Terrs. The Omani Battle Shield. A Buckler.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Hi Ibrahiim,
A most interesting thread. I had never heard of an Omani Terr until now, they look very similar to the Ethiopian shields. When I was a child our local museum had two Omani battle swords which we were told were made from the blades of crusaders swords which conjured up all sorts of things in the minds of us children, we thought them beautiful things and I still do. Thank you so much for this thread and for bringing back happy memories from my childhood.
Regards
Miguel

Salaams Miguel, Interestingly I had a shield ( Omani Terrs) with friends in the UK ...They bought it from me...and along with about 100 other items donated the whole lot to the research department at Durham University. They claim that the Omani Shield was in fact Ethiopian but whilst that may be the case the collecting centre and merchant hub for the entire region was Zanzibar...and included a large stretch of the African coastline and hinterland. No doubt that the great traders in that region who were Omanis collected many items (and slaves) etc from the whole area and deep into central Africa. Zanzibar then acted like a lightening rod for all tradeable commodities which included Terrs Shields; in great demand amongst the Manga (Omanis in Zanzibar) and for export to Oman.
Regarding the Old Omani Battle Sword which is the style you may be referring to it does look like it has stepped out of the 12 th C... because it has. In fact I place it earlier to the time of Ibn Julanda the first Imam of Oman in about 751/752 AD...... It compares favourably with the Abassiiid which can be seen at the Topkapi...There will be more about that later although it can be viewed at The Omani Battle Sword on Forum. Please see http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=sayf+yamaani
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Salaams Miguel, Interestingly I had a shield ( Omani Terrs) with friends in the UK ...They bought it from me...and along with about 100 other items donated the whole lot to the research department at Durham University. They claim that the Omani Shield was in fact Ethiopian but whilst that may be the case the collecting centre and merchant hub for the entire region was Zanzibar...and included a large stretch of the African coastline and hinterland. No doubt that the great traders in that region who were Omanis collected many items (and slaves) etc from the whole area and deep into central Africa. Zanzibar then acted like a lightening rod for all tradeable commodities which included Terrs Shields; in great demand amongst the Manga (Omanis in Zanzibar) and for export to Oman.
Regarding the Old Omani Battle Sword which is the style you may be referring to it does look like it has stepped out of the 12 th C... because it has. In fact I place it earlier to the time of Ibn Julanda the first Imam of Oman in about 751/752 AD...... It compares favourably with the Abassiiid which can be seen at the Topkapi...There will be more about that later although it can be viewed at The Omani Battle Sword on Forum. Please see http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=sayf+yamaani
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Hi Ibrahiim,
Thank you for your informative comments and may I take the opportunity to say that it is a pleasure to belong to a Forum having members as polite and knowledgable as yourself you are a mine of information. Thank you again.
Regards
Miguel

[VANDOO]

I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED THESE AND HAVE ONE IN MY COLLECTION. I AM SURE THEY ARE QUITE EFFECTIVE FOR BLOCKING AND STRIKING BY ONE WITH TRAINING AND SKILL. THE LEATHER IS QUITE THICK AND HEAVY ON THE EXAMPLES I HAVE SEEN AND APPEARS TO BE IN ONE LAYER. IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW HOW THEY ARE SHAPED AND FORMED. MY EXAMPLE HAS A SPIKE ON THE CENTER BOSS AS WELL AS THE TWO DECORATIONS ON THE SIDES. THE METAL APPEARS TO BE SILVER AND NONE ATTRACTS A MAGNET NOT EVEN THE SPIKE. IT SHOWS AGE AND WEAR AND A FEW BLADE CUTS TO THE EDGES. 9 INCHES IN DIAMETER DESCRIBED AS 19TH CENTURY OMANI BUCKLER ZANZIBAR. PICTURE #1. MY EXAMPLE DESCRIBED ABOVE.
#2. OMANI SHIELD
#3. OMANI SHIELD 10 IN. DIAMETER FROM OLD ORIENTAL ARMS PICTURE.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED THESE AND HAVE ONE IN MY COLLECTION. I AM SURE THEY ARE QUITE EFFECTIVE FOR BLOCKING AND STRIKING BY ONE WITH TRAINING AND SKILL. THE LEATHER IS QUITE THICK AND HEAVY ON THE EXAMPLES I HAVE SEEN AND APPEARS TO BE IN ONE LAYER. IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW HOW THEY ARE SHAPED AND FORMED. MY EXAMPLE HAS A SPIKE ON THE CENTER BOSS AS WELL AS THE TWO DECORATIONS ON THE SIDES. THE METAL APPEARS TO BE SILVER AND NONE ATTRACTS A MAGNET NOT EVEN THE SPIKE. IT SHOWS AGE AND WEAR AND A FEW BLADE CUTS TO THE EDGES. 9 INCHES IN DIAMETER DESCRIBED AS 19TH CENTURY OMANI BUCKLER ZANZIBAR. PICTURE #1. MY EXAMPLE DESCRIBED ABOVE.
#2. OMANI SHIELD
#3. OMANI SHIELD 10 IN. DIAMETER FROM OLD ORIENTAL ARMS PICTURE.

Salaams Vandoo, My apologies for missing your post and the other fine additions to this thread. Great examples here...thank you for posting those ...
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Salaams Vandoo, My apologies for missing your post and the other fine additions to this thread. Great examples here...thank you for posting those ...
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Salaams Ibrahiim. I would be interested in any comment you have to make regarding the silver? centre boss with the spike as shown by VANDOO on his Terrs. All I have seen, including in books do not have this feature.
Stu