The Omani Work Knife.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

The Omani Work Knife. (Sikkeen)

Traditionally this is often an English butter knife of Sheffield steel or a German Solingen blade, their handles silver decorated and usually silver crowned and worked over the bone handle. It is tucked behind the Omani Khanjar and used as the utility blade for cutting string or leather and other menial tasks. The scabbard is simple leather.
Another knife from the Mussandam occasionally can be seen in the North of Oman doing the same job and that is discussed on Forum viewed by typing into Search Are these Shafras.
There is yet one more knife that is worn separately on its own often tucked in the side position (not worn with the Khanjar) ... a much longer working knife though again either German or British steel and with or without a silver worked hilt. The scabbard may be wooden with geometric decoration or simple leather.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Note: Occasionally steel blades fashioned from bedford truck suspension unit steel or from files plus modern Japanese blades are seen. The longest blade pictured is marked simply Oman in arabic and the lower butter knife(for wearing behind the Omani Khanjar) with its Sheffield Maker.W and H (Walker and Hall). The knife at the top of picture has a wooden geometric decorated scabbard and the blade is marked Solingen with a partial undecipherible name which reads Friedrich--(followed by a couple of unknown leters)-- und Sohn. The knife with no hilt is unmarked but appears to mirror the Solingen.

[Montino Bourbon]

These are KNIVES. These really are becoming my favorite shape... multi-functional, as in -knife- , ya know?

[David R]

Thanks for posting this.
When you said earlier in another post that Sheffield and Solingen butter knives were the preferred working knife I was very surprised. A reuse in a different context of a very mundane item.
Decorated with silver, cost is evidently not the primary factor either. So quality of steel and flexibility are seen as the important thing then!

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by David R

Thanks for posting this.
When you said earlier in another post that Sheffield and Solingen butter knives were the preferred working knife I was very surprised. A reuse in a different context of a very mundane item.
Decorated with silver, cost is evidently not the primary factor either. So quality of steel and flexibility are seen as the important thing then!

Salaams David R ~ Yes correct. As an auxiliary work knife it needs to be good steel so a decent edge can be applied. The Sheffield Butterknife(or Solingen variant) is ideal because it can be made razor sharp. They need that for cutting string, leather and other tasks. They also often have a silver Raj crown at the pommel and wire wrapped and decorated hilts. Shukran.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams all~ Here is a nice example of a Sheffield "Long Hawkesley and Co cake or butter knife (factory operated from circa 1860 to 1900) This knife is in line to be converted to an Omani Khanjar work knife with a little leather sheath and a nicely worked silver handle ~ Worn tucked in behind the dagger.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams Note to Forum.

These longer work knives are more often worn on their own at the side whilst the slightly shorter butter knife variety fit behind the Khanjar. Here's two..One can be seen with Solingen stamp(same knife at #1) and the other Joseph Rodgers Sheffield England. 19th C. Victorian.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[ariel]

Elgood, in his book, cites Keane's diary of his 1877 travel to Mecca. The beduin who accompanied him, was very proud of his knife: " Rogers!". It was, indeed, Rodgers' carving knife. The beduin proudly gave the point a significant spring, and made a motion of cutting a throat: : " In the name of God! The God is great! Infidel!". Keane " didn't care care to continue the subject" :-)
Further, he noted that "any blade with English characters on it, or even a native blade of well- proven metal obtains that name". It became a synonym of a good blade.

Beauty and mystique of Indian and Persian wootz notwithstanding, European blades became the favorites of the natives throughout the "Orient", from West Africa to India proper. Since the natives used them for their intended battle purposes and definitely knew a thing or two about steel quality, it speaks volumes about comparative mechanical characteristics of the local metallurgical vs. scientific industrial qualities.

Water Scott's fictional description of the superiority of the "saracen" blade of Saladin over the sword of Richard the Lionheart (" The Talisman") hypnotized the minds of the Europeans for centuries.


The funniest thing, this story is still cited in the professional literature as a valid reason to study the metallurgy of "jouhar", the only example of contemporary fiction passed as a valid reference by the reviewers of scientific journals. Truly, a pen sometimes IS mightier than the sword:-)

[kahnjar1]

Here are three more examples. Though none are actually marked, they are likely from old european/british cutlery. The bottom item is made from a file.
Those used as a Khanjar back knife I believe to be called SHAFRA, and those which have their own scabbard and worn tucked into a belt or bandolier are called KHUSA.
I have shown the back knife scabbard as an information source.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Here are three more examples. Though none are actually marked, they are likely from old european/british cutlery. The bottom item is made from a file.
Those used as a Khanjar back knife I believe to be called SHAFRA, and those which have their own scabbard and worn tucked into a belt or bandolier are called KHUSA.
I have shown the back knife scabbard as an information source.

