Hi Teodor,
I'm not sure I can add anything to the interesting motto inscribed on your sabre, but I would like to see some discussion open on this intriguing sword form. While the general consensus over the years in discussions seem to hold that these are from Spanish Morocco, with pretty compelling support, I have been advised also that these are not Moroccan. It does seem interesting that examples of these have not ever been included in groupings of the weapons from Morocco in published material, and it does seem that these have expanded from complete obscurity into an established form in growing numbers over the past 20 years.
Probably the most fascinating consistancy in most of these, aside from the unusual stylized zoomorphic hilt, is that the blades are typically 19th century cavalry sabre blades (usually British M1796) with strangely profiled points.
To confound establishing identification even more, the scabbards these are typically mounted in have a curious perpandicular extension, similar to those seen on Ethiopian shotels (mounted with military sabre blades) as seen in "African Arms & Armour".
It seems that around the end of the 19th c. and into the 20th, certain very unusual forms of edged weapons began to appear in Spanish or Latin American settings. Perhaps these were ersatz weapons put together from available surplus, but where is unclear. Another form of munitions grade sword with often crude blades and brass hilts with exaggerated finger stalls is known, and I have seen these identified as Mexican, and even Algerian, but lastly as 'bringbacks' from Cuba during the Spanish American War.
These unusual 'Berber' sabres, I have seen included in groupings of swords from Mexico, so I am wondering if these might have evolved in the situation I have described.
Or, are these indeed from Morocco, and is the decorative motif seen on hilts or mountings consistant with Moroccan work?
What we need is contemporary photographic evidence of these being carried or provenanced examples.
Best regards,
Jim
|