Saudi Ardah Weapons

The Saudi Ardah Weapons are an essential component of the Saudi Ardah. The Ardah is considered a war dance, and its weapons are used during the performance. They are considered accessories to the costume and include several types, such as the sword, dagger, pistol, and rifle.

It is a metal weapon consisting of several parts: the "blade" (the sword's steel), which is lightweight for ease of carrying and use in combat, and the "hilt," known as the "handle," which is the part of the sword that is held. The hilt is made from ivory or mother-of-pearl and is decorated with gold or silver to prevent it from harming the hand of the bearer.

Another part of the sword is the "scabbard," also known as the "sheath," which is used to carry the sword. It may be used during performances when there are not enough swords for all the participants. The scabbard is connected to a red or green cord adorned with decorative tassels and is engraved with a layer of gold or silver. Some of the most famous swords are Indian swords, made from special alloys to provide strength and durability to the blade, and Damascus swords.

The curved dagger is considered a type of white weapon. The performer wears it at the waist using a belt adorned with golden threads called the "Majnad al-Mudhahab." It is known by various names, such as "al-Qadimi, al-Shalfa, al-Shibriya, and al-Janbiya."

It is a small eight mm caliber pistol, commonly known as "al-Fard" in colloquial terms. It is kept in a black leather holster called "Bayt al-Fard," which has compartments for holding spare bullets. The pistol may be fired during the performance.

It is a firearm that is placed on the shoulder while shooting. There are various old types, including the "Fatila," named for the fuse that is its most important component, and the "Muqama’a," a large rifle that was well-known in the past. Other types include the "Masba’a," "Jift," "Um Khams Talaqat," and "Mushwak," as well as the English Enfield rifles used in World War I. When firing blank rounds, the rifles are sometimes aimed toward the sky and other times toward the ground if there is no carpet during the performance. The use of carpets is a recent addition to the Ardah, as they were not used in the past when the dance was performed before battles.