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WABUKAN Arsenal · Knives and blades · Middle East

Khanjar

The curved, double-edged dagger of the Ottoman world, Persia, India and Arabia; a national symbol of Oman.

Khanjar dagger
Khanjar dagger, c. 1600s. Photo: Cleveland Museum of Art, public domain (CC0) · Museum record

Also known as

خنجر · khanjar; khanjali (related)

Origin and history

The khanjar is a curved, double-edged dagger used across the Ottoman world, Persia, India and the Arabian Peninsula. In Oman it is a national symbol, worn on formal occasions and shown on the national emblem.

Martial arts that use it

Used in traditional practice and demonstrations; no art page on WABUKAN yet.

Construction

A curved blade of about 20–40 cm, double-edged with a central ridge, with hilts of horn, ivory, jade or metal; Mughal examples often have carved animal-head pommels.

Basic techniques

Training

Short-blade training starts with trainers made of wood, aluminium or rubber. Students drill angles of attack, grips (forward and reverse), checking the opponent’s arm and footwork, then flow drills with a partner. Live blades are kept for solo forms by experienced practitioners, if at all.

Safety

Use training knives for all partner work and eye protection for fast drills. Never mix live and training blades in the same session, store blades sheathed and out of reach of children.

Legality (general information)

Swords, knives and other edged weapons are regulated very differently from country to country (and sometimes from region to region): owning one at home is often allowed, while carrying it in public, buying it under a certain age or importing it may be restricted or banned. Practitioners usually transport them cased, out of reach and straight between home and dojo. This is general information, not legal advice: check the law where you live.

Did you know?

The Omani khanjar appears on the country’s flag and coat of arms.

More weapons

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Sources

Original WABUKAN text, written from these cross-checked sources (facts, not sentences).

  1. Wikipedia — Khanjar
  2. Wikipedia — Kard (knife)