Salaams khanjar1. See http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=shafra by Archer for the optimum information on this discussion.

The smaller ones are indeed English and German butter knives whilst the bigger ones are the bigger place setting knives, though, the spoons and forks simply didn't make it ! They are from the Victorian period. The best ones are stamped often with their Solingen (they are likely to have come up from Africa) or Sheffield makers names and the usual tribute as at my post to Queen Victoria. One of the oft' seen companies is Joseph Rodgers and the patriarch of this family recalls 60 years ago handling box loads of these knives fresh from India imported here via Ajman and Muscat. Once here they were given the expert silver treatment and superbly decorated etc

The steel blades were perfect for their work as the auxiliary knife for menial tasks such as cutting leather or string or killing chickens or small game. The crown on the pommel is a throwback to the Taj crown of Victorian India. This knife comes in two sizes and generally the bigger one has a wooden scabbard generally lightly carved and is worn separately at the side under a belt on its own whilst the smaller knife (the cake or butter knife) can be seen tucked into a flat leather scabbard behind the Khanjar on either side where it protrudes like a gear stick ! They are referred to in Oman as Sikkeen (knife) whereas Shafra is of the Saudia / Yemen description.

The exception is with the Mussandam where they have a knife more similar to the Shafra but called after the dominant Mussandam tribe The Shehu.. The knife is called "Shehe". There is another work knife from Mussandam oddly with ears like the Yat. (Yatagan) but this appears to be linked to the Baluch (who are only across the water from there) knife though again they slap the generic name Shehe on that as well. See http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=16328

Unmarked knives appear though generally they are either made locally by Mussandam craftsmen in market towns Lima and evidence points to the wandering Zutoot who pre 1970 were essentially gypsies in Oman now integrated into society who made blades from anything to hand like old Bedford army truck springs or files etc. or imported blades from Japan.

The best respected, imported blades are undoubtedly Sheffield.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by ariel

Elgood, in his book, cites Keane's diary of his 1877 travel to Mecca. The beduin who accompanied him, was very proud of his knife: " Rogers!". It was, indeed, Rodgers' carving knife. The beduin proudly gave the point a significant spring, and made a motion of cutting a throat: : " In the name of God! The God is great! Infidel!". Keane " didn't care care to continue the subject" :-)
Further, he noted that "any blade with English characters on it, or even a native blade of well- proven metal obtains that name". It became a synonym of a good blade.

Beauty and mystique of Indian and Persian wootz notwithstanding, European blades became the favorites of the natives throughout the "Orient", from West Africa to India proper. Since the natives used them for their intended battle purposes and definitely knew a thing or two about steel quality, it speaks volumes about comparative mechanical characteristics of the local metallurgical vs. scientific industrial qualities.

Water Scott's fictional description of the superiority of the "saracen" blade of Saladin over the sword of Richard the Lionheart (" The Talisman") hypnotized the minds of the Europeans for centuries.


The funniest thing, this story is still cited in the professional literature as a valid reason to study the metallurgy of "jouhar", the only example of contemporary fiction passed as a valid reference by the reviewers of scientific journals. Truly, a pen sometimes IS mightier than the sword:-)

Salaams ariel Superb references and comments /detail especially on the Joseph Rodgers knife...thanks!

Please see http://www.eggintongroup.co.uk/histo...h-rodgers.html

Quote "Like many of Sheffield cutlery firms, the early history of Joseph Rodgers is a little unclear. It is claimed that a cutler called Joseph or John Rodgers operated out of a building in Hawley Croft close to location of Sheffield’s present day cathedral. In 1730 what are claimed to be his two sons Maurice and Joseph took over.

The mark of *The Star and Maltese Cross was originally registered in March 1682 by a Benjamin Rich. However, it is with Rodgers that this mark will forever by associated and they registered it in 1764". Joseph Rodgers’ success is evident in the firm’s appointment to five successive sovereigns - George IV, William IV, Queen Victoria, Edward II and George V.Unquote.

*The Star and Maltese Cross mark is seen on my knife at # 6.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[spiral]

Fascinating Ibrahiim, Thank You!

Spiral

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

This subject goes very much hand in hand with The Omani Khanjar as it is often the knife which is tucked behind the Khanjar used for small tasks ...They are often rehilted English butter knives.

