Omani Saifs...

S.Al-Anizi · 9th September 2006, 10:51 PM

After reading Dr.Elgood's "Arms & Armour of Arabia", I became more interested in the swords used and made in oman, or with imported blades, those with guarded hilts, not the kattaras, these:

Sword

Elgood, even with all his great sources of information, and with local Omani knowledge and expertise, could not pinpoint their exact origin, time, or place. Most collectors and experts in this area, say that these swords are a living fossil of their ancestors, the straight, double edged blades of arabia. What Im asking is, can these swords specifically, with their silver covered iron hilts, with their scabbards and blade shapes, be the continuation of the old swords of the region? Could this area of arabia really have been untouched of the turkification of weaponry in the 14th-century? Is it possible, that the sacred swords in Istanbul, had hilts very similar or identical to these?

Could the answer to these questions, answer the question of why the sword blade industry in arabia almost ceased to exist, and relied mainly on imported blades, with a few local smithies here and there? That the change from broadsword to sabre struck deeply the swordsmiths in the area, whom werent able to produce quality sabre blades?

Regards,

Al-Anizi

9th September 2006, 10:51 PM	#1
S.Al-Anizi Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Arabia Posts: 278	Omani Saifs... After reading Dr.Elgood's "Arms & Armour of Arabia", I became more interested in the swords used and made in oman, or with imported blades, those with guarded hilts, not the kattaras, these: Sword Elgood, even with all his great sources of information, and with local Omani knowledge and expertise, could not pinpoint their exact origin, time, or place. Most collectors and experts in this area, say that these swords are a living fossil of their ancestors, the straight, double edged blades of arabia. What Im asking is, can these swords specifically, with their silver covered iron hilts, with their scabbards and blade shapes, be the continuation of the old swords of the region? Could this area of arabia really have been untouched of the turkification of weaponry in the 14th-century? Is it possible, that the sacred swords in Istanbul, had hilts very similar or identical to these? Could the answer to these questions, answer the question of why the sword blade industry in arabia almost ceased to exist, and relied mainly on imported blades, with a few local smithies here and there? That the change from broadsword to sabre struck deeply the swordsmiths in the area, whom werent able to produce quality sabre blades? Regards, Al-Anizi