Salaams Atlantia,
We have just brought on a couple of hilts made of rock crystal... They look pretty stunning but are very weighty... twice the weight of a normal hilt . I suspect they would shatter if dropped..especially on a marble or concrete floor...Anyway it is interesting. :)
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Salaams ~Now here's a funny thing !his hilt has a very nice feel to it... but I cannot decide what it is made from since the edges seem to be going white... or light... as happens with Rhino but this has a feel more of Bakelite or carbon(plastic) or resin ..yet it seems to be horn. The old chap that brought it has said it is half Rhino... meaning he thinks it has Rhino in it... tiny shavings mixed in the mix ...so to speak... but I have me doubts !! Very expensive though !!

:shrug:

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Looks like cheap layered plastic.... quite likely to be translucent at edges...

I understand many such are made in the Yemen & as with so many sales products you've informed us about, there then imported into Oman to be sold by the dodgy dealers , who always have a tale on their lips...

To quote a Yemini trader...


Al-Ozairi uses his expertise and years of experience to not only sell jambiyas, but also provide free-of-charge consultation for clients.

“Many customers come to my shops asking us to evaluate the price of their jambiyas.”

Many people cannot tell the difference between the original and plastic jambiyas and Al-Ozairi likes to set them straight.

“Thos who make fake, plastic jambiyas have swindled many people out of a lot of money, convincing many customers that their jambiyas are unique,” he said, taking it as a personal affront on his beloved profession.

“They deserve the severest punishment from the government for deceiving people and destroying the reputation of jambiya trade.”

Despite the “plastic invasion,” Al-Ozairi is optimistic about the future and continued legacy of one of Yemen’s most notorious weapons.

“Original jambiyas are an important part of our legacy. It will not fade away as many people say.

It will prevail,” he said.

Ref....linky!

Of course ground rhino horn would also be too valuable to ad to a cheaply made handle like that,The Jambiya makers have re sold there offcuts & adulterated sawdust to the Chinese for at least 25 years! & besides ground human toenails would add the same keratin product & translucency even if without the allure & magic of the last remaining {just.] dinosaur on the planet.


Hope you didn't really pay much for that? :shrug:

I think your a sharper man than that.


Spiral

Salaams spiral~ You are absolutely right. I only snapped a picture and the item left ... I think the old chap must have been stitched up ... huge shame. I loved his daft story about the Rhino shavings and even wondered for a minute if it could be true..! I thought it could be amber... but no! probably some resin ...
:p
There are some reasonable "allowable bone" handles on the market ...for European knives and I always wondered why Mamoth tusk never made it here. Thanks for the post and the great linky..
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Salaams all... My workshops team had a bit of a giggle at the 3 stone hilts at #121 and confirm they are only for presentation framed khanjars and certainly not for wearing. :shrug: :)
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Salaams All; Note to Library; Old chaps like these often drop in for a chat ... and they make the best bargainers in the business...Some allow pictures...like this fine gentleman, today, (Awadth Kareeb al Kuwaiti from the U.A.E. He used to work for the late ruler!)
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi. :shrug:

Salaams All ~ This is quite an unusual shot which I downloaded from the web showing the dagger style often carried in Dhofar with the Straight Omani Sayf, (dancing sword) and Terrs Shield. The dagger is virtually identical to the Yemeni style ... not surprising as the border is quite close by and tribes common to both countries straddle that.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

latest find, opinion pleas
 

hello Together

here is my latest find.

this is a royal Khanjar? how old is he about?
the handle is rino horn, the light is beautiful yellowish translucent.
I would like to hear your opinion about it, especially your Ibrahiim.
the Khanjar not heard me, must first be agreed with the seller over the price.

regards Chregu

Salaams chregu, #45 and #46 refer to similar hilts and #1 gives some details on provenance of this HILT DESIGNED BY THE WIFE OF A PREVIOUS RULER .. THIS IS THE BUSSAIDI KHANJAR STYLE. THE SCABBARD IS LIKE ALL ROYAL DAGGERS THE SAME AS THE MUSCAT KHANJAR WITH 7 RINGS.

