Thank you for the kind words Teodor!
These sa'if typically regarded as distinctly Moroccan, are actually originally an Arabian form which is why the nimcha term became associated. They became well known in the 17th century as I have noted, and commonly linked with the broadly defined maritime marauders known as the Barbary pirates.
With this it has often been presumed that these familiar swords would have had shorter cutlass length blades, but in actuality it seems that they were often mounted with straight blades of considerable length. This was because most of the blades, like commonly the case, were trade or captured blades. I often had thought it unusual for a sabre type hilt to be mounted with straight blade, but it seems to have been common than realized, as I discovered in studying early Mexican cavalry sabres mounted with straight dragoon blades.
With all of this considered, we can only speculate why the blade would have been shortened, perhaps damage to the original tip? Personal preference would indeed come into play as well, but as noted, many of these retained the long cavalry type blades. It is worthy of note as well that these Barbary pirates' action was not always confined to on board melees, but often included raids into locations on land, where a full length sword was of course more in place.
Whatever the case, it is an intriguing piece with great blade and markings, and would ,by type, be quite at home on our pirates thread!!
All the best,
Jim
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