Wierd Aluminium Hilted Sabre. Any Info?

[Edster]

Sorry, I don't have a photo of the Rashayda sword with me, and I'm away from where it is. Will try to get a shot of it within the next 10 days or so. Its very unremarkable.

Ed

[Jim McDougall]

Excellent example Ibrahiim!!!
I think this mention of Muscat and San'aa and this remarkably similar example returns to my original thoughts on the Bedouin sabres which have again somewhat similarly shaped hilts sans the knuckleguard. Interestingly there is a certain gestalt here which recalls the Ethiopian gurades in thier reflection of European military sabres with knuckleguard and particularly the large squared langets with rounded corners. I think this would fall well in place with the use of domestic product scrap metal in regions as mentioned by Colin and the occurrence of these kinds of swords in Kassala as described by Ed. All of these points of contact are within the Red Sea trade sphere.

[Martin Lubojacky]

Dear Ibrahim, Thank you very much for your matter-of-fact and wholesome remark !

Just for info/pleasure I enclose some other types of handles. Photo was made a few years ago in Sanaa.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Martin Lubojacky

Dear Ibrahim, Thank you very much for your matter-of-fact and wholesome remark !

Just for info/pleasure I enclose some other types of handles. Photo was made a few years ago in Sanaa.

Salaams Martin Lubojacky Yes I have seen your great collection before on another thread ... Saudia, Yemeni and Zanzibari Nimcha ! Very nice.

A.alnakkas Yes I agree the sword is multi functional and could be weilded in a fight but as I say ..."Perhaps" More likely as the badge of office and dance function. The blades are made rather roughly. No quality in my opinion...

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Excellent example Ibrahiim!!!
I think this mention of Muscat and San'aa and this remarkably similar example returns to my original thoughts on the Bedouin sabres which have again somewhat similarly shaped hilts sans the knuckleguard. Interestingly there is a certain gestalt here which recalls the Ethiopian gurades in thier reflection of European military sabres with knuckleguard and particularly the large squared langets with rounded corners. I think this would fall well in place with the use of domestic product scrap metal in regions as mentioned by Colin and the occurrence of these kinds of swords in Kassala as described by Ed. All of these points of contact are within the Red Sea trade sphere.

Salaams Jim, Yes I think they are Bedouin by style though they are the cheap end of what has been a vanishing artefact style.. Whilst they could be used in a fight I think they are badge of office and dancing "props" used at functions, weddings, Eids etc... in part of a tradition going back centuries.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[A.alnakkas]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Salaams Jim, Yes I think they are Bedouin by style though they are the cheap end of what has been a vanishing artefact style.. Whilst they could be used in a fight I think they are badge of office and dancing "props" used at functions, weddings, Eids etc... in part of a tradition going back centuries.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Interesting. I always thought that the badge of office in Oman is the kattara, in Yemen its the jambiya and rarely swords. In KSA and other northern countries like Kuwait and Qatar it was always the badawi style saif. Do you know any specific tribe that uses these crude swords?

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by A.alnakkas

Interesting. I always thought that the badge of office in Oman is the kattara, in Yemen its the jambiya and rarely swords. In KSA and other northern countries like Kuwait and Qatar it was always the badawi style saif. Do you know any specific tribe that uses these crude swords?

Salaams A.alnakkas ~ The badge of office in Oman is the Omani Khanjar. Occasionally curved kattara sword are carried by officials and even Royalty either on special occasions or important meetings. When dancing is required at Eid weddings or other meetings lots of people turn up with dancing swords; Omani Straight flexible Sayfs.

Whilst they all have a badge of office connotation the Khanjar (or Khunjar) is more common and even denotes the head of the family. In addition the camel stick is carried and it too has a badge of office traditional indication to it. The gunbelt and Martini Henry rifle may also be included in this array as a respected group of items all worn to reflect the tradition, bearing and badge of office of the wearer... The Khanjar, however, carries the most importance in this regard.

These crude aluminium hilted swords do seem to appear in tribal bedu groups ~ whereas you probably see a lot of these there are perhaps 5 or 10 in Muscat Souk and a couple dotted about the Oman. Buraimi souk has one...and I have another. A friend arrived from Sharjah souk and apparently there are a lot up there... perhaps 10 or twenty and they are very cheap~ quality wise.

Personally I think they have a place in Arabian Sword styles but more on the fringe and as a handy party tool to have in the advent of an important visitor or for dancing.( and as an ethnographic observation) On the other hand it is possible to fight with them, I suppose, but I have them sidelined as accoutrements of tradition only. In addition they reflect the demise of swords in the region which after all has been ebbing since the invention of gunpowder.

The other Arab weapon hardly ever mentioned is "the spear" which has all but vanished for the same reasons.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi