The Omani Khanjar

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 30th November 2019, 10:12 AM

A Major breakthrough has been developed in reproduction hilts using horsehair ...virtually identical to a Rhino and I suspect very similar to Giraffe... please see the document covered by Mi, R., Shao, Z.Z. & Vollrath, F. Creating artificial Rhino Horns from Horse Hair. Sci Rep 9, 16233 (2019) doi:10.1038/s41598-019-52527-5 at

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-52527-5

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 26th December 2019, 08:43 AM

Occasionally I see designs that I seem to recognize but that I have never seen applied on khanjars ~ this is one of them and is both dramatic and well balanced ...but what is the Scabbard design from?

(The writing simply says this is already sold)

Battara · 26th December 2019, 05:16 PM

Interesting the variety of giraffe grips.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 27th December 2019, 07:27 AM

Salaams Battara, In order of priority it is something like Rhino, Ivory, Giraffe, scented wood, olive then plastic....then it deteriorates dramatically to bog standard wood ..there may be the odd horn I haven't seen but the top three have dominated hilts for probably centuries. The confusion now lifted between rhino and giraffe and the name puzzle described earlier has also thrown collectors for ages. The point about these hilts is that Giraffe horn takes all the pins a rhino hilt would take but is duller under light than Rhino...
My earlier note outlines the breakthrough in the use of treated horsehair (tail hair) which is just as good as Rhino and Giraffe but a fraction of the price could set a precedent..although some would say it makes no difference. I would like to see it tried and an example launched for all to see.

Richard G · 27th December 2019, 10:59 AM

The scabbard cover next to the chape (Qub'a ?) reminds me of a the stylised christian fish symbol.
Regards
Richard

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 28th December 2019, 09:26 AM

There are many examples of rectangular geometry in Omani silver work and in the khanjar waist belt decoration and on Khanjar scabbards . Below I show one stylistic signature from Said the Great that seems to suggest a possible link...I add similar sword hilt geometric designs and in the rectangular silver adornment from the region of south Nizwa; Adam in a style of Djinn often seen on necklaces; protecting the wearer.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 20th January 2020, 10:05 PM

I thought this Omani Khanjar looked well balanced and nicely worked>>> It came with a few clues such as the hilt in Zraff Afrique which as you know is Rhino . It is a post 1970 weapon as it has the Omani Crest stamped on the belt links...

30th November 2019, 10:12 AM	#1
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	A Major breakthrough has been developed in reproduction hilts using horsehair ...virtually identical to a Rhino and I suspect very similar to Giraffe... please see the document covered by Mi, R., Shao, Z.Z. & Vollrath, F. Creating artificial Rhino Horns from Horse Hair. Sci Rep 9, 16233 (2019) doi:10.1038/s41598-019-52527-5 at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-52527-5 Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 30th November 2019 at 10:23 AM.

26th December 2019, 08:43 AM	#2
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Occasionally I see designs that I seem to recognize but that I have never seen applied on khanjars ~ this is one of them and is both dramatic and well balanced ...but what is the Scabbard design from? (The writing simply says this is already sold) Attached Images

28th December 2019, 09:26 AM	#6
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	There are many examples of rectangular geometry in Omani silver work and in the khanjar waist belt decoration and on Khanjar scabbards . Below I show one stylistic signature from Said the Great that seems to suggest a possible link...I add similar sword hilt geometric designs and in the rectangular silver adornment from the region of south Nizwa; Adam in a style of Djinn often seen on necklaces; protecting the wearer. Attached Images

20th January 2020, 10:05 PM	#7
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	I thought this Omani Khanjar looked well balanced and nicely worked>>> It came with a few clues such as the hilt in Zraff Afrique which as you know is Rhino . It is a post 1970 weapon as it has the Omani Crest stamped on the belt links... Attached Images

26th December 2019, 05:16 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,142	Interesting the variety of giraffe grips.

27th December 2019, 07:27 AM	#4
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Salaams Battara, In order of priority it is something like Rhino, Ivory, Giraffe, scented wood, olive then plastic....then it deteriorates dramatically to bog standard wood ..there may be the odd horn I haven't seen but the top three have dominated hilts for probably centuries. The confusion now lifted between rhino and giraffe and the name puzzle described earlier has also thrown collectors for ages. The point about these hilts is that Giraffe horn takes all the pins a rhino hilt would take but is duller under light than Rhino... My earlier note outlines the breakthrough in the use of treated horsehair (tail hair) which is just as good as Rhino and Giraffe but a fraction of the price could set a precedent..although some would say it makes no difference. I would like to see it tried and an example launched for all to see.

27th December 2019, 10:59 AM	#5
Richard G Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 402	The scabbard cover next to the chape (Qub'a ?) reminds me of a the stylised christian fish symbol. Regards Richard