Salaams Ibrahim,
I have looked at the blade of this saif to determine functional or not. The blade is comparable to the Takouba both in length and the spatulate tip. I had a late 19thC / early 20th C Takouba which is/was deemed 'functional' and were used as weapons at that time. The blade on the saif is less flexible, slightly thicker and better quality.
If this blade had been hilted Tabouka style, the functionality of the resulting sword would not be in question. I agree that a lack of guard would be a worry, but there are a number of swords that have little or no guard.
The fact this Saif may have been made in a factory is not a 'bad thing'. Swords have been made in 'factories' for hundreds of years in Sheffield, Birmingham and Solingen. But, if made in a factory I would have thought that their specification would be the same. There is no doubt in my mind that this sword could be used as a weapon. It 'handles' well, seems well balanced, especially when used in slashing cuts (the spatula tip reinforces this function).
This blade doesn't fit the criteria of a dance blade, but you could argue that the guardless hilt does. Perhaps this blade was an older one, over cleaned and re-worked ? Perhaps this blade was made to be functional ? Were the Saifs ever carried as personal protection ?
As a footnote, is there any evidence of blades made in Oman being sold in Africa ? The thinking is ....could some Omani blades be used, rehilted as Tabouka ?
Kind Regards David
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