Italian broadsword, 1500s-1600s ?

Dmitry · 8th September 2010, 05:16 PM

My primary source on Italian weapons is the venerable Armi Bianche Italiani by Boccia. As with other representative books, we see only the best of the best pieces extant, while the real 'work-horses' stay off the pages. This is such a work-horse. Blade is a respectable 86 cm.
The hilt is evocative of nimchas, but with the bird's head pommel, and a simpler guard.
If you have you seen similar examples in your books, please pitch in.

fernando · 8th September 2010, 05:23 PM

What a sturdy work horse

. The guy who handled it was no midget

. Indeed a piece worthy to collect

.
BTW, how long is the blade?

Dmitry · 8th September 2010, 09:13 PM

In case someone missed this article -
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=buttin

RSWORD · 8th September 2010, 09:28 PM

This is an Arabian Saif, probably of the 18th century, possibly earlier. I'm sure I can dig up some comparable examples in my references but am away from home at the moment.

Ron Anderson · 9th September 2010, 02:55 AM

This does look like a Nimcha/Saif.

I would be very surprised if this was European. The handle looks like it is made of horn.

Not that Europeans didn't use horn, of course, but this horn looks like it might be something like Rhino or Giraffe horn.

The blade reminds of me of blades I've seen on Oman Kattaras. I understand these were often old German blades.

Could be wrong about the kind of horn but it certainly does remind of other Arabian Gulf or North African types of hilts.

Gavin Nugent · 9th September 2010, 04:42 AM

A ponerdous piece, something I recently saw for sale....did you buy it?

Not Italian in my eyes at all, whilst 'work horse' examples' are sure to be found, I have rarely seen any Italian sword lacking in a certain 'flare' in consistancy and quality even in the 'users' not seen in high end books.

This to me is too much of a hybrid combination of parts that points to East Africa under Arabian influnce in my eyes. The blade appears far to robust and large for an Oman Kattara, to my eyes a Kaskara blade.

I will ponder some more.

Gav

8th September 2010, 05:16 PM	#1
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	Italian broadsword, 1500s-1600s ? My primary source on Italian weapons is the venerable Armi Bianche Italiani by Boccia. As with other representative books, we see only the best of the best pieces extant, while the real 'work-horses' stay off the pages. This is such a work-horse. Blade is a respectable 86 cm. The hilt is evocative of nimchas, but with the bird's head pommel, and a simpler guard. If you have you seen similar examples in your books, please pitch in. Attached Images

9th September 2010, 04:42 AM	#6
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	a ponderous piece A ponerdous piece, something I recently saw for sale....did you buy it? Not Italian in my eyes at all, whilst 'work horse' examples' are sure to be found, I have rarely seen any Italian sword lacking in a certain 'flare' in consistancy and quality even in the 'users' not seen in high end books. This to me is too much of a hybrid combination of parts that points to East Africa under Arabian influnce in my eyes. The blade appears far to robust and large for an Oman Kattara, to my eyes a Kaskara blade. I will ponder some more. Gav

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8th September 2010, 05:23 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	What a sturdy work horse . The guy who handled it was no midget . Indeed a piece worthy to collect . BTW, how long is the blade?

8th September 2010, 09:13 PM	#3
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	In case someone missed this article - http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=buttin

8th September 2010, 09:28 PM	#4
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,083	This is an Arabian Saif, probably of the 18th century, possibly earlier. I'm sure I can dig up some comparable examples in my references but am away from home at the moment.

9th September 2010, 02:55 AM	#5
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	This does look like a Nimcha/Saif. I would be very surprised if this was European. The handle looks like it is made of horn. Not that Europeans didn't use horn, of course, but this horn looks like it might be something like Rhino or Giraffe horn. The blade reminds of me of blades I've seen on Oman Kattaras. I understand these were often old German blades. Could be wrong about the kind of horn but it certainly does remind of other Arabian Gulf or North African types of hilts.