Theodor, 
 
You hit the nail on the head: of course neither of the 2  nimchas is a “fake”.  The blade on the French one is not Caucasian, that is as much as one can figure out from a single pic. And, BTW, doesn’t its handle look South Arabian rather than Moroccan? 
The question is  exactly as you say: is the blade a genuine European trade one or an outstanding Indian copy of it? 
Somehow, I have never  asked this question and never even thought about it. 
 Will be glad to get some hints.
		 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
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