19th Century Omani Khanjar?

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by A.alnakkas

The craftmanship on the khanjar posted on khanjar.com is near identical to one crafted by Hussain alDajani (posted on this topic as well) without the back side posted there is very little to say of it and I am yet to see such an example tracked back to an Omani maker. I have contacted them with the request of sending photos of the back side. It wouldn't be so Omani if the palm and swords logo is there :-)

This is not the first item and especially not the first khanjar made somewhere else that is identified as Omani in a publication. Though I am all ears, any item of provenance? a single inscription that traces back to an Omani maker or an Omani user?

There is plenty tracing to Saudi but I reckon reading Arabic might be difficult.

You confuse my argument, I am not denying any Omani influence on this style of dagger or Arab arms. Oman was a hub for the weapon smuggling network that spanned all the way to Kuwait. To dismiss Oman is abit foolish.

I still await a source that proves the existence of the name Habaabi for any type of weapon.

Salaams, Indeed yes they are identical other than the reverse markings that often as you show have a name and also many carry the Flowermen Tribal insignia... The bunch of Flowers.(BUT NOT ALL) I agree to your point about Ahsa and Asir though entirely different areas as having the same or similar weaponry but I add the caveat that both areas were considerable trading partners with Oman by the routes already outlined...and that Al Wustah was the pivot point for both...thus the origin of species in Oman.

The word Habaabi is entirely colloquial..I agree that not everyone is so aware of it...but that is entirely normal here. There are many points in Omani History that people do not know or have forgotten. How quickly people forget when a system is not written down. To get to the root of this needs not only wide open research in each area but cross cultural understanding of these weapon types.

The government site at http://khanjar.om/Old.html is a good addition to our understanding though I have to say that even in a reference like omanisilver.com there is a huge muddle with what are Asiri weapons and what are Omani.

Even the respected Richardson and Dorr is incomplete but that is the problem with publications...once it is written that's it...finished...at least at Forum we can change and modify and with the brilliant library system offer future students a good anchor position from which to build...

How for example at Omani Silver. com can Asiri weapons of the type Flower Tribe with a floral stamp on reverse be Omani? When does a weapon mirrored in a different country become of that country? Most publications here are flawed by being incomplete or blatantly incorrect though I point to our own Forum as being not only up to date but "live".

Insofar as the word Habaabi; I believe it is attached like a nickname to the dagger from Abha (of Abha)...and the Asir but is entirely referred to by Omani people, though, I will examine this as I go forward. I do not however, expect to find documentary evidence.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.