The Omani Sayf. ( The Omani Straight Dancing Sword)

[spiral]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Salaams Spiral,
No such thing as the typology you suggest...however, if you feel there is a case please prove it...

Type 2 is your typology.

If you study this picture you will see it a type 2 kattara.

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

You may observe the Badge of Office designation on all Omani Swords..and Khanjars. It was a primary function in all cases..

Of course but the symbols of power come from weapons not dancing. {Even though a thin sharp sword will make a mess of a naked man or one with just a light layer of cotton covering their skin of course. {Hence triads often using melon knives to mutilate people.}

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Tipu Tip is shown with his heraldic dancing sword and the others are as I have described... Badge of Office in every case. These all had VIP status, even Tipu Tip ~ who enjoyed virtual Royal Status in his own right in much of Central Africa and especially around the Falls region which he dominated. He was half Swahili ~ half Omani ...see Kattara for comments on my description of him.

As I stated above he carry's both curved & straight fighting swords in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Did you know he was blind...? Perhaps you thought he could weild a sword? In his case the sword was very much his badge of Office. I imagine that his retainers carried all his different swords for him... I suggest he went about with a squad of them and depending on the venue he would select the sword... thats how Slave Lords did it...
.

Yes, perhaps there is a God after all... Karma at least , but he was 33 or 34 when he went blind, that's why he is famous for lamenting the loss of a good canoe as he watched it go over the falls. {While Exhibiting no concern for the slave women & children on board. }

I expect a blind man who lived a life like his could be still a dangerous chap... not much good for fencing but could still cause some mayhem.

In truth neither of us can see inside the scabbard of his straight kattara, It might be a thick fighting sword or it might be a thin Fighting sword? Perhaps that should be Omani sword type number 7?

It just seems unlikely its a dancing sword...

Spiral