unusual Oman kattara ?

RSWORD · 7th July 2005, 09:23 PM

Rivkin

So how did I help you come into this piece other than not bidding high enough on it?

In my opinion, a nice old example of this type of sword. They are not terribly common and I think the blade is an older blade. Whether or not the marking is original or not is hard to know. The mark was copied everywhere so the blade really could be from anywhere. I think there was a preference for thin blades in this region. I once had a Omani Saif that had an almost paper thin straight blade but it was as sharp as the dickens. Usually when these things turn up, the blades show signs of much use so the thinness may also be attributed to a long service life. In my humble opinion, this one has a 17th-18th century blade in 19th century mounts. Add some sharkskin or leather to the handle and I think you have a good honest example. Congratulations!

M.carter · 7th July 2005, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSWORD

Rivkin

I once had a Omani Saif

Omani Saif?? Whats that?? What does that look like?

RSWORD · 8th July 2005, 01:05 AM

A bit loose on my terminology but what I am referring to as an Omani saif are those Nimcha like swords with the "pas d'ane" circular guard at the base of the hilt. These have been referred to as Arab and also as coming from Zanzibar. Given the Omani connection to Zanzibar and to North Africa, I see the strong influence of the Katarra blade in the examples where you have a long double edged blade mounted up Nimcha/Zanzibar style. I have seen numerous examples in books, in my collection, in other collections with that hilt configuration and long thin double edge blade.

Rivkin · 8th July 2005, 02:28 AM

Thanks a lot for all the suggestions !

I have a small problem with wrapping it into some sort of sharkskin - it seems to me that there was nevet any kind of leather wrap on this guy (don't know if its true), but that it actually always had such a horn hilt (btw any ideas what kind of horn is it ? Good color, nice texture to the surface, and provides really solid grip).

Just finished cleaning it. Seems that silverwork on the hilt is a very primitive engraving with a floral design, not a fish. Running wolf is also seems to be an engraving, you can see individual dots, but nicely done one.

The pitting is extremely severe at the end.

I'm sorry - don't know if I repeat myself over and over - the blade is indeed beefier than my hiro-zukuri wakizashi and my shin-gunto sabre (if it tells you something).

I really appreciate the responce, and, RSWORD, I'm very surprised you don't know all the circumstances of the purchase.

RSWORD · 8th July 2005, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rivkin

Thanks a lot for all the suggestions !

I have a small problem with wrapping it into some sort of sharkskin - it seems to me that there was nevet any kind of leather wrap on this guy (don't know if its true), but that it actually always had such a horn hilt (btw any ideas what kind of horn is it ? Good color, nice texture to the surface, and provides really solid grip).

Just finished cleaning it. Seems that silverwork on the hilt is a very primitive engraving with a floral design, not a fish. Running wolf is also seems to be an engraving, you can see individual dots, but nicely done one.

The pitting is extremely severe at the end.

I'm sorry - don't know if I repeat myself over and over - the blade is indeed beefier than my hiro-zukuri wakizashi and my shin-gunto sabre (if it tells you something).

I really appreciate the responce, and, RSWORD, I'm very surprised you don't know all the circumstances of the purchase.

Rivkin

I know absolutely none of the circumstances of the purchase. Please fill me in. I am quite curious now.

M.carter · 8th July 2005, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSWORD

A bit loose on my terminology but what I am referring to as an Omani saif are those Nimcha like swords with the "pas d'ane" circular guard at the base of the hilt. These have been referred to as Arab and also as coming from Zanzibar. Given the Omani connection to Zanzibar and to North Africa, I see the strong influence of the Katarra blade in the examples where you have a long double edged blade mounted up Nimcha/Zanzibar style. I have seen numerous examples in books, in my collection, in other collections with that hilt configuration and long thin double edge blade.

oh ok, I think I saw a pic of that once, very flexy I must say. The blade also looks very good on that kind of hilt.

7th July 2005, 09:23 PM	#1
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,087	Rivkin So how did I help you come into this piece other than not bidding high enough on it? In my opinion, a nice old example of this type of sword. They are not terribly common and I think the blade is an older blade. Whether or not the marking is original or not is hard to know. The mark was copied everywhere so the blade really could be from anywhere. I think there was a preference for thin blades in this region. I once had a Omani Saif that had an almost paper thin straight blade but it was as sharp as the dickens. Usually when these things turn up, the blades show signs of much use so the thinness may also be attributed to a long service life. In my humble opinion, this one has a 17th-18th century blade in 19th century mounts. Add some sharkskin or leather to the handle and I think you have a good honest example. Congratulations!

8th July 2005, 01:05 AM	#3
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,087	A bit loose on my terminology but what I am referring to as an Omani saif are those Nimcha like swords with the "pas d'ane" circular guard at the base of the hilt. These have been referred to as Arab and also as coming from Zanzibar. Given the Omani connection to Zanzibar and to North Africa, I see the strong influence of the Katarra blade in the examples where you have a long double edged blade mounted up Nimcha/Zanzibar style. I have seen numerous examples in books, in my collection, in other collections with that hilt configuration and long thin double edge blade.

8th July 2005, 02:28 AM	#4
Rivkin Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 655	Thanks a lot for all the suggestions ! I have a small problem with wrapping it into some sort of sharkskin - it seems to me that there was nevet any kind of leather wrap on this guy (don't know if its true), but that it actually always had such a horn hilt (btw any ideas what kind of horn is it ? Good color, nice texture to the surface, and provides really solid grip). Just finished cleaning it. Seems that silverwork on the hilt is a very primitive engraving with a floral design, not a fish. Running wolf is also seems to be an engraving, you can see individual dots, but nicely done one. The pitting is extremely severe at the end. I'm sorry - don't know if I repeat myself over and over - the blade is indeed beefier than my hiro-zukuri wakizashi and my shin-gunto sabre (if it tells you something). I really appreciate the responce, and, RSWORD, I'm very surprised you don't know all the circumstances of the purchase.