Sword for ID on SFI

Andrew · 7th June 2005, 03:00 PM

Interesting sword. Anyone have any idea?

http://forums.swordforum.com/showthr...055#post592055

Rick · 7th June 2005, 03:11 PM

I would think the answer may lie in the decoration on the hilt and bolster .
Good sharp close-ups of these areas would help immensely .
Indo Persian , but which culture .

Aqtai · 7th June 2005, 04:27 PM

I would say Morrocan, the shape of the hilt is very similar to that of Morrocan swords. When I get home I'll try to find some pics for you.

ariel · 7th June 2005, 05:35 PM

This is a weird one. The handle almost reminds T'boli Kampilans, the handguard is North Indian and the blade..... Make your guess...
The decorations are the answer
Very intaeresting and very peculiar, but unquestionably a real weapon.

Yannis · 7th June 2005, 05:36 PM

I would say N. Africa. A custom made Nimcha for someone who wanted to be different and he could affort it.

Aqtai · 7th June 2005, 06:04 PM

Just got home and had a look. The hilt is a lot like a Morrocan nimcha hilt.

Tim Simmons · 7th June 2005, 06:49 PM

The grip does look N African but I am going to say, the knuckle bow looks a bit Indo/Persian like on a tuwar or somethig like that.The construction is also like Indo/Persian knives and Afghan in particular.What does it most for me is the Peacock ingraving ,an asian bird I believe.I will hazard a guess that it is Afghan or something from the old NW Frontier.Tim

ariel · 7th June 2005, 07:46 PM

Is it just my impression, or is the blade slightly down-curved, yataghan-like?
Sossun pattah blade?

fearn · 7th June 2005, 09:01 PM

Could this be some sort of interpretation of a khyber knife? I realize that it's not the "right" shape, but it is in the right size range.

Fearn

Rick · 7th June 2005, 09:15 PM

I don't think the decoration is N.African in style .
That leaves Indo Persia and the NW frontier as Tim has said .
Those look like architectural details behind the Peacock , those elements remind me of some N. persian rugs I have seen .
Not to mention the Peacock Throne of Persia .
I can see the Indian influence in the knuckle guard but the hilt is real oddball .

Whatever it is I like it !!

RSWORD · 7th June 2005, 11:28 PM

When I first saw thing thing it sort of reminded me of some Naga swords from the Assam region. They have a sword with cast bronze or brass hilt with knucklebow and large chopper like blade. Although this example is different than the "typical" Naga sword that I am speaking, it isn't too far a stretch to be an unusual variant. I would love to see the blade up close on this example to see if it might be an Indian import and watered or if it had some of the more Tibetan-like watering you more often see on blades from this region.

Tim Simmons · 8th June 2005, 06:56 PM

It seems clear that the blade has come from some other weapon.I am still going with poor nomad people from around the NW frontier, like Rick said with similar carpet motifs,people like the Balouch among others.Tim

Andy Davis · 8th June 2005, 07:31 PM

Here a few more photos including the blade, which doesnt seem to have any damascus qualities.

Andy Davis · 8th June 2005, 07:36 PM

Sorry forgot the blade one and here the back of the grip. Did anyone notice that both peacock designs have 4 legs!
Cheers
Andy

fearn · 8th June 2005, 07:45 PM

Hi Andy,

Thanks for those extra pics. I'm not sure that those peacocks have four legs. Collectively, those "four legs" have the right number of toes for a normal peacock, so I think it was just the artist's attempt to show legs with width. Crude, but there you have it. I also think that there might be a head-on view of an elephant on the curve of the pommel (forehead and trunk).

Fearn

Tim Simmons · 8th June 2005, 08:03 PM

That does look like an elephant head which could indicate a more easterly origin in India or Nepal.It might be a form of Ram Dao if thats the right name.I know the knife Rsword is talking about, but this does not look as heavy as one of those, they have a knuckle duster as a knuckle bow.Tim

7th June 2005, 03:00 PM	#1
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Sword for ID on SFI Interesting sword. Anyone have any idea? http://forums.swordforum.com/showthr...055#post592055

7th June 2005, 05:35 PM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	This is a weird one. The handle almost reminds T'boli Kampilans, the handguard is North Indian and the blade..... Make your guess... The decorations are the answer Very intaeresting and very peculiar, but unquestionably a real weapon. Last edited by ariel; 7th June 2005 at 07:45 PM.

