The Omani Khanjar

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 15th March 2020, 08:54 PM

We know that the main traded items entering the Zanzibar hub were Slaves ..Rhino Horn and hides and Ivory. It has been quite difficult to obtain Ivory Khanjar examples with specific high definition pictures but luckily we have a couple for forum. High density plastic has been used and makes a reasonable substitute however here is the real thing and we can only hope more substitute materials can step up such as Mamoth ?…

Gonzoadler · 30th July 2020, 08:51 PM

The omani Khanjar is a very interesting dagger. To keep this thread alive I show a very old example. It is silver mounted, the hilt is made of Rhino horn and with a ring of solid gold. I think it is a very charismatic piece.

A.alnakkas · 10th August 2020, 04:36 AM

Lovely dagger, Gonzoadler

Gonzoadler · 17th April 2021, 11:33 AM

Made some spontaneous pictures of another Khanjar from my collection:

Scabbard and hilt should be antique but maybe the blade was replaced later.
I also added a macro shot of the rhino handle.

As I bought it, a little piece of parchment was with it.
Maybe anyone can help me with the translation?

Regards

Gonzoadler · 17th April 2021, 11:37 AM

...

Gonzoadler · 17th April 2021, 11:38 AM

Macro and parchment.

Ian · 17th April 2021, 12:24 PM

Gonzo,

The author of this thread has not been seen on these pages for a couple of years. I'm afraid you may not get very much response from the rest of us because Ibrahiim was the authority on these knives.

Ian.

Peter Hudson · 24th August 2021, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gonzoadler

The omani Khanjar is a very interesting dagger. To keep this thread alive I show a very old example. It is silver mounted, the hilt is made of Rhino horn and with a ring of solid gold. I think it is a very charismatic piece.

Hello Gonzoadler...Sorry to miss this one ... The question on the two raised ribs on the blade is really a question tied to Omani Khanjar blades and where they came from. I have only seen a few multi ribs as they are usually one only on each side of the blade.. They say that blades were imported from Persia India Yemen and Germany. Not usually wootz style just plain steel. I have what looks like a triple rib on the thread...It is said that some blades were made locally and even some made from meteorites..
The gold ring around the Maqbath( hilt) is interesting ... Is it solid gold? Usually where gold is used to enhance the design it is pulled off a roll which is gilded but not solid. A pin or silver nail is usually tacked to secure the work .
The hilt is normally covered in either a silver plate or in a mass of tiny pins the same shape as a plate...see examples all over the thread.
The hilt raises the major question I think... Is it a Rhino Hilt or Giraffe... ? One ear is clipped and in fact the overall condition is a dagger that has had a tough life... A good polish up with silvo or toothpaste might resurrect it and you might want to look out for a belt ...and even consider a few accoutrements... My suspicion points to this being a UAE dagger or Dhakiliyyah but it is a reasonable example ... Thank you for posting.

Peter Hudson.

Gonzoadler · 24th August 2021, 08:49 PM

Thank you for your answer. The handle is made of rhino horn and the ring is definetely solid gold. It was fixed with 3 forged iron nails, but one is lost.
I don't want to polish that dagger because I like the patina a lot and this piece is very delicate, especially the embroidery.
I will make some additional pictures to show them here.

Gonzoadler · 24th August 2021, 10:01 PM

Here is a picture of the handle material, made with a Dino camera. If some pictures from other details are wanted, I will make them.

Regards
Robin

Peter Hudson · 10th September 2021, 07:50 AM

I have extracted a superb quote from an earlier thread by Tim Simmons on a query over a possible Omani Khanjar where he detailed a pdf of probably the best information on Omani Khanjars...the contents of which were the subject of a thesis on the subject by an Omani student about 6 years ago...and which I should place here for reference ...Thus please see https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/195632974.pdf

Regards,

Peter Hudson.

Ian · 11th September 2021, 01:56 AM

Hello Peter and welcome back.

Thank you for this excellent reference. Unfortunately, the file size exceeds the maximum allowed for this site. It would have been nice to post it here as an attachment, and thereby have a permanent record for the Archives. Let's hope the link does not get broken in future.

Regards,

Ian.

15th March 2020, 08:54 PM	#1
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	We know that the main traded items entering the Zanzibar hub were Slaves ..Rhino Horn and hides and Ivory. It has been quite difficult to obtain Ivory Khanjar examples with specific high definition pictures but luckily we have a couple for forum. High density plastic has been used and makes a reasonable substitute however here is the real thing and we can only hope more substitute materials can step up such as Mamoth ?… Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 15th March 2020 at 09:05 PM.

30th July 2020, 08:51 PM	#2
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 239	The omani Khanjar is a very interesting dagger. To keep this thread alive I show a very old example. It is silver mounted, the hilt is made of Rhino horn and with a ring of solid gold. I think it is a very charismatic piece. Attached Images

17th April 2021, 11:33 AM	#4
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 239	Made some spontaneous pictures of another Khanjar from my collection: Scabbard and hilt should be antique but maybe the blade was replaced later. I also added a macro shot of the rhino handle. As I bought it, a little piece of parchment was with it. Maybe anyone can help me with the translation? Regards Attached Images

17th April 2021, 11:37 AM	#5
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 239	... Attached Images

17th April 2021, 11:38 AM	#6
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 239	Macro and parchment. Attached Images

10th August 2020, 04:36 AM	#3
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,339	Lovely dagger, Gonzoadler

17th April 2021, 12:24 PM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,041	Gonzo, The author of this thread has not been seen on these pages for a couple of years. I'm afraid you may not get very much response from the rest of us because Ibrahiim was the authority on these knives. Ian.

24th August 2021, 08:49 PM	#9
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 239	Thank you for your answer. The handle is made of rhino horn and the ring is definetely solid gold. It was fixed with 3 forged iron nails, but one is lost. I don't want to polish that dagger because I like the patina a lot and this piece is very delicate, especially the embroidery. I will make some additional pictures to show them here.

24th August 2021, 10:01 PM	#10
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 239	Here is a picture of the handle material, made with a Dino camera. If some pictures from other details are wanted, I will make them. Regards Robin Attached Images

10th September 2021, 07:50 AM	#11
Peter Hudson Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Posts: 311	I have extracted a superb quote from an earlier thread by Tim Simmons on a query over a possible Omani Khanjar where he detailed a pdf of probably the best information on Omani Khanjars...the contents of which were the subject of a thesis on the subject by an Omani student about 6 years ago...and which I should place here for reference ...Thus please see https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/195632974.pdf Regards, Peter Hudson. Last edited by Peter Hudson; 10th September 2021 at 12:50 PM.

11th September 2021, 01:56 AM	#12
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,041	Hello Peter and welcome back. Thank you for this excellent reference. Unfortunately, the file size exceeds the maximum allowed for this site. It would have been nice to post it here as an attachment, and thereby have a permanent record for the Archives. Let's hope the link does not get broken in future. Regards, Ian.