Designers name ... "Sheherazad" ... Origimal style designed in about 1840. Wife of Said Sultan; ruled 1804 to 1856 (when he died).. She actually designed two things ... The hilt and the royal turban. (The royal hiltstyle was also adopted onto the Omani Battle Sword at the same time). See #8 on http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=16482

In your case the decoration below the belt has gone; typical of daggers which have been in the Salalah region. It has the benefit of a two piece hinged small belt section, though, the long belt is missing. Short hinged belts are rare now. The small net shaped device just behind the toe or crown on the scabbard end has also gone. Nevertheless a good example and probably 1960 or 1970 ...that area. :)
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

hi ibrahiim

Thank you for your quick response.
I had the age of the dagger much older estimated before 1900?
because from my experience for blades and the patina of the grip material. well as the signs of wear of the silver decorations may include a higher age.


what are your reasons for dating 1960-1970?



greeting Chregu

Antique Omani Khanjar.
 

Salaams Chregu, The decorative tiny detailed silver work in the hilt and upper scabbard is of a later provenance and actually there is little damage or hard wear caused by age in either the blade or the silverwork other than a couple of missing bits as outlined. I am probably at the outer limit by quoting around the 60 year marker..Silver is very soft...it wears out fast because not only is it worn where wear is quite agessive but because of the vigourous oxidation (and constant cleaning) of the icon.. The blades, if used regularly, will also degrade nicely and for 1900 I would expect a relatively battered steel ... not so on this. In regard to an aprox. 1900 Khanjar I would expect a very worn almost smooth silver patina...

The difficulty on khanjar age estimation is compounded because the trend has been to replace worn parts!! So my "point" about blades has to be "tempered" with the assumption that the blade is original...when it may not be. The belt cannot be used either on age estimation.

In this case however there is no way that it is older than 1950 and absolutely not 1900... That is way out of line on age.

To view khanjars of 100 years or more I would need to be in a Museum as no such weapons exist other than there or private collections...I was looking at http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/a...tails.aspx#top for examples even for first half of the 20th C .. but even with those examples I would say they were 1940 or 50... Pushing the envelope back to 1900 is not easy.

Your dagger... I would be happy with 1960.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi. :shrug:

Antique Khanjars.
 

Salaams All... Note to Library. I illustrate 3 of the oldest Khanjars I have seen on web...I consider these as circa 1900. Readers may note that it was the Hilt that dignified a Khanjar as "Saidiyya" (Royal) in style though generally that hilt is seen on the 7 ringer form scabbards but wass equally allowed upon 4 ringers as below right.. (7 ringer form was the design seen on Muscat Khanjar scabbards see #79) The Muscat weapon being on the doorstep when the Saidiyya hilt was invented must have thus been ideal as the candidate for copying the 7 ring style.

The older silver style is clearly seen on the two 7 ringers.

:shrug:

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

hi ibrahiim

thanks for your answer.

I'm amazed that I was so wrong with my assessment!
I noticed that I still have much to learn about Khanjar!
as I said, the Khanjar is not me, but would like to buy it.
what do you think is a fair price for it?

greeting Chregu

Salaams Chregu... Its rather like being asked ones age... Have a guess. :D
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi

ok
thank you anyway!

greeting Chregu :) :) :)

Three Finger Lift.
 

To decide if the blade is worthy there are a number of tests locals use including the ring test, the smell test, and the taste test. There is another which I describe as the three finger lift.

Lightly take the end of the khanjar blade up in two fingers and a thumb and slowly lift the item vertically ... If there is resistance and the dagger falls away its a good one ... If you can lift it easily its not so good...This happens as a blend of tests and may be done several times to satisfy the buyers mind..and looks like a complete load of jiggery-pokery but the locals swear by it...

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi. :shrug:

So physical speaking, more weight than average & enough curve to the blade to put a sideways pull in rather than a straight linear pull is required? so that it pulls free? :shrug:

Or to my mind, if as sharp as a cut throat razor would work as well? ;) But would colour your fingers perhaps...

Spiral

Salaams Spiral~ I have the distinct impression it is more to do with the square root of the wily grin on the customers face divided by the depth of his pocket !! :D

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

That's sounds esoterical rather than physical! ;)

So its all a salesmans con trick, to lighten the customers weight realy? :eek:

So not truly a worthy test? :shrug:

spiral

Salaams spiral... Nothing to do with the salesman and everything to do with the customer.. They come armed with techniques to prove the good or poor blade. These things are hard wired into the Bedu and frankly most of the potential local buyers.. The smell and taste test, tweak and flip, the ring test and this one holding the blade by the tip. These are the traditional ways...
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Fascinating!

