ROYAL OMANI KHANJAR - is it authentic?

[mariusgmioc]

Hello,

I don't know much about Khanjars myself but yours seems to be very well made.
Also 800 grams for a Khanjar doesn't seem that little. I have a Japane Katana that weights this much.
So my guess is that you have the real thing, but I would like to hear more knowledgeable oppinions.

[Sajen]

I know nearly next to nothing about this daggers but the silverwork is fantastic, wow! Welcome to the forum.

Detlef

[Bob A]

For purposes of comparison, I offer this link to a jambiyya with royal Omani provenance; yours seems to be a newer, and even more ornate, example.

. . .

Sadly, the link didn't work. If you wish to go to the Oriental-Arms.com site and search for Saidi dagger Oman, it will appear. I seem to be unable to leave a link to the site at all, my apologies.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Bob A

Sadly, the link didn't work. If you wish to go to the Oriental-Arms.com site and search for Saidi dagger Oman, it will appear. I seem to be unable to leave a link to the site at all, my apologies.

There are a lot under this name by Oriental Arms, here is one: http://www.oriental-arms.com/photos.php?id=4499

[ariel]

AFAIK, Saidi was a general name for a societal stratum that traced their descent from Prophet Mohammed ( rightly or wrongly). As a rule, their were the richest jambias ( khanjar in Oman). This one also seems to me a newer example.

[A.alnakkas]

Originally Posted by ariel

AFAIK, Saidi was a general name for a societal stratum that traced their descent from Prophet Mohammed ( rightly or wrongly). As a rule, their were the richest jambias ( khanjar in Oman). This one also seems to me a newer example.

Ariel, this particular khanjar style and its naming can be confusing, but the name is not a reference to the Sayeds, but to the Sa'eedi royal family of Oman.

Sa'eedi = سعيدي with the letter ع (ah)

Sayed = سيد

I always thought of adding properly pronounced Arab names for items but I can be lazy :-)

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Please see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmad_bin_Said_al-Busaidi where it outlines the dynastic form of the name ...and the name of the Khanjar; Sometimes termed the al-Busaidi or Busaidi or Al Saidi. Occasionally seen is the Omani Battle sword with an al Busaidi hilt..Al Saidi is the name used on the website http://khanjar.om/Old.html

[Bob A]

Originally Posted by Sajen

There are a lot under this name by Oriental Arms, here is one: http://www.oriental-arms.com/photos.php?id=4499

That's the one. I don't understand why my links kept failing. Thanks for your efforts.

[Bob A]

Originally Posted by Sajen

There are a lot under this name by Oriental Arms, here is one: http://www.oriental-arms.com/photos.php?id=4499

The text associated with this link establishes royal provenance:

Fine and Important Saidi Jambiya Dagger - Oman - 10828


A fine and very good quality Arab Jambiya dagger from Oman, in the royal style known as Saidi . This Dagger was presented by Qaboos Bin Said Sultan of Oman, to the British officer Col. David George Arthur Holt, in recognition of his service in the Oman Military forces. It has a 8 inches curved and dual edge blade with a pronounced central rib. The hilt is made of Rhino horn in the classical “I” shaped, decorated with many small silver filigree pieces. The scabbard is “L” shaped covered with fabric. The belt attachment is made of complicate arrangements of 7 silver rings and twisted silver wire. All scabbard and hilt fittings are silver chased in a typical design. This item comes with its original heavy silver buckles. Total length 13 inches. Very good condition. Documents related to the military service of Col. Holt are included.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Bob A

The text associated with this link establishes royal provenance:

Fine and Important Saidi Jambiya Dagger - Oman - 10828


A fine and very good quality Arab Jambiya dagger from Oman, in the royal style known as Saidi . This Dagger was presented by Qaboos Bin Said Sultan of Oman, to the British officer Col. David George Arthur Holt, in recognition of his service in the Oman Military forces. It has a 8 inches curved and dual edge blade with a pronounced central rib. The hilt is made of Rhino horn in the classical “I” shaped, decorated with many small silver filigree pieces. The scabbard is “L” shaped covered with fabric. The belt attachment is made of complicate arrangements of 7 silver rings and twisted silver wire. All scabbard and hilt fittings are silver chased in a typical design. This item comes with its original heavy silver buckles. Total length 13 inches. Very good condition. Documents related to the military service of Col. Holt are included.

Here is the picture. To make sense of the variation in design of Al Saidi Khanjars it is important to view the details at http://khanjar.om/Types.html where you will discover all kinds of links with other Oman Khanjar forms copied on these Royal Weapons. This Khanjar has a short belt in silver ~ two small oblong plates linked like a belt . The other belt section is leather usually with stitched silver decoration.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.