are much prettier than a utilitarian bolo, parang, pisau, hansia, dha, etc.

Excellent thread!

Ian.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 25th November 2017, 05:02 PM

Salaams Ian, Many thanks. The Rogers steel was greatly admired across Arabia no more so than in Oman for in particular "Sikkeen" blades on work knives.

Pukka Bundook · 27th November 2017, 02:29 PM

A very interesting thread, Ibrahiim!

I have a few of these Sheffield carbon steel knives and keep them in the kitchen drawer.
We have a drawer full of knives, yet it is these old springy razor sharp knives that we use for Everything.
I often marvel at the steel;
So paper-thin and springy, it can be bent to a great angle and yet springs back. We can not buy new knives with these characteristics.
New steel is thick and dull, whatever you do to it!

Your Omani chaps knew what they were doing when they sought out these little knives!

Richard.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 28th November 2017, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pukka Bundook

A very interesting thread, Ibrahiim!

I have a few of these Sheffield carbon steel knives and keep them in the kitchen drawer.
We have a drawer full of knives, yet it is these old springy razor sharp knives that we use for Everything.
I often marvel at the steel;
So paper-thin and springy, it can be bent to a great angle and yet springs back. We can not buy new knives with these characteristics.
New steel is thick and dull, whatever you do to it!

Your Omani chaps knew what they were doing when they sought out these little knives!

Richard.

Salaams Pukka Bundooq ~ I am delighted to get praise on Forum entries and this month was even more appreciated than others as we push the envelope on Omani weapons..
Here is a Solingen name well known in the cutlery world ...These Solingen knives are also greatly respected and worn in behind the Khanjar either left or right of the main weapon . In this case I was quite surprised to see the hilts which in Omani Arabic are transliterated as Horn Z'raffe Afrique . Omani traders called the Rhino Hilt Z'raffe ! An odd twist in the history of trade through Zanzibar which reached its peak in the first half of the 19thC.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 2nd June 2019, 02:20 PM

I thought to bring on a few more work knives and another variant ...a longer knife worn on its own a bit like a sort of beefed up work knife..Simply a bigger version. A few of these knives ..some European butter knives in their original state before being treated to the silver Omani handle ... The group of four held displayed in one hand are a modern style seen after 1980 probably more in the Indian style.
Regards Ibrahiim al Balooshi

25th November 2017, 12:21 PM	#2
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	The Omani Work Knife. This subject goes very much hand in hand with The Omani Khanjar as it is often the knife which is tucked behind the Khanjar used for small tasks ...They are often rehilted English butter knives. The bigger single knife may be worn on its own on a simple leather belt. The pictures below show newly fitted blades to silvered hilts. Please See; https://www.eggintongroup.co.uk/hist...h-rodgers.html Attached Images

2nd June 2019, 02:20 PM	#7
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	I thought to bring on a few more work knives and another variant ...a longer knife worn on its own a bit like a sort of beefed up work knife..Simply a bigger version. A few of these knives ..some European butter knives in their original state before being treated to the silver Omani handle ... The group of four held displayed in one hand are a modern style seen after 1980 probably more in the Indian style. Regards Ibrahiim al Balooshi Attached Images

5th December 2012, 10:42 AM	#1
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Fascinating Ibrahiim, Thank You! Spiral

25th November 2017, 02:34 PM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Ibrahiim: Thanks so much for posting this useful information. The adaptation of high quality European steel to practical working knives is yet one more example of local reuse of materials for a new purpose. Functional work knives are not always so pretty as these, and have been a particular favorite of mine for a long time. Mostly I collect SE Asian and southern Asian examples, but these Omani knives are much prettier than a utilitarian bolo, parang, pisau, hansia, dha, etc. Excellent thread! Ian.

25th November 2017, 05:02 PM	#4
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Salaams Ian, Many thanks. The Rogers steel was greatly admired across Arabia no more so than in Oman for in particular "Sikkeen" blades on work knives.

27th November 2017, 02:29 PM	#5
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	A very interesting thread, Ibrahiim! I have a few of these Sheffield carbon steel knives and keep them in the kitchen drawer. We have a drawer full of knives, yet it is these old springy razor sharp knives that we use for Everything. I often marvel at the steel; So paper-thin and springy, it can be bent to a great angle and yet springs back. We can not buy new knives with these characteristics. New steel is thick and dull, whatever you do to it! Your Omani chaps knew what they were doing when they sought out these little knives! Richard.