The bigger single knife may be worn on its own on a simple leather belt. The pictures below show newly fitted blades to silvered hilts.

Please See;
https://www.eggintongroup.co.uk/hist...h-rodgers.html

[Ian]

Ibrahiim:

Thanks so much for posting this useful information. The adaptation of high quality European steel to practical working knives is yet one more example of local reuse of materials for a new purpose. Functional work knives are not always so pretty as these, and have been a particular favorite of mine for a long time. Mostly I collect SE Asian and southern Asian examples, but these Omani knives are much prettier than a utilitarian bolo, parang, pisau, hansia, dha, etc.

Excellent thread!

Ian.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams Ian, Many thanks. The Rogers steel was greatly admired across Arabia no more so than in Oman for in particular "Sikkeen" blades on work knives.

[Pukka Bundook]

A very interesting thread, Ibrahiim!

I have a few of these Sheffield carbon steel knives and keep them in the kitchen drawer.
We have a drawer full of knives, yet it is these old springy razor sharp knives that we use for Everything.
I often marvel at the steel;
So paper-thin and springy, it can be bent to a great angle and yet springs back. We can not buy new knives with these characteristics.
New steel is thick and dull, whatever you do to it!

Your Omani chaps knew what they were doing when they sought out these little knives!

Richard.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Pukka Bundook

A very interesting thread, Ibrahiim!

I have a few of these Sheffield carbon steel knives and keep them in the kitchen drawer.
We have a drawer full of knives, yet it is these old springy razor sharp knives that we use for Everything.
I often marvel at the steel;
So paper-thin and springy, it can be bent to a great angle and yet springs back. We can not buy new knives with these characteristics.
New steel is thick and dull, whatever you do to it!

Your Omani chaps knew what they were doing when they sought out these little knives!

Richard.

Salaams Pukka Bundooq ~ I am delighted to get praise on Forum entries and this month was even more appreciated than others as we push the envelope on Omani weapons..
Here is a Solingen name well known in the cutlery world ...These Solingen knives are also greatly respected and worn in behind the Khanjar either left or right of the main weapon . In this case I was quite surprised to see the hilts which in Omani Arabic are transliterated as Horn Z'raffe Afrique . Omani traders called the Rhino Hilt Z'raffe ! An odd twist in the history of trade through Zanzibar which reached its peak in the first half of the 19thC.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

I thought to bring on a few more work knives and another variant ...a longer knife worn on its own a bit like a sort of beefed up work knife..Simply a bigger version. A few of these knives ..some European butter knives in their original state before being treated to the silver Omani handle ... The group of four held displayed in one hand are a modern style seen after 1980 probably more in the Indian style.
Regards Ibrahiim al Balooshi

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

An English fish knife about to change its use as an Omani Sikkeen worn on its own on the waistbelt in a leather sheath. Awaiting its silver crown and probable silvered hilt and razor edge.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

I have always thought that semi precious stones would look good fitted into the crowns of Omani Work Knives as they fit them into camel sticks … but til now never saw any. Here they are!

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

THESE OLD EUROPEAN (and other) BUTTER KNIVES and the larger knives often for cutting cakes or bread/ meat and sought after by Omanis for their excellent blades and razor sharpened for menial tasks like cutting string or the traditional coup de grace for killing small game chickens and the like … are worn tucked in behind the Khanjar often in a hand made leather scabbard or in the case of the bigger knives on their own on a belt. The clipped point is often preferred and the silver work traditional, always on the hilt and over the top of existing bone, bakelite or other handles.
Here are full pictures of the knives..(Sikkeen) below.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

THE ICONIC RODGERS WORK KNIFE

This is the highly respected Rodgers knife >>A Victorian butter or Cake Knife given the Omani hilt silverwork And usually worn behind The Omani Khanjar.

[Edster]

Ibrahiim,

The silver cap on the top of some of these knives looks like those on top of powder containers discussed on this Bandolier post.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=25355

Are the caps repurposed from powder container stocks or purpose-made for knife embellishment?

Regards,
Ed

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Edster

Ibrahiim,

The silver cap on the top of some of these knives looks like those on top of powder containers discussed on this Bandolier post.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=25355

Are the caps repurposed from powder container stocks or purpose-made for knife embellishment?

Regards,
Ed

THANKS ED ~ The silver caps or crowns to these work knives are individually made for the knives. Regards Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Kubur]

Hi

It was labelled on eprey as Arabian knife.
I post it here because the fittings look Omani, but the knife is not European.
Is it an Omani knife or an Indian knife?
This is a tricky object...

Kubur