8th June 2005, 07:31 PM	#13
Andy Davis Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: England, Northumberland Posts: 85	More photos Here a few more photos including the blade, which doesnt seem to have any damascus qualities. Attached Images

8th June 2005, 07:36 PM	#14
Andy Davis Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: England, Northumberland Posts: 85	Missed two Sorry forgot the blade one and here the back of the grip. Did anyone notice that both peacock designs have 4 legs! Cheers Andy Attached Images

8th June 2005, 08:03 PM	#16
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	That does look like an elephant head which could indicate a more easterly origin in India or Nepal.It might be a form of Ram Dao if thats the right name.I know the knife Rsword is talking about, but this does not look as heavy as one of those, they have a knuckle duster as a knuckle bow.Tim Last edited by Tim Simmons; 8th June 2005 at 08:43 PM.

7th June 2005, 03:11 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	I would think the answer may lie in the decoration on the hilt and bolster . Good sharp close-ups of these areas would help immensely . Indo Persian , but which culture .

7th June 2005, 04:27 PM	#3
Aqtai Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Merseyside, UK Posts: 222	I would say Morrocan, the shape of the hilt is very similar to that of Morrocan swords. When I get home I'll try to find some pics for you.

7th June 2005, 05:36 PM	#5
Yannis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Athens Greece Posts: 479	I would say N. Africa. A custom made Nimcha for someone who wanted to be different and he could affort it.

7th June 2005, 06:04 PM	#6
Aqtai Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Merseyside, UK Posts: 222	Just got home and had a look. The hilt is a lot like a Morrocan nimcha hilt.

7th June 2005, 06:49 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	The grip does look N African but I am going to say, the knuckle bow looks a bit Indo/Persian like on a tuwar or somethig like that.The construction is also like Indo/Persian knives and Afghan in particular.What does it most for me is the Peacock ingraving ,an asian bird I believe.I will hazard a guess that it is Afghan or something from the old NW Frontier.Tim

7th June 2005, 07:46 PM	#8
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Is it just my impression, or is the blade slightly down-curved, yataghan-like? Sossun pattah blade?

7th June 2005, 09:01 PM	#9
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Could this be some sort of interpretation of a khyber knife? I realize that it's not the "right" shape, but it is in the right size range. Fearn

7th June 2005, 09:15 PM	#10
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	I don't think the decoration is N.African in style . That leaves Indo Persia and the NW frontier as Tim has said . Those look like architectural details behind the Peacock , those elements remind me of some N. persian rugs I have seen . Not to mention the Peacock Throne of Persia . I can see the Indian influence in the knuckle guard but the hilt is real oddball . Whatever it is I like it !!

7th June 2005, 11:28 PM	#11
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,083	When I first saw thing thing it sort of reminded me of some Naga swords from the Assam region. They have a sword with cast bronze or brass hilt with knucklebow and large chopper like blade. Although this example is different than the "typical" Naga sword that I am speaking, it isn't too far a stretch to be an unusual variant. I would love to see the blade up close on this example to see if it might be an Indian import and watered or if it had some of the more Tibetan-like watering you more often see on blades from this region.

8th June 2005, 06:56 PM	#12
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	It seems clear that the blade has come from some other weapon.I am still going with poor nomad people from around the NW frontier, like Rick said with similar carpet motifs,people like the Balouch among others.Tim

8th June 2005, 07:45 PM	#15
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi Andy, Thanks for those extra pics. I'm not sure that those peacocks have four legs. Collectively, those "four legs" have the right number of toes for a normal peacock, so I think it was just the artist's attempt to show legs with width. Crude, but there you have it. I also think that there might be a head-on view of an elephant on the curve of the pommel (forehead and trunk). Fearn