Identifying this sword ? (please take a look)

Hrthuma ibn Marwan · 28th October 2006, 06:05 PM

Hello fellas

Well I have just aquired this sword from an antique dealer. Unfortunately he doesnt know anything about the date, but he says that it is an Afghan sword, and called it a "Khajar", "khazar" or something similar

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone here can help. If anything is not clear, please tell me

The sword:

1)

2)

3)

Thanks in advance.

katana · 28th October 2006, 06:28 PM

Almost certainly a 'Nimcha' ...possibly Moroccan ....looks like a good functional example.
I suggest you use the search this forum facillity (on the Ethnographic Weapons page with Nimcha ....
All the best...

Lew · 28th October 2006, 06:31 PM

A nimcha it is!

Lew

S.Al-Anizi · 28th October 2006, 08:43 PM

Hello Hurthuma, I had one of those recently! These seem to be newly made swords, coming out of yemen. I 'dissected' my piece and sacrificed it to learn more about it. Unfortunately, it wasnt well made. The tang, although peened, is very thin, a rat-tail type construction. The blade also seems to be very brittle, and chips easily.

Hrthuma ibn Marwan · 28th October 2006, 09:07 PM

Ahh I have seen a nimcha, and well they look kind of the same, but not exactly the same. Interesting.. hmm..

S.Al-Anizi, you have the same type of sword?? from Yemen? interesting.. what can you say more my friend? p.s, I have seen your topic about the sword(yemeni?). It looks pretty similar

I appreciate your replies

S.Al-Anizi · 28th October 2006, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hrthuma ibn Marwan

Ahh I have seen a nimcha, and well they look kind of the same, but not exactly the same. Interesting.. hmm..

S.Al-Anizi, you have the same type of sword?? from Yemen? interesting.. what can you say more my friend? p.s, I have seen your topic about the sword(yemeni?). It looks pretty similar

I appreciate your replies

All I could say that this style of sword apparently was common in southern arabia, on the western half. Most specialist say that these swords were made either in Yemen, or Zanzibar, or perhaps both places. Many sport european, particulary German blades. It is however nice to such a tradition still alive 'over there'.

Oriental-Arms · 28th October 2006, 10:24 PM

Unfortunately it is not a Nimcha, but only similar in the handle shape. This sword is coming from Yemen, one of the many types known as Saif and it is believed to be produced in the island of Zanzibar in the 19th C. The ring shape cross guard is typical to these swords produced in Zanzibar for the Arab market. Below is a similar exemplar:

and a close up on the handle with the ring shaped cross guard:

For a somewhat better specimen please see:Arab Saif Yemen / Zanzibar

28th October 2006, 06:05 PM	#1
Hrthuma ibn Marwan Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: in my study Posts: 18	Identifying this sword ? (please take a look) Hello fellas Well I have just aquired this sword from an antique dealer. Unfortunately he doesnt know anything about the date, but he says that it is an Afghan sword, and called it a "Khajar", "khazar" or something similar Anyway, I was wondering if anyone here can help. If anything is not clear, please tell me The sword: 1) 2) 3) Thanks in advance.

28th October 2006, 09:07 PM	#5
Hrthuma ibn Marwan Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: in my study Posts: 18	Ahh I have seen a nimcha, and well they look kind of the same, but not exactly the same. Interesting.. hmm.. S.Al-Anizi, you have the same type of sword?? from Yemen? interesting.. what can you say more my friend? p.s, I have seen your topic about the sword(yemeni?). It looks pretty similar I appreciate your replies Last edited by Hrthuma ibn Marwan; 28th October 2006 at 09:34 PM.

28th October 2006, 10:24 PM	#7
Oriental-Arms Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Haifa, Israel Posts: 183	Yemeni / Zanzibar sword Unfortunately it is not a Nimcha, but only similar in the handle shape. This sword is coming from Yemen, one of the many types known as Saif and it is believed to be produced in the island of Zanzibar in the 19th C. The ring shape cross guard is typical to these swords produced in Zanzibar for the Arab market. Below is a similar exemplar: and a close up on the handle with the ring shaped cross guard: For a somewhat better specimen please see:Arab Saif Yemen / Zanzibar

28th October 2006, 06:28 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Almost certainly a 'Nimcha' ...possibly Moroccan ....looks like a good functional example. I suggest you use the search this forum facillity (on the Ethnographic Weapons page with Nimcha .... All the best...

28th October 2006, 06:31 PM	#3
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	A nimcha it is! Lew

28th October 2006, 08:43 PM	#4
S.Al-Anizi Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Arabia Posts: 278	Hello Hurthuma, I had one of those recently! These seem to be newly made swords, coming out of yemen. I 'dissected' my piece and sacrificed it to learn more about it. Unfortunately, it wasnt well made. The tang, although peened, is very thin, a rat-tail type construction. The blade also seems to be very brittle, and chips easily.