Omani Sayf/Saif

[TVV]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

As we have discussed, the blades on the ceremonial versions were much lighter and more flexible , while the versions of these swords worn in a status oriented fashion were typically mounted with the heavier broadsword blades of trade blade type.

Jim, in my experience, trade blades are all quite light and flexible. This refers not only to those mounted with a conical hilt in Oman, but also to takoubas, kaskaras, firangis, etc. All of them are more or less the same - they tend to be relatively long, thin and quite springy, which is all a function of them being made of post Industrial Revolution modern steel and fully tempered. The ability to mass produce them made them affordable and popular in a lot of places, where they replaced traditional shorter and thicker blades. It is hard to base an argument about functionality on whether a blade is stiff or flexible, because stiff and flexible blades have been used throughout history and they both have their advantages and drawbacks.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by TVV

Jim, in my experience, trade blades are all quite light and flexible. This refers not only to those mounted with a conical hilt in Oman, but also to takoubas, kaskaras, firangis, etc. All of them are more or less the same - they tend to be relatively long, thin and quite springy, which is all a function of them being made of post Industrial Revolution modern steel and fully tempered. The ability to mass produce them made them affordable and popular in a lot of places, where they replaced traditional shorter and thicker blades. It is hard to base an argument about functionality on whether a blade is stiff or flexible, because stiff and flexible blades have been used throughout history and they both have their advantages and drawbacks.

Thats true, and flexibility is a desired aspect of blades, with testing , one of the aspects is that and durability to return to shape. But I have difficulty imagining this flexing and moving enough to create audible sound, and with wrist action alone without application of force.

The differences in the conical hilt examples as I have understood, as far as the long straight bladed examples is that there were the examples indeed worn by merchants and officials which were mounted with the regular trade type blades. Then there were the rather munitions grade examples which had exceptionally light blades which were designed to provide the ceremonial actions performed in the 'funoon' which included mass vibration of sword blades in unison.

These were in effect, again as I understand, both conical hilt swords of the recognized Omani form, and of course outwardly appearing the same by the hilt.
There were the conical hilt examples with curved blades, of the cavalry type typically German, as noted by Burton in his explorations in the Great Lakes, which he further noted were termed locally 'kitara'. These examples came out of the interior into Zanzibar, with the Omani merchants and slavers. These types of conical hilt Omani swords seem to have been more used as far as combative circumstances.

I think these variances are the basis for most of the confusion regarding the combative use of these Omani swords, which has been the perplexing source of the contentions and debate. As with most swords, even those which were primarily for dress and parade circumstances, they could of course be used if a situation arose, but those would be exceptional I would think.

Thank you for reminding me of the flexibility matters, I might have worded that better

[Orang Lama]

Hi, I found the quote in question:

Lt. Col. S. B. Miles, H.M. acting consul general at Zanzibar, regarding the fate of Capt. C. J. Brownrigg, senior British naval officer at Zanzibar, when he attempted to detain and inspect a dhow suspected of containing slaves, although it was flying the French flag, in 1881: “The vessels were hardly together, and Captain Brownrigg had not had time to look at the papers, when the captain of the dhow gave an order; and her crew, who had been lying down concealed, suddenly rose up, poured a volley into the pinnace, and then boarded her. Yates, the coxswain, who was forward, with one foot on the dhow, was fired at, but missed; he struck one Arab down with his hook, and then struggled with another until they both fell overboard. Little or no resistance was made by the sailors; four were wounded by the volley; and the rest, being unarmed and taken completely by surprise, were speedily driven overboard. These saved themselves by swimming, though repeatedly fired at in the water by the Arabs. One man only, named Monckley, was killed at this time; and his body was not recovered. “Captain Brownrigg, immediately on seeing the hostile attitude of the Arabs, had shouted out to the chief stoker, ‘Full speed ahead’; but this order, unfortunately, was not obeyed [because the stoker was wounded]; and he was now left alone to stand the brunt and to defend himself as he best could against the Arabs, whose whole attention was now directed towards him. He had his sword, and had seized a rifle, and was standing in the stern-sheets abaft the awning or canopy. Three or four Arabs had jumped on the top of this canopy, and having the advantage, were able to slash and hack at him freely with their long double-edged Omani swords. Captain Brownrigg shot two of the Arabs with his rifle, and then laid about him with the butt end; but he was soon blinded by a deep cut across his face just above the eyes, and his head and limbs were chopped and gashed in every part. [“He was cut across the hands, the finger s being severed from the left and partially so from the right one; and badly wounded in both elbows, he could no longer hold the rifle.” (G. A. Henty, Our Sailors , 1906.)] The Arabs were so securely placed as to be almost beyond his reach; and he was consequently at a great disadvantage, despite of which he stood his ground for some time, making a most gallant and desperate defence quite alone and unaided; and he even succeeded in dispatching another Arab by a blow of his telescope before he sank down exhausted under his wounds, when he was shot by the Arabs through the heart and then through the head, and fell dead on the body of his native servant, Tellis [who was slightly wounded and pretending to be dead]. 346 were promoted to the rank of commander, and the other survivors were “favourably noticed”. Lt. Col. S. B. Miles, H.M. acting consul general at Zanzibar, regarding the fate of Capt. C. J. Brownrigg, senior British naval officer at Zanzibar, when he attempted to detain and inspect a dhow suspected of containing slav es, although it was flying the French flag, in 1881: “The vessels were hardly together, and Captain Brownrigg had not had time to look at the papers, when the captain of the dhow gave an order; and her crew, who had been lying down concealed, suddenly rose up, poured a volley into the pinnace, and then boarded her. Yates, the coxswain, who was forward, with one foot on the dhow, was fired at, but missed; he struck one Arab down with his hook, and then struggled with another until they both fell overboard. Little or no resistance was made by the sailors; four were wounded by the volley; and the rest, being unarmed and taken completely by surprise, were speedily driven overboard. These saved themselves by swimming, though repeatedly fired at in the water by the Arabs. One man only, named Monckley, was killed at this time; and his body was not recovered. “Captain Brownrigg, immediately on seeing the hostile attitude of the Arabs, had shouted out to the chief stoker, ‘Full speed ahead’; but this order, unfortunately, was not obeyed [because the stoker was wounded]; and he was now left alone to stand the brunt and to defend himself as he best could against the Arabs, whose whole attention was now directed towards him. He had his sword, and had seized a rifle, and was standing in the stern-sheets abaft the awning or canopy. Three or four Arabs had jumped on the top of this canopy, and having the advantage, were able to slash and hack at him freely with their long double-edged Omani swords. Captain Brownrigg shot two of the Arabs with his rifle, and then laid about him with the butt end; but he was soon blinded by a deep cut across his face just above the eyes, and his head and limbs were chopped and gashed in every part. [“He was cut across the hands, the fingers being severed from the left and partially so from the right one; and badly wounded in both elbows, he could no longer hold the rifle.” (G. A. Henty, Our Sailors , 1906.)] The Arabs were so securely placed as to be almost beyond his reach; and he was consequently at a great disadvantage, despite of which he stood his ground for some time, making a most gallant and desperate defence quite alone and unaided; and he even succeeded in dispatching another Arab by a blow of his telescope before he sank down exhausted under his wounds, when he was shot by the Arabs through the heart and then through the head, and fell dead on the body of his native servant, Tellis [who was slightly wounded and pretending to be dead] Captain Brownrigg was a very broad and powerful man, and would, I have no doubt, have been able to hold his own and repulse the Arabs, had it been possible for his men to give him the least assistance. That he received more than 20 wounds before he succumbed testifies to the stubborn and vigorous defence he made against his antagonists.”( British and Foreign State Papers, 1880-1881 , 1888.)