Spiral

The Funoon and the Khanjar. The Bar'aa
 

The Bar'aa

Salaams All.. In Dhofar in particular and more often (though dancing with Khanjars is also done in the North) the Bar'aa dance is performed.


The Bar'aa is performed as a celebration of youth by two dancers, each holding a Khanjar dagger in his right hand and his shal, fixed at the waist, in his left hand. The characteristic movement of the Bar'aa is a powerful one-footed leap into the air. The two dancers move in a synchronized series of steps, advancing and retreating while they both make full circles. At a particular moment, both dancers bow down before the musicians to allow the soloists to come forward and sing.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Salaams All, Note to Library,

Correction to past threads on the Habbaabi Khanjar form of the Saudia Arabia Asir regional dagger. The Name of the weapon appears as Habbaabi but is probably from Abha and either there is a silent letter at the front which has become muddled in the sound ... Abha is the capital of the Asir thus it is there that I think the name has sprung from. Abhaabi which sounds like Habbaabi.

It is this Muscat Khanjar that was "copied in" as a style of weapon into the then Yemeni region now part of the Saudia Asir region... likely imported there by Omani/Yemeni ships trading between Red Sea Ports, Zanzibar and Oman.

I show below the grainy old picture from what is an epic pamphlet on Omani Silver by Ruth Hawley. of the original form of Muscat Khanjar... whose design of scabbard became part of the Royal Khanjar by Sheherazad in about 1850. (It may be remembered that she designed the Hilt ...and also the Royal Turban).

With that please see http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=360 by Congre...for the Abhaabi dagger details also brought to the pictures below;

A map of the Asir is included.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi. :)

The Royal Khanjar.

Designer Sherazad in circa 1850. The later finer intricate work inspired after about 1970... and could be called the modern design. This dagger however is a very meaty example and heavily ornate about the hilt which is all covered in silver and known here as "Tams". This is a huge 7 Ringer. The entire scabbard arrangement influenced by the Muscat Khanjar and integrated by the designer with a hilt of largely Indian form/decorative style.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Salaams all; Note to Library;

Brought from Rostaq; This khanjar is of good quality though for some reason the black Rhino hilt is not considered comparable to the clear Rhino... :cool: The Khanjar sports a tight pattern of Baatinah style below the belt and has excellent design in silver pin form on the hilt with a full silver back. The blade is good with a dull thudding resonance and smells like sweaty socks and herbs !! A good sign. The belt is fine being silver stitched on leather and no expense is spared on its quality buttons and buckles. :shrug:

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

:)

A couple of designs just encountered ~ I particularly liked the parallel line silver decoration ..The Khanjar with gilded buttons has been reworked...as many Khanjars have these days...and to include some gold pins. The dagger with the black leather scabbard is from Salalah and closely related to a Yemeni style already discussed on these pages.

Comments welcome folks !!

Ibrahiim al Balooshi. :shrug:

Salaams All... An example of a reworked Rhino Horn Hilt on a newer Khanjar ...Another Baatinah style with the owner residing in Rostaq . I think the use of gilded buttons and spot gold wash is very attractive. The back of the hilt is pure silver platework often seen on expensive hilts. The blade is slightly loose and out of kilter....It's wonky.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

For a broad background into Khanjars of Oman etc see http://www.klm-mra.be/icomam/downloads/issue07.pdf :shrug:

Some of the styles of hilt using carbon or nylon material are very good(called generally "Americky" here))... Here is a hilt with all the pins and looking like wood grain ..etc...They don't break when dropped and are easy to work on....and reasonably priced.

I do not intend to reopen the "discussion" on so called Habaabi khanjars, but the style of Khanjar shown by Ruth Hawley, has been described by the King Faisal Center for Islamic Studies in Riyadh, as coming from the Al Ahsa area of Saudi Arabia. This area is situated in the eastern area of Saudi, bordering Oman, and therefore many miles from Abha.
As far as the scabbard being the basis of the Royal Khanjar goes, I was of the impression that Saudi scabbards tended to be more up turned at the toe than Omani ones.
You attribute the design as originating from the Muscat Khanjar, which may or may not be the case, but concrete proof would in my opinion be needed before any conclusive decision could be reached.

