Thug4Life
14-07-05, 01:19 PM
Man I love my Khanjar..yea I own one...and its much of a fine silver work...Not cheap though....I thought that Its good to bring out an article I found on the net about the Omani khanjar...
Enjoy...........................
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http://www.coyotespaw.com/weapon/956a-khanjar1.jpg
http://www.coyotespaw.com/weapon/955a-khanjar1open.jpg
One cannot attend an official function in Oman and not be awed by the elaborately crafted daggers men proudly wear tucked into an intricately designed belt. Not to fear, however. They have evolved from a menacing weapon to something of a fashion statement and a status symbol. Wearing them also says that some traditions are there to stay.
The Khanjar, Arabic for dagger, can vary in size, style, and design according to Oman's different regions - not to mention the price. And although the number of khanjar makers is in decline, the demand remains high as many families present khanjars to their sons as they pass into manhood. No decent Omani would be caught without one in ceremonies like weddings and receptions.
They are "pieces of art that capture the soul of Oman," says Murtada Najwani, a businessman who deals in antiques from Oman and neighbouring countries and is a well-known Khanjar aficionado.
"A khanjar is a symbol of manhood, courage and tradition," he added. He was not wearing a khanjar at the time of the interview, but he lovingly displayed his favourite to this reporter. Omani-made daggers are unique, experts say.
"The curve of the Omani dagger distinguishes it from daggers elsewhere. The sheath has a right angle bend," said Sarah White, curator of the Bait Al Zubair museum in Muscat. "It's ornate work is among the finest in Arabia."
It can take up to a month to make a quality khanjar and craftsmen adhere to the regional designs handed down from generation to generation. Essentially, an Omani dagger consists of three parts the hilt, the sheath and the blade.
But "every region has its own variations," Ahmed Al Mukhaini, of the Historical Association of Oman, said. The khanjar comes in three basic styles or designs – the Sa'idiyah, Dakhliyah (Omaniyah) and Sharqiyah (Suriyah).
"These three fundamental designs but they have numerous variations derived from personal choice and contemporary trends." The Sa'idiyah khanjar has a narrow hilt and is the largest and most expensive, while the Dakhliyah khanjar has a very wide handle and a sheath of ivory or horn worked with silver.
Variations such as the one called Nizwa use a silver T-shaped hilt while the Sur khanjars are smaller in size and use gold instead. Some are finer than others, the experts say. "The khanjars from Sur are the most elegant and best assembled of the three styles," Al Mukhaini said.
"Its hilt is not wide as the Dakhliyah style nor as narrow as the Sa'idiyah variety. It is smaller and is renowned for the ornate patterns on the hilt. The sheath of a khanjar represents the craftsmanship of the silversmith."
The more expensive sheaths are of woven gold thread or a combination of gold and silver. But there are also the simpler ones made of plain leather with some silver worked into it. The mark of a good sheath are its inlaid silver rings – the maximum is seven rings of which two are used to hold the belt and five through which strands of thread are woven as ornamentation.
"There is no special significance attached to the number of rings on a khanjar," explains Al Mukhaini. "It depends on personal preference." But businessman Najwani feels that "it is a status symbol as the rings are expensive and usually a wealthy wearer sports seven rings." The blade of a khanjar is also an indication of its worth; old blades are never discarded but worked into a new one.
Khanjars are priced according to design and materials used and range from the touristy, mass produced varieties with plastic handles to the elaborate works of art with rhino horn hilts and priceless blades that can fetch up to 1,200 riyals ($3,000) and more. Long gone are the days when men wore their daggers for protection.
"The khanjar, especially in urban Muscat, is now taken out of its velvet case only for ceremonies and official functions, but this was not always so," Najwani said. "In the past, it was usually worn everyday. Even now in the Interior (regions), men still wear their khanjar for a visit to the souk or for calling on friends."
Mubarak bin Abdullah Al Sayegh, a third generation khanjar maker of repute in Sur, described the demand as high. "It is a thriving business although there are fewer khanjar makers in the region than before."
Some young men may not be attached to their daggers as their fathers and grandfathers were, Al Mukhaini said, "as they no longer have to possess their own khanjars. The trend now is to borrow when the need arises as they are expensive."
When asked, a young man said he liked how wearing a dagger bestows a formal air on one. "I like using a khanjar. It looks very ceremonial and my father presented it to me on my birthday," said a 20-year old man who gave his name only as Mohammed.
"Of course it isn't part of my daily wear, but I won't attend a formal function without it." Najwani takes it a step further. "I'm sure a groom will not be handed over his bride if he turns up for the wedding without his khanjar," he said. "Whatever the fashion whim, khanjars will always remain a prized possession for Omani men."
link: http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=5773
Enjoy...........................
