Rare Arab Oman Kattara sword

An interesting and scarce early sword from the interior of Oman/Southern Arabia. This form of straight double edged sword has early ancestery from the islamic swords used by the Mamluks and Abbasid armies from the 15th centuries and much earlier. The archaic form has survived in various sword forms from around the horn of Africa and Southern Arabia, and the kattara form here probably dates to the 16th or 17th century. As with many swords, it is likely to have been reused and handed down by following generations. The blade on this piece is european and the short fuller at the top has various markings along it, the steel hilt and mountings show heavy age patination testifying to its great age. The domed facetted pommel bears much similarity to the earlier islamic swords mentioned above, its most striking resemblance is to a certain form of Ottoman helmet used in the 16th/early 17th  century and it is quite possible this sword is of similar age. The blade appears to date from this period. The scabbard and leather wrap to the grip are probably later, 18th/19th century. middle east