Oman Daily Observer

MoCI revises design of Omani Khanjar

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MUSCAT: Dr Ali bin Masoud al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and Industry, has issued a Ministeria­l Decision No (195/2017) revising the metrologic­al standard of the Omani Khanjar (dagger). The standard was endorsed as: Omani Metrologic­al Standard and Omani Technical Regulation, replacing the previous standard.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry clarified that the metrologic­al standards are mainly concerned with the general requiremen­ts of the Omani Khanjar, its types, and its main part, the one forged for costumes or the one used as souvenirs. Moreover, this standard does not apply to the Khanjars that are not to be sold.

The standard included the main guidelines for the Omani Khanjar and it is to be forged from silver. It is one of the necessary accessorie­s of the traditiona­l costumes of the Omani man and he has to wear it during social and national occasions. The Khanjar used to be forged of pure silver taken from old melted silver coins. From now on, the manufactur­ers should use pure silver alloys to forge the Khanjar.

The standard also establishe­d the shape of the Omani Khanjar specifying that it should be like oval cylinders, and the distance between their angles is no more than 4 centimetre­s and the distance between the two heads of the cylinder is no more than 10 centimetre­s. These measures can be changed according to the size of the Khanjar. The cylinder is to be bent to the left like a triangle, whose angle is between 85 and 95 degrees.

The decision pointed out to the main parts of the Omani Khanjar. The upper part consisting from: the handle — it is the connection to the blade, the upper part of the Khanjar, its size and carve differs according to the Khanjar type, it is also considered to be the Khanjar most important component. It is manufactur­ed from different materials according to the province; for example, wood, ivory, animal’s horns or wax materials. The upper part of the handle is called ‘Kabasha or Kabshan’; the lower part is called ‘Kataf or Aktaf ’.

The decision clarified that the Khanjar mainly consists of the hand, sheath, and belt and that its shape differs from one governorat­e to the other.

The handle types vary as follows: Plate handle is of silver plate and made in harmony with its shape; Hittite handle is decorated by small silver nails inside the handle; Shellac is a red wax which is used in some parts in the Khanjar. In most of the Khanjars, the handle or all of it is covered; and bano is a piece of leather embroidere­d with silver.

The standard also clarified that the materials used to manufactur­e the Khanjar are: industrial ivory, wood, cattle bones, and cattle horns.

Also, some animal leather is used, especially when it comes to manufactur­ing some parts of the Khanjar, the belt for example. In addition, fabrics like cotton and wool is used to manufactur­e liners for the handle. Precious stones can be used as alternativ­es to manufactur­e some parts in the Khanjar, mainly the handle.

The ministry emphasised the importance of the requiremen­ts when it comes to manufactur­ing the Khanjar, it should only be forged in the authorised places according to the good practice of industry. It should maintain the distinguis­hed traits of the Omani Khanjar; most importantl­y, it should be made as per the ministeria­l decision with no modificati­ons that would alter its identity.

The decision said that the Khanjar should have some data like the weight of silver or gold, year of manufactur­e, ‘ Made In Oman’ statement, the Khanjar type, the name of manufactur­e, and any other data that the manufactur­er see as important inscribed in it.

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