Unknown Sabre
 

A friend has this sabre, and has asked me where it is from & how old it is.
I have an opinion, but do not want to slant the discussion.
Any knowledge y'all might share would be welcome.

Most likely Arab (I would say Bedouin but that is pretty broad and there are experts here like Lofty who might say more). The blade is likely old, perhaps 18th c. Hungarian (Styrian) which the Arabs highly favored terming them Magyar.

I had one very similar in hilt with narrow quillons in the same manner, with a blade of similar age that was distinctly Hungarian having inscriptions that suggested that (magic/occult etc) which turned out to be Arabian (the seller in fact said it was a hussars saber from Hungary 18th c).

Yemeni work. Though the pommel has an odd addition to it. Could use photos of that.

A similar sabre is in this thread.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=25690

It is the end of the tang bent around the grip pommel rather than peened.
I'll ask if he can supply a photo of the pommel & tang end.

He's got the sword, shortish 17-18c trade blade, he suspects now it is North African, possibly Barbary pirate? The grip appears to be rhino horn, it's translucent with an LED light, appears to have hair tubules. It's darker than expected from handling patina. Faint markings on blade forte.


If confirmed, this should probably be moved by a Mod to the Ethnic sub-forum.




Picture of pommel:

Say when, Wayne.

When :D

Done !