Omani Kattara

Michael Blalock · 27th March 2007, 01:02 AM

This arrived today and I can't believe I was lucky enough to win it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=220092999460

My camera is on the fritz so I will post better photos later. The whole sword is gorgeous and must have been the weapon of a wealthy man. The silver fitting are very heavy. The blade is beautiful and the silver wire grip is the best thing of all. Everything is tight and fits together well on the sword. The scabbard has some dammage but the blade slides out like silk. I assume it is a european blade because it is so well made. There are a couple of small symbols stamped into each side of the blade, one is a small cross close to the hilt that was buried in rust. The other, I cannot make out. It looks very happy next to my Yemeni swords.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=220092999460

Michael Blalock · 27th March 2007, 04:00 AM

My new Kattara is much like this one on Oriental-Arms. In fact maybe the same maker.
http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/photos.php?id=357

G. McCormack · 27th March 2007, 06:15 PM

I'm glad to see this went to a good home, I was watching this one closely. Such a cool find! I really like how the scabbard was decorated with cord under the leather, to create those spiral shapes. Cheers on a nice sword

S.Al-Anizi · 27th March 2007, 08:11 PM

Congratulations Mike on such a nice sword!

I wonder if european trade blades or even military ones had such short fullers on them? Do these exist? Can you please post closer pics of the blade.

Cheers!

spiral · 28th March 2007, 12:24 AM

What a lovely sword!

Spiral

Nagawarrior · 28th March 2007, 10:51 PM

Great sword. Sorry, I tried to get it myself and drove up the price a bit. You still got a killer deal. I have a nice Omani dagger I'd like to display with an Omani sword some day. Maybe next time one comes up. Congrats on a really super sword. Here is a picture of an Omani man with a dagger just like mine with his sword.
Cheers,
Stephen

Michael Blalock · 28th March 2007, 11:01 PM

Borrowed camera-not so good-but here are some close-ups.

Thanks, Nagawarrior, I thought it would go higher.

ariel · 29th March 2007, 01:40 AM

The one with the curved blade might be caucasian: as per Elgood, in the second part of the 19th century, Daghestanis imported their shashka blades all over and they became very popular in Oman.
I am curious about the new one (straight-bladed): isn't the silver wire a bit too intact? I looked at it and contemplated a bid, but the perfect arrangement of the strands made me apprehensive. They are not even moved, as would be expected from long use. I am not trying to rain on your parade, but just wish to know whether I was too chicken.

Michael Blalock · 29th March 2007, 02:05 AM

That crossed my mind when I bid, but when I received the sword I could tell that the wire wraping had been there since it was made. It's a gut feeling I know, yet one I tust. The silver wire stiching holding the leather to the scabbard is much finer than the hilt yet it is still intact and has the same patina as the hilt. I think that this is more remarkable fact than the condition of the hilt. I believe this is at least a hundred year old piece that was well cared for. If the hilt was rewired at some point, it was done by a master kattara maker. It is increadibly well done.

27th March 2007, 01:02 AM	#1
Michael Blalock Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: dc Posts: 271	Omani Kattara This arrived today and I can't believe I was lucky enough to win it. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=220092999460 My camera is on the fritz so I will post better photos later. The whole sword is gorgeous and must have been the weapon of a wealthy man. The silver fitting are very heavy. The blade is beautiful and the silver wire grip is the best thing of all. Everything is tight and fits together well on the sword. The scabbard has some dammage but the blade slides out like silk. I assume it is a european blade because it is so well made. There are a couple of small symbols stamped into each side of the blade, one is a small cross close to the hilt that was buried in rust. The other, I cannot make out. It looks very happy next to my Yemeni swords. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=220092999460 Attached Images

27th March 2007, 04:00 AM	#2
Michael Blalock Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: dc Posts: 271	My new Kattara is much like this one on Oriental-Arms. In fact maybe the same maker. http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/photos.php?id=357 Attached Images

28th March 2007, 11:01 PM	#7
Michael Blalock Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: dc Posts: 271	Borrowed camera-not so good-but here are some close-ups. Thanks, Nagawarrior, I thought it would go higher. Attached Images

27th March 2007, 06:15 PM	#3
G. McCormack Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 131	I'm glad to see this went to a good home, I was watching this one closely. Such a cool find! I really like how the scabbard was decorated with cord under the leather, to create those spiral shapes. Cheers on a nice sword

27th March 2007, 08:11 PM	#4
S.Al-Anizi Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Arabia Posts: 278	Congratulations Mike on such a nice sword! I wonder if european trade blades or even military ones had such short fullers on them? Do these exist? Can you please post closer pics of the blade. Cheers!

28th March 2007, 12:24 AM	#5
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	What a lovely sword! Spiral

28th March 2007, 10:51 PM	#6
Nagawarrior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Inland Empire, Southern California USA Posts: 160	Great sword. Sorry, I tried to get it myself and drove up the price a bit. You still got a killer deal. I have a nice Omani dagger I'd like to display with an Omani sword some day. Maybe next time one comes up. Congrats on a really super sword. Here is a picture of an Omani man with a dagger just like mine with his sword. Cheers, Stephen

29th March 2007, 01:40 AM	#8
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The one with the curved blade might be caucasian: as per Elgood, in the second part of the 19th century, Daghestanis imported their shashka blades all over and they became very popular in Oman. I am curious about the new one (straight-bladed): isn't the silver wire a bit too intact? I looked at it and contemplated a bid, but the perfect arrangement of the strands made me apprehensive. They are not even moved, as would be expected from long use. I am not trying to rain on your parade, but just wish to know whether I was too chicken.

29th March 2007, 02:05 AM	#9
Michael Blalock Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: dc Posts: 271	That crossed my mind when I bid, but when I received the sword I could tell that the wire wraping had been there since it was made. It's a gut feeling I know, yet one I tust. The silver wire stiching holding the leather to the scabbard is much finer than the hilt yet it is still intact and has the same patina as the hilt. I think that this is more remarkable fact than the condition of the hilt. I believe this is at least a hundred year old piece that was well cared for. If the hilt was rewired at some point, it was done by a master kattara maker. It is increadibly well done.