THE FLAMBOUYANT OMANI SAYF

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

This strange sword is a form of straight dancing variety said to have been bathed in blood.(probably the owners) Typically it is razor sharp and exactly matches the dancing cousin famous as a heraldic, waving and shimmering march past sword for heralding VIPs and the ruler. It is used for all the Funun performances and in combination with the Terrs shield. It came into existence in the early reign of Saiid the Great....around 1830. My view is that it is a dangerous item where a simple slip could cause great loss of blood owing to its vicious blade.

[Jim McDougall]

This type of blade on swords is represented throughout myth and history, and has powerful symbolism imbued.
The 'flaming' blade was sometimes used on knightly swords and referred to as flamberge (from Fr. flambe= flame) or as flammard, with the type of undulating edge later used on the zweihander, the huge two hander swords.

While the flaming sword has history in Biblical tradition as the sword used to guard the Gates of Paradise, it also is known in Islamic tradition in that variations of the Sword of Mohammed, Du'l'Faqar, are often with serrated edges on their blades.

These undulating blades were known in European fencing and sword play matters to have dramatic oscillating or vibrating effect, so it seems reasonable, if not likely, that in swords used in the Funun, whose function required dramatic vibration, would be used.


It seems reasonable that such dramatic effect would have been implemented by Sa'id along with his attention to other weaponry and regalia in establishing the ligitimacy and power of his rule in Oman and Zanzibar.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Reference;
A. The Sayf Yemaani on EAA Library.
B. The Omani Dancing Sword.

Thank you Jim for your well balanced analysis of this sword...it seems obvious that this weapon being identical in all respects to the straight Omani dancer .. The Omani Sayf … that it is not only the close cousin to it but in fact started life as an Omani Sayf and was simply given its wavy edge. Like its cousin it has a flat spatulate end razor sharp edges and a round tip. The tang is integral with the blade not specially extended and ending with the usual pommel with a hole (not all) and the hilt constructed around the tang is the Omani hilt of long, tubular, flat, form giving extra control on the blade for vibrating the sword in the wrist; especially in the heraldic march past in respects to the Ruler.

It is interesting that down the years this kind of sword has been mistaken by visitors to Oman as some sort of battle sword but this is likely owing to the fierceness of the warriors carrying it than any supposed use in actual fighting. The long hilt moreover is not a "twa hander" but simply a longer counter balance to the blade which is extremely flexible with the point when grasped can be pulled back to touch the hilt! Thus in action as a dancing blade would be impossible with a small grip. The long hilt therefor simply reflects the springiness of the blade.
To underline the one handed application it may be noted that the other hand has the Terrs buckler shield used in the traditionalal Funun...that includes in the sword genre the mimic fight.

To view the way the old Omani Battlesword Passed down these characterisics of design please See reference A.
For the development of the Omani Sayf/ the Omani Dancer see reference B.
For the typical Omani hilt on these swords see below from a Muscat museum.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

THE TUGHRA OF SAIID THE GREAT.

These SAYF are the swords that SAIID THE GREAT had produced to herald the reign of his own empire and the AL BUSAIDI that ruled after him including up to today.

They were used solely as pageantry swords at weddings; both Eid religious celebrations and important gatherings but mainly as a sword of heraldry in the march past of irregular infantry where they were shimmered and raised high in salute to the ruler.

The unwritten rules for its pageantry uses were contained in the Funun ...The Traditions where they can be viewed on various web based video and details already outined on EAA.

The swords carry the vestigial signature of Saiid The Great. His Tughra is placed here with a few examples of his mark on Sayf hilts. This mark is not on all examples, however, I see sufficient numbers to conclude the fact that this sword originated with his reign and was an invention to salute the Sultan and the Sultans who ruled after him as see in the march past of Omani Zanzibari persons at Zanzibar long after his death.

[Jim McDougall]

Great photos illustrating the examples of these tubular or cylindrical hilts which while characteristic of the sa'if which are intended for the Razha sword dance integral to the Funun events.
What is often confusing is that many of these elaborately decorated and sometimes with hilts of notable length which are apparently worn as fashionable status oriented accoutrements by persons of court or officials. Also merchants wore variations of these distinctive swords.

It is difficult to place the exact time when these became part of the Omani sword spectrum, but their hilts seem to recall those of ancient times into Saljuq Turk/Persian forms and Mamluk types of 12-14th c. Most of these however seem to have a shouldered guard and or cuff, like the sa'if Yemani.
Perhaps these were kind of a 'revival' type hilt, but it does seem that they were intended for the dance function involving the vertical posture of the blade, vibrating etc.
It seems that as noted, during the time of Said the Great is most likely as there were so many elaborations in weaponry and such visual effects, as the Razha became.

Burton (and Demmin) both commented on these cylindrical hilted swords as seen in Zanzibar worn by 'Arab gentlemen' and expressed wonder as to how such a weapon could be wielded in combat. It is unclear if Burton ever witnessed a Razha dance, but he (the swordsman he was) expressed disdain over Arab sword combat manner in leaping and evasive jumps. He describes the sword being held like a 'quarterstaff' with two hands.


This example with flamboyant blade seems a good illustration of the kinds of elaboration used in these type Omani sa'if, whether ones intended for use in the Razha and more of an implement than weapon...…..or those worn in fashionable status manner, and in the style of these al Busaidi forms.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Reference;
A. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18342 #14


THANK YOU JIM ~ And a reminder for researchers to look at the early hilt and swords of the UMAYAD and ABBASSIID which were directly reflected onto MAMLUK weapons. In that package the Sayf Yemaani needs to be included.
To that we should also add swords from those regions directly in trade contact with Oman which suggests African variants that also used a flat cylindrical hilt with similar covering..and a blade very like the Omani style. Trade had been ongoing for generations long before he took power in 1806 with these regions and was instrumental in persuading Saaid the Great to take the plunge in about 1830 making Stonetown his new capital on what was to become his Spice Islands Possession.
With this in mind the Manding Sword form springs to mind as an influence although it can be seen that the Manding is pointed therefor more rigid and usually has a lot of carving in the leather work on hilt and Scabbard. In this regard it is a fighting sword but the likeness is compelling and certainly must have come into contact through trade with Omani merchants.

Reference A links the Mending region to the central African scenario which had been an Omani trading area for centuries. Below the Mending shield is shown with exacting similarity to the Omani Terrs also illustrated.

Here also see the Mending hilt with ribbed and decorated style but showing its long hilt potential in design flow..

I add the Omani Khanjar hilt showing how the broad shape "flat and cylindrical" may have stepped across to the dancing sword hilt and simply had to be elongated for balance and control of the long vibrating blade and needed a counterweight knuckle pommel on the end to enhance this.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

ANOTHER PART SIGNATURE SWORD HILT SHOWN HERE AND DATED...1902