[Edster]

Information on the arm of Nubians from Burckhardt "Travels in Nubia" 1819. P.254 total or p.142 of narrative.
His trip was made about 1814. Quote" The Nubians seldom go unarmed ; as soon as a boy grows up,
his first endeavour is to purchase a short, crooked knife, which
the men wear tied over the left elbow, imder their shirt, and
which they draw upon each other on the shghtest quarrel. When
a Nubian goes from one village to another, he either carries a
long heavy stick (c^jj) covered with iron at one of its extremities,
or his lance and target. The lance is about five feet in length,
including the iron point ; the targets are of various sizes ; some
are round, with a boss in the centre; others resemble the ancient
Macedonian shield, being of an oblong form, four feet in length,
with and curved edges, covering almost the whole body. These
targets, which are sold by the Sheygya Arabs, are made of the
skin of the hippopotamus, and are proof against the thrust of a
lance, or the blow of a sabre. Those who can afford it, possess also
a sword, resembling in shape the swords worn by the knights of the
middle ages, a long straight blade, about two inches in breadth,
with a handle in the form of a cross; the scabbard, for fashion
sake, is broader near the point, than at the top. These swords are
of German manufacture, and are sold to the Nubians by the merchants of Egypt, at from four to eight dollars apiece. Fire-arms
are not common ; the richer classes possess match-locks. End Quote.

This suggests that the swords were ready-made and not just imported blades with locally affixed handles.

Ed