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22nd January 2014, 03:14 PM
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#1 | |
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE
Posts: 4,408
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Quote:
Salaams spiral.. I am always very careful to distinguish what is meant by battle sword... The Curved European bladed Omani Kattara is both a badge of Office.. Slave Merchant Sword and Sea Captains sword for punishment and protection...and given the odd skirmish no doubt highly effective...I hesitate in using the term Battle Sword... Massed groups of men charging at each other etc etc It was never for that; The Omani Battle Sword or "Sayf Yamaani" is the true owner of that tittle. Used together with the Terrs Shield. Your question .. The answer is yes I have pictures of this being done ... In the absence of a proper dancing sword a number of items may be used ~ camel stick, rifle, or other swords...In similar fashion in the mimic fight in the Funoon where there is no shield (Terrs...remember that the Terrs was awarded to be used with the new dancing sword at the start of the current dynasty in about 1744 but was the original "The Omani Battle Sword" partner) opponents may use a sandal in the left hand instead... However on swords in the mimic fight~ not a Kattara curved weapon ...always the flexible straight dancing sayf. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 22nd January 2014 at 05:32 PM. |
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22nd January 2014, 05:04 PM
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#2 |
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,712
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Thank you! Ibrahiim
spiral |
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29th March 2014, 06:07 PM
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#3 |
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE
Posts: 4,408
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Salaams All... Whilst ploughing through library I noted Ingrams fine work on Zanzibar and upon the subject of the Omani Terrs ... The thick Buckler shield. This was used with their old battle sword The Sayf Yamaani but with the advent of the new Busaidi dynasty (still in power today ) the old shield was chosen to accompany the new dynastic flexible dancing sword for heralding the ruler and for pageants only...in about 1744. See posts #4,5,65,68,112,103.
Ingram notes at http://books.google.com.om/books?id=...smiths&f=false Quote.''In former days many other industries must have been carried on, for instance Colonel Sykes (Climate and Productions of Zanzibar 1850 ) says : “One branch of manufacture is carried to a considerable extent, that of round shields some 18 inches in diameter made from the hide of a Rhinoceros, which, after being soaked and boiled, can be moulded into any form.”Unquote. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 29th March 2014 at 06:26 PM. |
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16th April 2014, 03:12 PM
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#4 |
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE
Posts: 4,408
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On passing ...so before I forget where I am ... these Omani shields said to have been worked in Zanzibar have a couple of geometric flat devices covering the outer shield at the 2 points where the spiggots are located holding the hand grip in place. It strikes me that these shapes reflects a certain geometry that we have observed in other Zanzibar swords... such as the Nimchas...with the odd pommel top decoration and the decorative marks on the quillon ends are similar.
Ibrahiim al Balooshi |
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16th April 2014, 03:22 PM
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#5 |
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE
Posts: 4,408
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An odd straight Omani Dancing Sword with a numbered blade. New.
This sword was given its hilt and scabbard in the central region around Nizwa. The makers said that it(The Blade) was a "Roosi" The weight is double that of a normal Saif and the bend is ok but by no means a full 90 degree... more like half that...Roosi by the way means Russian..The assumption is Russian imported blade ... however I have to say it is the first I have encountered. Weird number  Ibrahiim al Balooshi. |
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13th July 2014, 08:55 AM
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#6 |
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE
Posts: 4,408
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Salaams All..Part of the tradition involves handing over the history to the children...Here is the small dancing sword given to boys about 8 years old with which to practice the Funun ... The Traditions. Other new inexpensive full sized dancing swords shown are sold in the market as wedding accoutrements while old family heirloom swords are kept for special occasions and are quite valuable...
All dancing swords are very flexible, often able to bend fully from the tip in a full circle and then when released spring straight immediately. The swords are sharp on both edges and round tipped reflecting and in honour of the forefathers who went into battle with the Old Omani Battle Sword ...which had the same sharp edges and round slashing tip and was the only Omani Battle Sword... tried and tested down the ages. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. |
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14th July 2014, 07:19 PM
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#7 | |
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE
Posts: 4,408
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Redirected post..
Quote:
Salaams~ But why would I seek out such a modern cross hilt...stiff bladed?? You mean an Ethiopian blade..... I'm not due in Muscat Souk for a few months...I have handled lots in Muttrah. see http://www.klm-mra.be/icomam/downloads/issue07.pdf where on page 89 you can see some swords several of which are rehilts ... The chap with the beard is a silver master in his own right... He did the cross hilts...like his father from 1970 onwards... I recall seeing and handling these and they were stiff blades. He told me he got them from Salalah and they got them from Sanaa from Ethiopia... One of them was marked Solingen. I believe I have pictured that somewhere...checking....oh yes on Kattara for Comments where I show some of the same swords as per the above reference from icoman... What I do know is that the quite heavy iron and sometimes silver inlaid scabbard furniture comes from Omani Battle Sword Scabbards...but where a sword is to be used for its correct purpose (pageants) it has to be flexible or it will not buzz...That has always been the case. The stiff blades are not another type ... they are rehilts from Ethiopian blades. etc etc. and Omani people do not buy them... because they arent right...too stiff...Tourist Blades ... Like the one in your collection? Here is Tipu Tip with a 19th C Omani dancing sword ...The Straight Omani Saif... with heavy duty Furniture to the scabbard...and in the classic style ... To raise the price of the tourist variants ...(those blades brought from Ethiopia mainly from 1970 onwards), craftsmen copied this style exactly...adding the long hilt and scabbard complete from Omani style. Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 14th July 2014 at 08:29 PM. |
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