OMAN: The curved Khanjar dagger, more of a status symbol and work of art than a menacing weapon, commands high prices

Record ID: 738721

  • Title: OMAN: The curved Khanjar dagger, more of a status symbol and work of art than a menacing weapon, commands high prices
  • Date: 30th March 2008
  • Summary: (MER-1) NAZWAH, OMAN (RECENT) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) JEWELLER, SALMAN BIN MOHAMED AL ISMAILI, SAYING: ''This is a (local) Omani dagger. It is distinct due due to its handle. It can cost between 500-5,000 Rials (1,500-13,000US$). What makes it distinct is also the blade and the handle. So the price goes up if the handle is pure and (it also depends on) the workmanship. Those things bring up the value (of the daggers).''
  • Embargoed: 14th April 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Oman
  • Country: Oman
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,History
  • Reuters ID: LVACR8A8H8U747HO02RRQY89H4HJ
  • Story Text: No longer worn in self-defence, the Omani Khanjar dagger is becoming a prestigious fashion item in the Gulf state, where dealers say it is much in demand.
    One of the country's national symbols, the elaborately crafted "Khanjar" (arabic for dagger) is worn on formal occasions, like weddings and funerals, and on holidays. Many families present khanjars to their sons as they pass into manhood.
    Jeweller Abdullah Bin Zaher in Nazwar has examples in his store valued up to four thousand U.S. dollars (USD).
    ''This one costs about 1,000 rials (about 2,600 USD) and that is not only the value of the silver but also of the blade. This dagger is old, it is about 70 or 80 years old, so this one costs about 1,300 rials (about 3,370 USD).'' 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.
    The hilt may be made of costly rhinoceros horn or substitutes such as sandalwood and marble. The sadr, or upper part of the sheath, is decorated with silver engraving.
    The blade also determines the value of the khanjar according to its strength and quality. Old blades are never discarded but worked into new ones.
    Dagger seller Jamal Bin Ahmed al-Baloushi in Muscat has acquired a dagger he says was once used by the royal family:
    "The most expensive bit is the head of the dagger which has seven rings on it," he says. "The most important part is the detail (on the dagger) and the blade. It is estimated to cost more than 500 Rials (1,300 USD) and there are more expensive ones for 1,500 Rials (3,900 USD).'' Khanjars are supported on belts woven locally, sometimes interwoven with silver thread, or on belts of leather covered by finely woven silver wire with silver buckles.
    One of the marks of a good sheath is its inlaid silver rings. The sheath is decorated with up to seven rings, of which two are used to hold the belt and five are held by thread woven as ornamentation.
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