The Omani Khanjar

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 20th November 2017, 12:02 PM

Since we are taking apart the Omani Khanjar in this page I would like to put up for interest some more pieces... The Hilt for example ... Comments welcome of course..
The single Rhino hilt held to a strong light becomes translucent ....You can spot Rhino hilts a long way off as they are invariably covered in a myriad of silver pins. On cow horn such a load of pins would split the poorer quality bone especially at the top right and left corners which I will show in the next post... In my view the pins reflect the rhino horn effect as it is seen from the top of the hilt ...sometimes called stacked spaghetti by collectors...

The three blades below are from Salalah freshly paired with hilts and the interesting dotted blade in the centre is favourite...perhaps showing evil spirits three dots in either direction on both sides of the blade and on each of the two segments of the joined blade ...i.e. either side of the central ridge...

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 20th November 2017, 01:16 PM

Here is a hilt showing how it can errode at either end of the T shaped hilt when cow horn is used with silver pins...More common with cow horn is a shaped silver plate covering much of the front of the hilt.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 20th November 2017, 01:21 PM

Cow horn with silver shaped frontal plate...copying the shape of the more ornate pins on the preceding post... Thus is that shape reflecting the use of Rhino Horn...?

I have a broader view that the shape of the blade is reminiscent of the Rhino Horn and therefor all aspects of the Khanjar are Rhino related...Hilt, Blade and Scabbard...even down to the tiny silver pins.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 21st November 2017, 06:28 PM

To return to full khanjar examples..
The important point here is the Maqbath(Hilt) is fully pinned so that the front plate looks solid ...when in fact it is a myriad of dense silver pins...on Rhino Horn.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 21st November 2017, 06:30 PM

This is an old Khanjar on a plain working belt likely to be Salalah...but it has lots of character. It may well be made from more than one source...added to down the years and changed. There is a big silver stud missing on the hilt. The blade has had a battering. The scabbard is beautiful and very unusually decorated

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 22nd November 2017, 11:14 AM

Here are 3 Royal Khanjar types...Typical with Mulberry Fruit silver ball clusters. The two outer weapons are the same ...the middle piece different in the silver plate below the belt section and in the decorative band on the scabbard cover (Qita'a)

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 22nd November 2017, 04:21 PM

A Khanjar for a big hand!

The Omani Emblem is stamped on the belt section (Khanjar in the centre and Two Crossed Swords.) Thus the indicator is that the Khanjar is post 1970... In that time it may well have had a Hilt change.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 24th November 2017, 03:01 PM

A quick review of cow horn used on Khanjar Hilts. No point in using hundreds of close packed silver pins as the material will not sustain this and the result is cracking and splitting in the hilt and as loose pins fall away...seen here the leaf pattern silver decorative pieces are loose ... but as a working hilt this is a cheaper alternative...

20th November 2017, 12:02 PM	#1
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Since we are taking apart the Omani Khanjar in this page I would like to put up for interest some more pieces... The Hilt for example ... Comments welcome of course.. The single Rhino hilt held to a strong light becomes translucent ....You can spot Rhino hilts a long way off as they are invariably covered in a myriad of silver pins. On cow horn such a load of pins would split the poorer quality bone especially at the top right and left corners which I will show in the next post... In my view the pins reflect the rhino horn effect as it is seen from the top of the hilt ...sometimes called stacked spaghetti by collectors... The three blades below are from Salalah freshly paired with hilts and the interesting dotted blade in the centre is favourite...perhaps showing evil spirits three dots in either direction on both sides of the blade and on each of the two segments of the joined blade ...i.e. either side of the central ridge... Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 20th November 2017 at 12:56 PM.

20th November 2017, 01:16 PM	#2
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Here is a hilt showing how it can errode at either end of the T shaped hilt when cow horn is used with silver pins...More common with cow horn is a shaped silver plate covering much of the front of the hilt. Attached Images

20th November 2017, 01:21 PM	#3
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Cow horn with silver shaped frontal plate...copying the shape of the more ornate pins on the preceding post... Thus is that shape reflecting the use of Rhino Horn...? I have a broader view that the shape of the blade is reminiscent of the Rhino Horn and therefor all aspects of the Khanjar are Rhino related...Hilt, Blade and Scabbard...even down to the tiny silver pins. Attached Images

21st November 2017, 06:28 PM	#4
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	To return to full khanjar examples.. The important point here is the Maqbath(Hilt) is fully pinned so that the front plate looks solid ...when in fact it is a myriad of dense silver pins...on Rhino Horn. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 22nd November 2017 at 11:28 AM.

21st November 2017, 06:30 PM	#5
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	This is an old Khanjar on a plain working belt likely to be Salalah...but it has lots of character. It may well be made from more than one source...added to down the years and changed. There is a big silver stud missing on the hilt. The blade has had a battering. The scabbard is beautiful and very unusually decorated Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 22nd November 2017 at 11:08 AM.

22nd November 2017, 11:14 AM	#6
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Here are 3 Royal Khanjar types...Typical with Mulberry Fruit silver ball clusters. The two outer weapons are the same ...the middle piece different in the silver plate below the belt section and in the decorative band on the scabbard cover (Qita'a) Attached Images

22nd November 2017, 04:21 PM	#7
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	A Khanjar for a big hand! The Omani Emblem is stamped on the belt section (Khanjar in the centre and Two Crossed Swords.) Thus the indicator is that the Khanjar is post 1970... In that time it may well have had a Hilt change. Attached Images

24th November 2017, 03:01 PM	#8
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	A quick review of cow horn used on Khanjar Hilts. No point in using hundreds of close packed silver pins as the material will not sustain this and the result is cracking and splitting in the hilt and as loose pins fall away...seen here the leaf pattern silver decorative pieces are loose ... but as a working hilt this is a cheaper alternative... Attached Images