The Omani Khanjar

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Hilt: Khanjar Zaraf al Hindi ~

Again I rely largely on the pictorial with whatever detail I can muster with this most interesting development in good quality hilts. the Zaraf al Afrique which we know better as the rhino is very translucent and hugely expensive and of course very rare and almost extinct. (The Rhino has another name ~ wahid al garn which can be, the one with the horn or the one horn)

Now to the pictures~ on which it can be seen the colour range for this horn is from almost black through a nut brown to an almost olive light green... its ability to accept silver nails almost the same as the Rhino hilt makes it the best alternative yet seen and could help save the Rhino from extinction.

I believe that aspects in design of the Omani Khanjar are directly linked to the Rhino traditionally and down many centuries from the shape of the blade to the pins reflecting the Rhino horn fabric and the turned up decorated scabbard and the fact that this weapon is worn front and centre on the belt. In support there is also the Rhino hilt shield also carried with the Khanjar and or sword. My post earlier at #246 looks at the same design.

[Richard G]

That's a bloody giraffe's head - isn't it?

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

It is indeed. There in lies the puzzle on zraf al hindi or zaraf al Hindi. Its not some weird Indian antelope or deer>>>though they are related ~millions of years ago ..

I researched this oddity years ago and came to a dead halt as the reason seemed to point that giraffe were used for their horn although the smoke screen thickened to giraffe hoof horn !! aha!!! but that was all bull (scuse pun) as it turns out the whats in a word has had the last laugh... but not any more!!

Zraf al Hindi is African Giraffe!!

The head and horns shown above are from male African giraffe which goes by the Arabic name zraf al hindi. moreover the horns are as below~

see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ossicone

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Thus ;
1. That the African Rhino (ar. Zraf al Afrique) is closely mirrored in the weapon the Omani Khanjar in a number of parts; the hilt, the silver pins, the scabbard, the blade and the use of the Terrs shield as below~

The hilt being the Rhino horn preferred traditionally and hunted by Omani traders for hundreds of years and through the vast Zanzibar hub. This is the preferred hilt for all Royal Khanjars (al bussaidi) even though most or all of the hilt is adorned in silver. and always was the first choice in any Omani Khanjar of quality. The beauty in the material is in its ease of accepting masses of silver pins and in the translucent nature of the material which nothing as yet is able to imitate. The main factor however in my view is that this is from the great powerful rhino itself.. The weapons hilt derived from the rhino main armament!

The Blade. shaped like the rhino main horn, slightly less turned than the Yemeni equivalent but a strong defensive weapon worn not at the side but front and centre as is the Rhino Horn.

Scabbard. the Scabbard appears even more so as a copy of the Rhino Horn curving in the same shape but way more than the blade though not monumental as in the Yemeni variant.

The Pins the pins appear to reflect the tubed or spaghetti ends of the rhino horn and light is reflected through and from them in the same way. The silver pins are not apparent in other Omani weapons... Only on the khanjar and mainly in the hilt. Silver pins are used en masse on Rhino Hilts which unlike other materials like cow horn or wood does not have a tendency to split on their use...

The Terrs Shield. This goes together with a number of weapons in the Omani arsenal including the Omani battle sword and the Omani Sayf however, it appears in the funoon (The traditions) in its own right as alongside the Omani khanjar in dance such as the baraa
The terrs can appear in a couple of materials even in wood and one I saw in woven straw ...another said to be from a barking sea dog;...the Walrus. But it is most famously known as being from Rhino Hide.
This product was hunted and traded in the same network via Zanzibar and from African Rhino. In those days it made sense to fight behind a shield which had been taken from such a powerful animal as the Rhino and is entirely in line with the application of this apparent mirroring in Omani Khanjar design with the African Rhino.

Thus with 5 reasons above I believe there is every reason to believe the Rhino and the Omani Khanjar are inextricably linked .. a Rhino Dagger by everything but name!

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

in addition to the proof above I wish to add a couple of other indicators under the headings for 1 below The Rhino Hide and for 2 below The Terrs Shield thus giving 6 factors linking the Omani Khanjar and Rhino~

1. Regarding the expanse of usually black leather below the belt on Dhakiliyyah(interior) Omani Khanjars a device not usually seen on Yemeni Jambia which I suggest is a reflection of Rhino hide. Actually all Omani Khanjars (and Emirati) have leather below the belt on the scabbard although on non Dhakiliyyah (and Emirati) weapons the leather covering the scabbard is almost always totally covered in silver stitched decoration. I believe the use of leather in construction is a recognition pointing to the great beast for its strength and power.

2. Staying with the general theme of leather but this time observing the strange pointed hat shaped silver covers usually seen on the two outer belt rings on the Scabbard. See the diagram at thread The Omani Khanjar of the parts/Omani names and see the name given to these tiny shapes...Terrs!! ...in recognition of the Rhino again ...of its thick skin shield The Terrs ..worn with the dagger and Omani Swords.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

From library some back up evidence for the above proof>

[David]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Now to the pictures~ on which it can be seen the colour range for this horn is from almost black through a nut brown to an almost olive light green... its ability to accept silver nails almost the same as the Rhino hilt makes it the best alternative yet seen and could help save the Rhino from extinction.

Two things wrong with this statement Ibrahiim.
Firstly, the vast majority of rhino horn is poached for the Asia medicine markets. So poaching is still going to take place to feed those markets regardless of any alternatives that are used for hilts in Omani Khanjars.
Secondly, the giraffe is also an endangered species. Killing off giraffes for such frivolous elitist usage is just as bad as killing rhinos, isn't it?
Lastly, the severed giraffe head was both unnecessary and in poor taste.

[Jens Nordlunde]

"Lastly, the severed giraffe head was both unnecessary and in poor taste."


I very much agree with David.

[Battara]

I am closing this thread for now.

[Battara]

This thread is now reopened ON THE CONDITION that there are no more inappropriate pictures like this.

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by Battara

This thread is now reopened ON THE CONDITION that there are no more inappropriate pictures like this.

MMMmm even a baby elephant's head?

More seriously thank you to reopen this thread, Ibraheem did a amazing job here.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Kubur

MMMmm even a baby elephant's head?

More seriously thank you to reopen this thread, Ibraheem did a amazing job here.

Always good to look at the lighter side, sometimes I think we can get things out of perspective, but the important thing is this thread is a valuable resource on the khanjhar, especially those of Oman.
As a virtual 'outsider' in the field of daggers, I know I have learned a great deal from Ibrahiim and the knowledge he has gained in over three decades of study on these in Oman.


The objective as I have understood in the recent posts, despite the photos which were perhaps too graphic to stand as supportive evidence, was to show that giraffe horn is indeed often used in lieu of rhino horn in these hilts. There have apparently been various speculations on the actual material used including various species' hooves etc. but here the proper identification has been revealed purposefully.


I hope we can continue to learn more on these intriguing daggers here, and focus on the varied elements of character in them to help in more accurate identification. As someone very much forensically limited in identifying materials used in hilts as well as metallurgical and design properties, I very much apprieciate this discussion and the input by Ibrahiim as well as those who have contributed.
Thank you all!