The Omani Khanjar

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 13th June 2012, 05:27 PM

Problem Solved. The Habaabi Khanjar.
Note to library.

The term Habaabi applies only to a region in Saudia which was about 90 years ago in Yemen. Its main seaport is Jazan and was a minor hub trade linked to Muscat and Zanzibar. Habaabi is actually the regionals capital name and it can be searched on the web.

The Habaabi Khanjar in its original form can be seen at interesting jambiya on eBay by Lew. It is noticeable in virtually all respects how similar this variant is to the Royal Khanjar of Oman from which it must have been copied. Transfer of style is estimated in the 1850 ad region. My theory about Habaabi tribal swathes of territory near Bahrain thus collapses though my primary theory applies.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 15th February 2013, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Problem Solved. The Habaabi Khanjar.
Note to library.

The term Habaabi applies only to a region in Saudia which was about 90 years ago in Yemen. Its main seaport is Jazan and was a minor hub trade linked to Muscat and Zanzibar. Habaabi is actually the regionals capital name and it can be searched on the web.

The Habaabi Khanjar in its original form can be seen at interesting jambiya on eBay by Lew. It is noticeable in virtually all respects how similar this variant is to the Royal Khanjar of Oman from which it must have been copied. Transfer of style is estimated in the 1850 ad region. My theory about Habaabi tribal swathes of territory near Bahrain thus collapses though my primary theory applies.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Salaams; Note to Library. In determining where is Hababi (see map at http://mapcarta.com/12505012)

CORRECTION The place Hababi is in Yemen South West Of Ta'izz and about half way to the Red Sea coast ~ In Yemen.

The dagger though it is termed "The Hababi" by Omanis may be termed something else in Yemen and the border area with Saudia Arabia(The Assir) discussed above. The place which gave the weapon its name is Hababi in the Yemen some distance to the South of the border ... but in Yemen.

The following statement remains more or less intact;

What I intend to show is how this migration brought with it the Omani Khanjar that we see today but for a comparison we need to look at the Asir regional dagger. ( The Asir has been part of Yemen up to about 1923 but is now part of Saudia Arabia. The capital is Abha and the main seaport of the region is Jazan.) For further references to the Asir dagger see the following~

http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesfred/5512947198

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/4336633417

http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesfred/5780340287

http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesfred/5780340299

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/4318547823

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 16th February 2013, 02:17 PM

Salaams ~Back to the subject ~More Khanjars. Note the small money pouch on the right with the geometric figure 5 at its base. It should be remembered that in itself silver is Talismanic being representative of the Moon (Gold The Sun Silver The Moon) but that other Talismanic shapes are also reflected in the designs ;The figure 5 being particularly important.

The book has this one down as Omani but to me it is Emirati.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 18th February 2013, 05:09 PM

Salaams all; It is not uncommon for Omani Khanjar parts to be interchanged. This is quite often done at random and over a number of years. I am not aware of any Khanjars that adopt foreign countries weapon parts even if in some cases the weapons are quite similar for example those of the Asir region and their daggers which are worn on both sides of the Saudia / Yemeni border. It simply isn't done. The closest Omani weapons to those of Yemen are to be found in the Dhofar region whose capital is Salalah. Often Omani Khanjars taken there have changed quite dramatically from their original configuration but careful detective work can unpick the mystery. Here is a Khanjar which I am including in this thread because it is in fact Omani. With it are other Omani dagger types from which parts were probably taken.

The first picture courtesy Forums http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=16834 by Khanjar 1 shows a remarkable Omani Khanjar chopped and changed down the decades and very much the style of Salalah Jebali weapon..This is a classic in its own right.

After that in no particular order are likely style candidates from which parts may have been obtained or chosen perhaps in the silversmiths shop or from pieces in the owners domain..and a bit of a punt for the prehistoric beast that provided the horn.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 19th February 2013, 05:23 PM

Correction.

Salaams all ~ The above post is corrected as follows and in the time honoured tradition of "If Im wrong I will be the first to admit it" and after careful deliberation the project dagger shown above in the first picture is in fact as I first said... Habaabi from The Asir region of Saudia and worn on both sides of the border Saudia/Yemen. The peculiar terminology Habaabi appears to originate in the name of a city some distance away called Hababi in the Yemen South West of Ta'iff and between there and the Red Sea Coast.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 21st February 2013, 05:35 PM

Salaams all Note to Library~

For Reference:The basis of the discussion is at #17.

The Royal Omani Khanjar.
We know that Sheherazad the Persian Princess who was one of the wives of Sayyid Said Bin Sultan who ruled Oman 1800 to 1856 designed the Royal Khanjar, The Royal Turban and more than likely the Royal Hilt of the Iconised Omani Battle Sword. The likely timeline to be confirmed is about 1850. I show a couple of Royal Hilts below.

What was not realised was that it was ONLY the hilt of the Khanjar not the scabbard that she altered and redesigned following, it is thought, the more ornate Indian style to which she was more attracted.

This refined detail is important since it means that the 7 rings are older than 1850 (the assumed aproximate date of the redesign) and that the original dagger that she worked on must therefor already have had 7 rings. This places the Muscat dagger shown below as the likely contender for the origin of species at least of the Omani Royal Khanjar prior to its conversion... and is entirely logical since the rings are in fact not meant as a design feature but a technological engineering device which holds the whole scabbard together...and that was not what she was about...

