The Khanjar is the traditinal dagger of the Sultanate of Oman. This superb example was made mid-to-late 19th century.  The design employs 7 rings with all lashings and all filagree decorations made from sterling silver.  The hilt is made from the horn of a Rhinocerous - covered with silver.  The blade is curved and sharpened on both edges. The highly decorative filagree work would have taken several months to complete. The sheath is wood encased in leather which itself is virtually covered in silver. Even the leather belt is sewn through with very fine silver thread.

The khanjar comes in three basic styles or designs – the Sa'idiyah, Dakhliyah (Omaniyah) and Sharqiyah (Suriyah).he Sa'idiyah khanjar has a narrow hilt and is the largest and most expensive, while the Dakhliyah khanjar has a very wide handle and a sheath of ivory or horn worked with silver. The mark of a good sheath are its inlaid silver rings – the maximum is seven rings of which two are used to hold the belt and five through which strands of thread are woven as ornamentation. The Khanjar is considered a status symbol and the wealthiest wearer's khanjar usually sports all seven rings.  The blade of a khanjar is also an indication of its worth; old blades are never discarded but worked into a new one.

The Khanjar is a symbolic weapon worn by men after puberty. No Omani man would venture out to any official function without his Khanjar.  It was (and still is) considered an essential part of formal dress.  Before 1970s it was considered a social taboo to release the khanjar from its sheath- unless done so for revenge or assassination.  This antique khanjar was  formally presented to Phil Holcomb on his departure from Oman in 1999.