Is this Omani?

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Just picked this Khanjar up in a local auction. Not sure if it is Omani, although the silver belt buckle certainly is. The scabbard decoration is woven silver wire which is an Omani trait, but the shape of the decoration at the scabbard throat confuses me a bit.
What do we think Gentlemen?

Salaams kahnjar1,

Yes its all authentic Omani.. The design is interesting in that it uses the zig zag pattern on the cuff repeated in a narrow band on the collar (tuq).

The hilt(qarn) is standard and the scabbard (ghumd) though worn is nicely wired and has ample authentic wear at the crown (quba) with remnants of the mulberry cluster on the tip ...and the rings(hilqah) are original. The buckle (ibzim ) is real too...
This Khanjar ... Its a Baatina job off the Oman coast.

The zig zag pattern is seen on old straight omani battle swords (now designated as Sayf) on the cuff so it is an ancient design.

Wirework is famous in Oman... It can be flat square round faceted or grooved and often plied into twisted cord or used as a single thread thin as a hair for delicate scabbard embroidery. For decorative work it can be pressed into the channel of a die and hammered to obtain various patterns... the most prevalent being beaded wire giving the look of tiny dots. Wire is seen wrapped round scabbard and Hilt row after row in varying styles combined with chased or stamped work for a richly textured ornamental surface...

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.