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.