HvWO 131

Traditional antique Omani silver khanjar / dagger, the rhino hilt with silver pins in fish-scale pattern
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Omani Khanjar

Rare complete and antique Omani Khanjar. This khanjar has four silver  rings. The gold threat decoration is very beautiful and vulnerable. Top filigree silver work. On the handle two thin golden ornaments with filigreeing.

The translucent rhino horn is very old as the colour is tending towards beautiful brown reddish  (compare ancient rhino cups) In the handle hundreds of tiny silver pins have been beaten into the rhino horn and as the heads are overlapping it gives the impression of fish-scales. The slide-show contains a 19th century photo of an Omani with a similar khanjar.

Antique Omani khanjar  

 Antique Omani khanjar

Khanjar almost identical to ours (19th century photo)

Antique Omani khanjar

 Antique Omani khanjar

Antique Omani khanjar

The very old rhino horn is translucent

Arab name: Omani Khanjar

Period: 1850-1900

Origin: Oman Zanzibar 

References:
  1. Robert Elgood. The Arms and armour of Arabia. Similar rhino handle with silver pins and golden ornaments on page 85
  2. Richardson & Dorr The craft and Heritage of Oman vol 1 222-233
  3. Silver jewellery of Oman by Jehan S Rajab 1997 p 25
  4. Unsheating the Omani Khunjar by Rober Richmond in A Tribute to Oman Volume IX 20th National Day page 110-115. Discusses khanjar with rhino handle with silver pins (like fish-scales)
  5. Guillain Voyage a la cote orientale d´Afrique execute pendant les annees 1846, 1847, 1848. Sous le commandement de M. Guillain capitage de fregate. Publie par ordre du gouvernement
  6. Charles Buttin Le catalogue de la collection d'armes anciennes, européennes et orientales"1933 The above  khanjar is identical to the khanjar numbered 979. This collection was collected mostly before 1900. He describes this type of khanjar as rare.

Antique Omani khanjar Charles Buttin