Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Jim McDougall · 26th June 2009, 04:34 AM

Thanks very much Kukulz!

Hey Rick! Thanks for posting this one again

as it really has some interesting features. It would seem of course that these Moroccan sa'if were likely hilted in various workshops, but I'm not sure that enough comprehensive research has been done on these to establish any sort of tribal, regional or period consistancy. I would hope that maybe here we could gather enough data to establish some categorization, that is with enough entries....which is why I hope others join in.
I know there are a lot of guys out there with at least one nimcha...and if everyone shares thier example we could get a good run at it!

The hilt on yours is most unusual in that it seems to be of components in the knuckleguard rather than a single piece with the crossguard, quillon assembly. The brass support strap at the pommel seems unusual as well.

I remember puzzling over this obviously aged and patinated marking on what seems to be a late 17th into 18th century backsword blade. As I recall we were trying to determine what marking this might be. After the research I have been working on, mostly keyed by the European blade on a nimcha blade illustrated in Briggs (Plate XVII) I noticed the stamp type cartouche in this exact location on the blade, appearing to have Arabic characters. In reviewing a number of other nimcha blades, many of the had stamps copying crosses, crescent moon and various other similar cartouche type circles with lettering in this same location. It would seem that these must have been armourers stamps with either Arabic cartouche or varying interpretations of 'quality' or talismanic stamps added to either captured or trade blades.

Since your blade seems to have had the stamp added at an early date, consistant with the age of the blade, it would seem to suggest the practice of adding these presumed armourers stamps or markings must have been carried out for quite some time. We know that the raids on merchant ships as well as diplomatic relations and trade between Morocco and England were well established in the 17th century, and activity continued into the 20th century, so rehilting of these old blades probably took place many times.

Best regards,
Jim

26th June 2009, 04:34 AM	#9
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,100	Thanks very much Kukulz! Hey Rick! Thanks for posting this one again as it really has some interesting features. It would seem of course that these Moroccan sa'if were likely hilted in various workshops, but I'm not sure that enough comprehensive research has been done on these to establish any sort of tribal, regional or period consistancy. I would hope that maybe here we could gather enough data to establish some categorization, that is with enough entries....which is why I hope others join in. I know there are a lot of guys out there with at least one nimcha...and if everyone shares thier example we could get a good run at it! The hilt on yours is most unusual in that it seems to be of components in the knuckleguard rather than a single piece with the crossguard, quillon assembly. The brass support strap at the pommel seems unusual as well. I remember puzzling over this obviously aged and patinated marking on what seems to be a late 17th into 18th century backsword blade. As I recall we were trying to determine what marking this might be. After the research I have been working on, mostly keyed by the European blade on a nimcha blade illustrated in Briggs (Plate XVII) I noticed the stamp type cartouche in this exact location on the blade, appearing to have Arabic characters. In reviewing a number of other nimcha blades, many of the had stamps copying crosses, crescent moon and various other similar cartouche type circles with lettering in this same location. It would seem that these must have been armourers stamps with either Arabic cartouche or varying interpretations of 'quality' or talismanic stamps added to either captured or trade blades. Since your blade seems to have had the stamp added at an early date, consistant with the age of the blade, it would seem to suggest the practice of adding these presumed armourers stamps or markings must have been carried out for quite some time. We know that the raids on merchant ships as well as diplomatic relations and trade between Morocco and England were well established in the 17th century, and activity continued into the 20th century, so rehilting of these old blades probably took place many times. Best regards, Jim