-

Your Gateway To Oman

The Khanjars

The curved dagger, the khanjar is a distinguishing feature of the Omani personality as well as an important symbol of male elegance. It is traditionally worn at the waist.

The Shape of the Khanjar is always the same ans is charectrised by the curve of the blade and by the near right-angle bend of the sheath. Sheaths may vary from simple covers to oronate silver or sold-decorated pieces of great beauty and delicacy. In the past the silver khanjars were made by melting down the Marie Theresa silver coins.

Different types of khanjars are named after the regions in which they are made and vary according to size, shape, type of metal and the overlay. The top of the handle of the most usual khanjar is flat but the 'Saidi' type, which takes its name from the Ruling Family, has an ornate cross-shaped top. However, all possess certain common features and have the same components:

• The hilt may be made out of the costly rhinoceros horn or substitutes such has sandalwood or marble.
• The blade determines the value of the khanjar according to its strength and quality.
• The sadr, or the upper part of the sheath, is decorated with silver engraving.
• The sheath, the most striking part of the khanjar , is worked with silver threads.

Khanjars are supported on belts of locally made webbing, sometimes interwoven with the silver thread or belts of leather covered by finely woven silver buckles and a knife with an ornate handle of silver thread is stuck into a simpler leather pouch behind the sheath.

Khanjars are worn on formal occasions and at feats and the holidays and the almost all Omani men boast one.

Once worn in self-defence, the khanjar is today  both a fashion and necessary and a prestige item much in demand.

HIS MAJESTY

INTRODUCTION

FEATURES

WILDLIFE

TRADITIONS

MAPS

Copyright©  Hareesh Networks®