I have no idea why you seem to be blinded by the Habaabi structure which I have referenced and covered fully even down to a map...and picture references. There may well be another region in the east with similar daggers but I have already declared that this needs to be investigated as the two areas well documented now are Muscat and the Abha region...The Muscat Khanjar and the Asir/ Abha ..known as the Habaabi Khanjar. They are not as you put it..."so called". They exist... and are now well documented .

The scabbard of the Royal Omani Khanjar!!... You have missed the point. Its not the Royal Khanjar Scabbard that was designed by Sheherazad...Its the Hilt!! The Scabbard on the Royal Omani Khanjar comes from the Muscat Khanjar.

It appears true that Yemeni and Saudia Khanjars are traditionally more turned at the toe...or to get it right chronologically The Omani Khanjar tends to be less turned at the toe section than the Yemeni and Saudia styles.

Within the mixture of Southern Arabian Daggers cross pollination, copying , mirroring of styles has occured and for good reason this Habaabi dagger has been adopted there...Seatrade...The Zanzibar link...

I don't deal in concrete. As you are aware on these pages cast iron situations are seldom proveable ..nor are they sought. This situation with the Omani influence in the Asir has been shown to be entirely plausible...how else could it have transpired?

I repeat that we have at forum compared the two regional weapons The Muscat and the Abha... If another area is to be balanced and compared then it too has to be researched...then...considered.

I am interested to know where and how it is explained in your Saudia reference ...that the Ruth Hawley Muscat Khanjar is in fact from Saudia??

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Your para 2 above: I am well aware that the hilt is the part of the Royal Khanjar designed by Sheherazad. I did not say otherwise. My point was that the Omani scabbard of this Khanjar has not usually got a turned up toe, so if the "Ruth Hawley" Khanjar is a Muscat Khanjar, then the scabbard is wrong...it has a very turned up toe.
As far as the Saudia source I quoted is concerned, this style of Khanjar (illustrated by them) is attributed to the Al Ahsa area, not Abha.
I am also aware that you have done considerable research into these matters, BUT, word is not enough in my opinion. It needs to be backed up by conclusive and irrefutable documentation. If this is not forthcoming then what is printed here can only be described as opinion.

Last point first if I may; I think that is what Forum largely extends to itself and its members;... opinions. On occasions important details are uncovered sometimes sources are called into question. It is not for me to consider your source since it is not one I have to hand...however I would be surprised if it states that the Muscat Khanjar in Ruth Hawleys publication is from Saudia..and that the style of weapon seen and worn in the Asir is from the east...when it is clearly of the Muscat design..What exactly does your reference state?

As I have noted what needs to be done is a brief study of the Al Ahsa work and then to compare where required.. What you may find(though without wanting to pre empt ) is that the Al Ahsa may be related to Omani work and for similar reasons... i.e. trade with the Bahrain region ...not just a name coined to describe the Islands but a large slice of the mainland in which the oasis of Al Ahsa is located..

Regarding the Muscat Khanjar in Ruth Hawleys work..it is presented as a more turned scabbard. That is how it looks in her publication...I have not seen the actual item. In this case could there be some camera angle play going on?...or was that particular Khanjar made deliberately with a greater turn in the scabbard?...It could be simply a bigger curve built in as a one off... I simply don't know...or that Muscati daggers tended to be made with bigger curves...as #113 indicates..

There is no mention of Ruth Hawley in the Saudia information...it simply shows a pic of a similar khanjar, and a statement that origin is Al Ahsa.

I would point out here that the caption against the khanjar in Ruth Hawley's book does not anywhere mention Muscat. In fact she says that the item was probably made in the Sharqiyah, which appears quite some distance from Muscat. I am assuming therefore that any mention of Muscat has originated from yourself? Do you have concrete/iron clad information to confirm this?

I am somewhat confused in relation to your comment about "islands" in relation to Al Ahsa. As far as I can establish, Al Ahsa is the area of modern day Saudi Arabia against the Omani border, and nowhere near the sea. Maybe my geography is a little astray, but I don't think so......

Bahrayn.
 

Originally Posted by kahnjar1 I am somewhat confused in relation to your comment about "islands" in relation to Al Ahsa. As far as I can establish, Al Ahsa is the area of modern day Saudi Arabia against the Omani border, and nowhere near the sea. Maybe my geography is a little astray, but I don't think so......



Bahrayn.

By Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Prepare to have your geography straightened out ~ See the Bellin map of 18th C reknown...below.

It is vital to look carefully at the historical evidence.

