[Jim McDougall]

As often the case, ethnographic swords are difficult to identify or classify to a specific area, or for that matter, period. The regions along the North Africa coast from Morocco through Algeria are known as the Maghreb collectively.

This is a remarkable example of what I would refer to as a Maghrebi sa'if, however long ago collectors began referring to these type sabers as 'nimcha'.

Your example, as well noted by Werecow has characteristics of varied influences, and 'nimchas' with this type guard system (knuckleguard and downturned quillons) are known from both Morocco and Algeria. Illustrations of a nimcha discussing the blade in Briggs (1965) refer to an Algerian example, unfortunately the overall sword is not shown.

The scabbard seems clearly Algerian, resembling the pierced pattern wood work of the Kabyle flyssa, but may not be original to the sword so the identification must go to the sword itself.

Identifying these weapons regionally typically goes to the hilt, as blades from many sources were used, and often remounted as they changed hands over generations.

The 'nimcha' itself is an Arab weapon, though it found use in Morocco, Algeria and Zanzibar as well as in Arabia of course. This is well shown in Buttin (1933) where these are shown in number, all identified as Arab sa'if.
The peak on the hilt suggests this is early, probably late 18th-early 19th (though of course the style continued as per tradition) and excitedly noting these times along the Maghrebi coast, that of the Barbary corsairs. Naturally we cannot prove that, but it is a fun possibility.

The blade appears European and likely late 18th c. possibly Italian? but cannot identify the poincon in blade center. The flared distal end suggests again a cutlass type use, which concurs with the pirate use notion, again highly speculative.

While the raised ring guard on this example align with 'Zanzibar' classifications, we now know that while these types of 'nimcha' were well known there, they were by no means exclusive to there. I will say that the peaked pommel does seems more prevalent in the Zanzibar types.

Having said all that, please pardon my exuberance in this long winded entry, but this is a remarkable and exciting example !
Please do not alter or over clean, just stabilize to avoid any further deterioration.

These examples attached are my much later examples, and not nearly the stature of yours......the first 'Zanzibar'....next 'Moroccan', and show the more commonly seen types.