===================
http://www.coyotespaw.com/weapon/956a-khanjar1.jpg
http://www.coyotespaw.com/weapon/955a-khanjar1open.jpg
One cannot attend an official function in Oman and not be awed by the elaborately crafted daggers men proudly wear tucked into an intricately designed belt. Not to fear, however. They have evolved from a menacing weapon to something of a fashion statement and a status symbol. Wearing them also says that some traditions are there to stay.
The Khanjar, Arabic for dagger, can vary in size, style, and design according to Oman's different regions - not to mention the price. And although the number of khanjar makers is in decline, the demand remains high as many families present khanjars to their sons as they pass into manhood. No decent Omani would be caught without one in ceremonies like weddings and receptions.
They are "pieces of art that capture the soul of Oman," says Murtada Najwani, a businessman who deals in antiques from Oman and neighbouring countries and is a well-known Khanjar aficionado.
"A khanjar is a symbol of manhood, courage and tradition," he added. He was not wearing a khanjar at the time of the interview, but he lovingly displayed his favourite to this reporter. Omani-made daggers are unique, experts say.
"The curve of the Omani dagger distinguishes it from daggers elsewhere. The sheath has a right angle bend," said Sarah White, curator of the Bait Al Zubair museum in Muscat. "It's ornate work is among the finest in Arabia."
It can take up to a month to make a quality khanjar and craftsmen adhere to the regional designs handed down from generation to generation. Essentially, an Omani dagger consists of three parts the hilt, the sheath and the blade.
But "every region has its own variations," Ahmed Al Mukhaini, of the Historical Association of Oman, said. The khanjar comes in three basic styles or designs – the Sa'idiyah, Dakhliyah (Omaniyah) and Sharqiyah (Suriyah).
"These three fundamental designs but they have numerous variations derived from personal choice and contemporary trends." The Sa'idiyah khanjar has a narrow hilt and is the largest and most expensive, while the Dakhliyah khanjar has a very wide handle and a sheath of ivory or horn worked with silver.
Variations such as the one called Nizwa use a silver T-shaped hilt while the Sur khanjars are smaller in size and use gold instead. Some are finer than others, the experts say. "The khanjars from Sur are the most elegant and best assembled of the three styles," Al Mukhaini said.
"Its hilt is not wide as the Dakhliyah style nor as narrow as the Sa'idiyah variety. It is smaller and is renowned for the ornate patterns on the hilt. The sheath of a khanjar represents the craftsmanship of the silversmith."
The more expensive sheaths are of woven gold thread or a combination of gold and silver. But there are also the simpler ones made of plain leather with some silver worked into it. The mark of a good sheath are its inlaid silver rings – the maximum is seven rings of which two are used to hold the belt and five through which strands of thread are woven as ornamentation.
"There is no special significance attached to the number of rings on a khanjar," explains Al Mukhaini. "It depends on personal preference." But businessman Najwani feels that "it is a status symbol as the rings are expensive and usually a wealthy wearer sports seven rings." The blade of a khanjar is also an indication of its worth; old blades are never discarded but worked into a new one.
Khanjars are priced according to design and materials used and range from the touristy, mass produced varieties with plastic handles to the elaborate works of art with rhino horn hilts and priceless blades that can fetch up to 1,200 riyals ($3,000) and more. Long gone are the days when men wore their daggers for protection.
"The khanjar, especially in urban Muscat, is now taken out of its velvet case only for ceremonies and official functions, but this was not always so," Najwani said. "In the past, it was usually worn everyday. Even now in the Interior (regions), men still wear their khanjar for a visit to the souk or for calling on friends."
Mubarak bin Abdullah Al Sayegh, a third generation khanjar maker of repute in Sur, described the demand as high. "It is a thriving business although there are fewer khanjar makers in the region than before."
Some young men may not be attached to their daggers as their fathers and grandfathers were, Al Mukhaini said, "as they no longer have to possess their own khanjars. The trend now is to borrow when the need arises as they are expensive."
When asked, a young man said he liked how wearing a dagger bestows a formal air on one. "I like using a khanjar. It looks very ceremonial and my father presented it to me on my birthday," said a 20-year old man who gave his name only as Mohammed.
"Of course it isn't part of my daily wear, but I won't attend a formal function without it." Najwani takes it a step further. "I'm sure a groom will not be handed over his bride if he turns up for the wedding without his khanjar," he said. "Whatever the fashion whim, khanjars will always remain a prized possession for Omani men."
link: http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=5773