Artistic designer yes... Engineer no. HILT ONLY

This places a very important couple of questions in the frame viz;

1. If the Asir (then Yemeni) variant known in Oman as Habaabi was copied from the The Muscat Khanjar when did this occur since it is now free from the constraints of the date line 1850 and may well be a much earlier transmission ?
2. If the Asir (then Yemeni) variant known in Oman as Habaabi is not related to the Royal Khanjar but to The Muscat Khanjar when did the transition occur and in which direction. Muscat > Yemen ? or Yemen Muscat ?

I now request Forum to compare the Muscat Dagger to the Asir weapon and to sideline the Royal Khanjar since it is not related.

For pictorial references to Asir variants see;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesfred/5512947198

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/4336633417

http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesfred/5780340287

http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesfred/5780340299

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/4318547823

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

16th February 2013, 02:17 PM	#3
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Salaams ~Back to the subject ~More Khanjars. Note the small money pouch on the right with the geometric figure 5 at its base. It should be remembered that in itself silver is Talismanic being representative of the Moon (Gold The Sun Silver The Moon) but that other Talismanic shapes are also reflected in the designs ;The figure 5 being particularly important. The book has this one down as Omani but to me it is Emirati. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 16th February 2013 at 04:34 PM.

18th February 2013, 05:09 PM	#4
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Salaams all; It is not uncommon for Omani Khanjar parts to be interchanged. This is quite often done at random and over a number of years. I am not aware of any Khanjars that adopt foreign countries weapon parts even if in some cases the weapons are quite similar for example those of the Asir region and their daggers which are worn on both sides of the Saudia / Yemeni border. It simply isn't done. The closest Omani weapons to those of Yemen are to be found in the Dhofar region whose capital is Salalah. Often Omani Khanjars taken there have changed quite dramatically from their original configuration but careful detective work can unpick the mystery. Here is a Khanjar which I am including in this thread because it is in fact Omani. With it are other Omani dagger types from which parts were probably taken. The first picture courtesy Forums http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=16834 by Khanjar 1 shows a remarkable Omani Khanjar chopped and changed down the decades and very much the style of Salalah Jebali weapon..This is a classic in its own right. After that in no particular order are likely style candidates from which parts may have been obtained or chosen perhaps in the silversmiths shop or from pieces in the owners domain..and a bit of a punt for the prehistoric beast that provided the horn. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 18th February 2013 at 05:22 PM.

19th February 2013, 05:23 PM	#5
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Correction. Correction. Salaams all ~ The above post is corrected as follows and in the time honoured tradition of "If Im wrong I will be the first to admit it" and after careful deliberation the project dagger shown above in the first picture is in fact as I first said... Habaabi from The Asir region of Saudia and worn on both sides of the border Saudia/Yemen. The peculiar terminology Habaabi appears to originate in the name of a city some distance away called Hababi in the Yemen South West of Ta'iff and between there and the Red Sea Coast. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

21st February 2013, 05:35 PM	#6
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Penny drops on Royal Omani Khanjars.. Salaams all Note to Library~ For Reference:The basis of the discussion is at #17. The Royal Omani Khanjar. We know that Sheherazad the Persian Princess who was one of the wives of Sayyid Said Bin Sultan who ruled Oman 1800 to 1856 designed the Royal Khanjar, The Royal Turban and more than likely the Royal Hilt of the Iconised Omani Battle Sword. The likely timeline to be confirmed is about 1850. I show a couple of Royal Hilts below. What was not realised was that it was ONLY the hilt of the Khanjar not the scabbard that she altered and redesigned following, it is thought, the more ornate Indian style to which she was more attracted. This refined detail is important since it means that the 7 rings are older than 1850 (the assumed aproximate date of the redesign) and that the original dagger that she worked on must therefor already have had 7 rings. This places the Muscat dagger shown below as the likely contender for the origin of species at least of the Omani Royal Khanjar prior to its conversion... and is entirely logical since the rings are in fact not meant as a design feature but a technological engineering device which holds the whole scabbard together...and that was not what she was about... Artistic designer yes... Engineer no. HILT ONLY This places a very important couple of questions in the frame viz; 1. If the Asir (then Yemeni) variant known in Oman as Habaabi was copied from the The Muscat Khanjar when did this occur since it is now free from the constraints of the date line 1850 and may well be a much earlier transmission ? 2. If the Asir (then Yemeni) variant known in Oman as Habaabi is not related to the Royal Khanjar but to The Muscat Khanjar when did the transition occur and in which direction. Muscat > Yemen ? or Yemen Muscat ? I now request Forum to compare the Muscat Dagger to the Asir weapon and to sideline the Royal Khanjar since it is not related. For pictorial references to Asir variants see; http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesfred/5512947198 http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/4336633417 http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesfred/5780340287 http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesfred/5780340299 http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/4318547823 Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 21st February 2013 at 05:54 PM.

13th June 2012, 05:27 PM	#1
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Problem Solved. The Habaabi Khanjar. Note to library. The term Habaabi applies only to a region in Saudia which was about 90 years ago in Yemen. Its main seaport is Jazan and was a minor hub trade linked to Muscat and Zanzibar. Habaabi is actually the regionals capital name and it can be searched on the web. The Habaabi Khanjar in its original form can be seen at interesting jambiya on eBay by Lew. It is noticeable in virtually all respects how similar this variant is to the Royal Khanjar of Oman from which it must have been copied. Transfer of style is estimated in the 1850 ad region. My theory about Habaabi tribal swathes of territory near Bahrain thus collapses though my primary theory applies. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 13th June 2012 at 05:37 PM.