unusual Oman kattara ?

[M.carter]

Originally Posted by RSWORD

Rivkin

I once had a Omani Saif

Omani Saif?? Whats that?? What does that look like?

[RSWORD]

A bit loose on my terminology but what I am referring to as an Omani saif are those Nimcha like swords with the "pas d'ane" circular guard at the base of the hilt. These have been referred to as Arab and also as coming from Zanzibar. Given the Omani connection to Zanzibar and to North Africa, I see the strong influence of the Katarra blade in the examples where you have a long double edged blade mounted up Nimcha/Zanzibar style. I have seen numerous examples in books, in my collection, in other collections with that hilt configuration and long thin double edge blade.

[Rivkin]

Thanks a lot for all the suggestions !

I have a small problem with wrapping it into some sort of sharkskin - it seems to me that there was nevet any kind of leather wrap on this guy (don't know if its true), but that it actually always had such a horn hilt (btw any ideas what kind of horn is it ? Good color, nice texture to the surface, and provides really solid grip).

Just finished cleaning it. Seems that silverwork on the hilt is a very primitive engraving with a floral design, not a fish. Running wolf is also seems to be an engraving, you can see individual dots, but nicely done one.

The pitting is extremely severe at the end.

I'm sorry - don't know if I repeat myself over and over - the blade is indeed beefier than my hiro-zukuri wakizashi and my shin-gunto sabre (if it tells you something).

I really appreciate the responce, and, RSWORD, I'm very surprised you don't know all the circumstances of the purchase.

[RSWORD]

Originally Posted by Rivkin

Thanks a lot for all the suggestions !

I have a small problem with wrapping it into some sort of sharkskin - it seems to me that there was nevet any kind of leather wrap on this guy (don't know if its true), but that it actually always had such a horn hilt (btw any ideas what kind of horn is it ? Good color, nice texture to the surface, and provides really solid grip).

Just finished cleaning it. Seems that silverwork on the hilt is a very primitive engraving with a floral design, not a fish. Running wolf is also seems to be an engraving, you can see individual dots, but nicely done one.

The pitting is extremely severe at the end.

I'm sorry - don't know if I repeat myself over and over - the blade is indeed beefier than my hiro-zukuri wakizashi and my shin-gunto sabre (if it tells you something).

I really appreciate the responce, and, RSWORD, I'm very surprised you don't know all the circumstances of the purchase.

Rivkin

I know absolutely none of the circumstances of the purchase. Please fill me in. I am quite curious now.

[M.carter]

Originally Posted by RSWORD

A bit loose on my terminology but what I am referring to as an Omani saif are those Nimcha like swords with the "pas d'ane" circular guard at the base of the hilt. These have been referred to as Arab and also as coming from Zanzibar. Given the Omani connection to Zanzibar and to North Africa, I see the strong influence of the Katarra blade in the examples where you have a long double edged blade mounted up Nimcha/Zanzibar style. I have seen numerous examples in books, in my collection, in other collections with that hilt configuration and long thin double edge blade.

oh ok, I think I saw a pic of that once, very flexy I must say. The blade also looks very good on that kind of hilt.