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Very cool Christmas present!

MountainsMountains Veteran
edited December 2011 in General Banter
Many years ago (like 25-30), my uncle was working in the Sultanate of Oman. The summer before my university graduation back in 1983, my graduation present from he and my aunt was a trip to visit them. At the time, as far as we knew, I was the first westerner who wasn't a direct relative of an expatriate (ie: not a son, daughter, mother, father, etc) who had been issued an Omani visa. I spent six of the most memorable weeks of my life with them, and saw some amazing things. While I was there, one of the cool things, but one that was way outside my budget at the time, was the khanjars (ceremonial daggers) worn by almost all Omani men. Many Arab men wear them, but the style and manner of decoration of the scabbard is unique to each part of the Arab world. At the time, I had to settle for an ancient (somewhere between 10 and 1000 year old) Omani style coffee pot, which has sat on my mantle ever since.

So yesterday the mail man brought a package from my uncle. When I opened it up, here's what was inside. I almost fell off the chair! The scabbard and handle are silver, with both tooled and silver wire filigree. Absolutely beautiful!! :)

J

image

Comments

  • Bodha8Bodha8 Veteran
    Very Cool!
  • Telly03Telly03 Veteran
    Very nice Mountains
  • DakiniDakini Veteran
    That is one thoughtful and very generous uncle, Mts.! Lucky you.
  • BonsaiDougBonsaiDoug Simply, on the path. Veteran
    Very nice! Can you give us some dimensions on this? Hard to tell from a photo.

    Also, how about a pic of the dagger out of the scabbard?
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    The whole thing is about 12" high. Here's another very similar one out of its scabbard. The blade is sharpened on both edges.

    image

    I found out today that this particular scabbard and handle pattern, plus the five rings on the scabbard, denote this khanjar as belonging to the al Sayidi family, who are the royal family of Oman! Here's a pic of Sultan Qaboos bin Sayid al Sayidi wearing a very similar khanar on his belt.

    image

  • BrianBrian Detroit, MI Moderator
    That is incredibly cool!
  • HubrisHubris
    Utterly amazing, such a beautiful gift, and thoughtful gesture.
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    edited December 2011
    Wow, that is really a very interesting and beautiful present. Also the story of how it came about and into yoru hands is wonderful. Enjoy, just don't 'use' it :p

    I would trade yours for mine anyday. By the way, my DSLR broke ages ago but I think santa is bringing me one this year, so this was a web cam dealio. Your present has so much detail and history to it though. Want to trade mountains? I will throw in the oldkool nokia too :)
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    Uh, no, I don't see trading with you as an option Tom :) Sorry...
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    :screwy: :rarr: :(
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    Just had an email from a very nice Mr. al Balooshi from an antique dealer in Oman. He confirms that this khanjar is in the "classical" al Bu Saaidi style, associated with the royal family :)
  • Telly03Telly03 Veteran
    Cool... it does look just like the one in the Sultan pic. You have an awesome Uncle.
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    Now that is a seriously cool thang.....

    If I speak nicely to your uncle, do you think he could get me a replica palace in oman, with replica sand, and a replica fleet of Rolls Royces, a replica stable of thoroughbred racers, and a replica yacht?

    Just on the off-chance, as it IS Christmas, an' all..... :D
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    I'll ask him. I'm sure he can arrange it, but it might be some time after Christmas :)
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    well, I have a week off in January, so maybe he can take advantage of the sales....!

    :lol:
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    Are you going to hang on to it and pass it on (if you have a family), or are you htinking of selling it in an auction or something at some point?
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    I would imagine it's a bit early to say, since he's only just received it, but I doubt very much Mountains would ever part with it himself.
    I wouldn't.
    And the thought of selling or auctioning a gift of such magnitude and generosity would never even enter my head. Ever.

    That's my opinion anyway.... :-/
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    Yea that is what I was thinking, but we are not mountains. I mountains will, but it would be interesting to know it's material value. The sentimental value would most likely be greater.
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    I would say the sentimental value is incalculable.

    Do you know a programme called 'the 'Antiques Roadshow'?
    It's a very popular prog here in the UK.

    "we are not mountains".....
    True.


    I'd describe myself as a small, undulating, verdant hillock, myself..... :D
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    haha, and yes I use to watch the Antiques roadshow now and then when I was in the UK, but I had more of a liking for dickinsons real deal. My housemate at the time always wondered why a 21 year old guy was watching that kind of stuff, but I just was curious of all of these col little objects people use to buy. How quaint :)
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    No chance of it leaving my possession unless times get *really* tough at some point in the future. I've ordered a custom shadow box frame for it, and will display it in my living room when it's done. Sentimental value far outweighs any monetary value it may have, but as with all "things" I'll try not to be attached to it. It's just a thing.
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    (Yeah....good luck with that. I know what you mean. It tends to work well with some things and less so with others, I find.
    Damned if I can define some kind of consistent pattern' though, as to why some things 'cling' and others don't....) :buck:
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