This is a huge block of territory not solely the Bahrayn Archipelago but its mainland region. Wikepedia refers...viz;

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia;

Al-Ahsa, sometimes Al-Hasa, El Hasa, or Hadjar (Arabic: الأحساء‎ al-Aḥsāʾ, locally al-Ḥasāʾ; Turkish: Lahsa) is a traditional oasis region in eastern Saudi Arabia whose name is used by the Al-Ahsa Governorate, which makes up much of that country's Eastern Province. The oasis is located about 60 km inland from the Persian Gulf.

Al-Ahsa is part of the region known historically as Al-Bahrayn, which includes the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula down to the borders of Oman, and also includes the island of Awal (modern-day Bahrain). :shrug:

It therefor transpires that your Al Hasa was in Bahrayn and further that may link it with the Muscat Khanjar style through trade... though I state again that careful study of the weapons from that rather grey area(Al Ahsa) in terms of known research may be required so as to pinpoint any links.

There are about 4 Museums in Muscat who can vouch for the Muscat Khanjar as Ruth Hawley does indirectly through her quite brilliant study in the days when Muscat hardly had a motor car or road in it! Her pamphlet stood alone and excellent in the years as Oman developed, though, now there is a huge body of work constructed with the support of the governments Historical Ministry... "The Richardson and Dorr book". What you may or may not realise is that this country has boomed since 1970 but that before that it was virtually in the dark ages ...It continues to update its portfolio on antiquity. It cannot have achieved perfection in a couple of decades and unlike western countries has not had centuries to get its ducks in a row. What has been achieved has been done since 1970...that is all. There may be a few gaps...but we are certain of the Muscat Khanjars position as an Omani style.

In Oman style of Khanjar does not always indicate place of manufacture(or vica-versa)...Thus for example I can have 5 or 6 different regions workshops make Royal Khanjars...or a Sharqiyah workshop make a Baatinah weapon ...Every Khanjar workshop is capable of making many designs. My workshop in Sohar can make Sur style but it's nowhere near Sur. Sometimes one Khanjar is made in several workshops...The hilt here, the scabbard there, the belt somewhere else. Thus a Sannau workshop may well have made the Muscat style in Ruth Hawleys booklet.

You say now ~
There is no mention of Ruth Hawley in the Saudia information...it simply shows a pic of a similar khanjar, and a statement that origin is Al Ahsa.

But you indicated something quite different previously...the style of Khanjar shown by Ruth Hawley, has been described by the King Faisal Center for Islamic Studies in Riyadh, as coming from the Al Ahsa area of Saudi Arabia.


However, it is your interpretation of something you saw in a pamphlet. More reason for you to have the Al Ahsa work put under the magnifying glass therefor I look forward to seeing your results. Once that is done it may be relevant to compare that work with other regional styles.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

I guess if you want to go back far enough in history, you will find maps which show something entirely different from the modern day. I am talking about Al Ahsa as it is known today and has nothing to do with Bahrain however you wish to spell it. This link should help http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Ahsa_Governorate

But you do realise/guess that when the map was made ...the one above...that was the period in which these weapons were infused across boundaries and influence was developed...not today! but kindly observe that then Al Ahsa was firmly planted in the region known as Bahrayn.. Thus you must look at the history. It is not exactly pointless to view only the modern day scenario, however, whilst that is accepted on one level, it is hugely important to see it as it was ethnographically. :shrug:

Nothing to do with the way I want to spell it... Bahrayn was spelled like that by everyone including the great map masters..It represents the spelling in English of the arabic word for sea (Bahr)...two seas(Bahrayn) (The Duality) The accepted modern version being Bahrain.

Perhaps when you are considering the Al Ahsa weapons situation you might include the historical idea? Again without wanting to cloud the outcome it does seem possible that some trade influence both overland and by sea was prevalent in that region from Oman and that Muscat would have had a sizeable hand in the shipping trade link whilst Buraimi would have been the Camel train jump off point..

Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

I agree with Ibrahim. Bahrain and al Ahsa are historically connected and often ruled by the same dynasties. Also, the khanjars used in the bahrain island and alAhsa (including Qatar) are identical but the Bahraini's developed their own styles which includes stones on the scabbard etc and the uncommon use of ivory. Please google pictures of the Bahraini royal family and you will see many examples.

Although the Bahraini royal family uses Saidi and Omani styles too.. but historically, they had their own style.