It is a part of Saudi tradition to exhibit antique weapons at home as they form an integral component of the country's heritage, reflecting the greatness of the Arab people. Knives, daggers, swords, and guns filled with gunpowder are the main weapons historically used in the Arabian Peninsula. Not only was carrying such a weapon a sign of heroism and prestige, it was also a form of protection against predatory animals in the region like tigers and hyenas. Qasem Al-Safhi, a farmer in Jizan told Saudi Gazette that he used to use his old gun to protect himself and his sheep during the nights when wild hyenas would attempt to attack his sheep. “Once, 15 years ago, when I was setting up my farm, I saw a very big hyena running to the east where my sheep were housed, and carrying away one of my sheep,” he reminisced. The next day, the hyena returned but Al-Safhi was able to shoot him because of his skilled aim. Some people, however, showcase these weapons in their homes as a reminder of their Arabian origins and to teach their children about the region's various traditions, including weaponry. “I have kept these knives and swords for the past 20 years,” remarked Mohammed Al-Amri, a resident of the Al-Makhwah province in the south of the Kingdom. “When I was young, my father bought me a poniard (a lightweight dagger used in the Middle Ages) as an adornment for special occasions.” He added that he once traveled to Al-Khuba, a famous market on the border with Yemen, where he bought an antique Spanish sword made of silver for 5,000 Saudi riyals. Made manually from iron, swords are the most prolific of antique weapons in the region, and perhaps the oldest weapon used in the Arabian Peninsula. Ali Bin Ahmad, is another antique weapons' enthusiast who told Saudi Gazette that he likes to collect antique weapons from around the world. He recently bought an antique sword from a friend in Yemen for 10,000 riyals. “Although the sword is very old, it never gets rusty. I clean it every month using sesame oil, which my grandfather told me protects the iron of the sword,” he said. The ‘Janbiyah' (dagger) The dagger is considered to be one of the oldest weapons used in the Arabian Peninsula. Also used as an ornament, many Saudi men still wear it on special occasions. The daggers normally have beautifully-designed handles. Some daggers even have verses from the Holy Qur'an carved on the heads of the daggers. The origins of the janbiyah are contested though their first appearance in the region was probably in the seventh century B.C. in Yemen. Al-Naboot rifle Another popular antique weapon is the Al-Naboot rifle, which is a common rifle found in the south of the Arabian peninsula. Made in 1867 in Italy and Switzerland, the rifle is rather heavy.
