ARAB SWORD SAIF??

BerberDagger · 12th March 2008, 02:19 AM

hi,
I ve just bought this arab sword... I think it could be an arab saif ... but im not sure...what do you think?

Heandle is horn with silver , blade is little curved with silver scabbard.

thanks

ward · 12th March 2008, 03:01 AM

saif just means sword in arabic. This is a shamshir. blade is cut down silver on hilt decoration is new. that crossguard looks new and does not fit. pretty much it looks like a put together piece

BerberDagger · 12th March 2008, 03:24 AM

hi, thanks you...

but i think thant is not cut...it is long 90 cm ... is impossible that it was more longer...or not?

please see this saif sold on oriental arms ,blade is similar...

ward · 12th March 2008, 03:31 AM

look at the fullers on yours and how far they go to the tip of the blade compare to the pic of artzi's shamshir.

BerberDagger · 12th March 2008, 01:46 PM

yes, but blade is not curved like turkish or persian shamshir....

becouse you think that it is shamshir?

ALEX · 12th March 2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BerberDagger

... I think it could be an arab saif ... but im not sure...what do you think? Heandle is horn with silver , blade is little curved with silver scabbard.
thanks

Yes, it is definitely an Arab Saif. And I agree with Ward - based on crossguard and hilt assembly, it looks like it had been put together/repaired recently (not necessarily yesterday, but not too long ago:-)... and nothing wrong with it, as many swords are this way. The handle is old. My first guess was that it had been put together in Yemen (based on wire decoration on the scabbard). Since the blade is 90 cm long, I am not sure it was cut (90 cm is a long blade already). Ward, what do you think?

ward · 12th March 2008, 02:51 PM

The only reason I am saying it is cut is because of the fullers running all the way out to the tip. The length is correct. I think the original sections of this sword probaly date to around 1900-1920 the rest 1970-2008

BerberDagger · 13th March 2008, 06:58 PM

not other opinion abaut this sword?

please let me known

Dom · 13th March 2008, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BerberDagger

not other opinion abaut this sword?

I spent 6 years in KSA between Jeddah and Riyadh,
I was addicted to antiquities souks

but I never saw a decoration on the scabbard like that one

almost of arabic sword are composite,
I remember have seen, in Jeddah Yemenite souk, craftsmen manufacturing crossguard,
other forging blades,
and then you was able to assembly your favorite "saïf" as you like it

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6045

à +

Dom

S.Al-Anizi · 13th March 2008, 10:15 PM

Nice Saif mate!

As Don, said, i would also say ive never seen anything like this.....

The scabbard throat, chape, and the hilt and fittings are all in the Nejdi manner, a "Gurda"

the blade most probably European. Although the hilt has some strange "syrian" influence to it.

May I ask about the the scabbard material?? is it of woven wool?

12th March 2008, 02:19 AM	#1
BerberDagger Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 247	ARAB SWORD SAIF?? hi, I ve just bought this arab sword... I think it could be an arab saif ... but im not sure...what do you think? Heandle is horn with silver , blade is little curved with silver scabbard. thanks Attached Images

12th March 2008, 03:24 AM	#3
BerberDagger Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 247	hi, thanks you... but i think thant is not cut...it is long 90 cm ... is impossible that it was more longer...or not? please see this saif sold on oriental arms ,blade is similar... Attached Images

12th March 2008, 03:01 AM	#2
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	saif just means sword in arabic. This is a shamshir. blade is cut down silver on hilt decoration is new. that crossguard looks new and does not fit. pretty much it looks like a put together piece

12th March 2008, 03:31 AM	#4
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	look at the fullers on yours and how far they go to the tip of the blade compare to the pic of artzi's shamshir.

12th March 2008, 01:46 PM	#5
BerberDagger Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 247	yes, but blade is not curved like turkish or persian shamshir.... becouse you think that it is shamshir?

12th March 2008, 02:51 PM	#7
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	The only reason I am saying it is cut is because of the fullers running all the way out to the tip. The length is correct. I think the original sections of this sword probaly date to around 1900-1920 the rest 1970-2008

13th March 2008, 06:58 PM	#8
BerberDagger Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 247	not other opinion abaut this sword? please let me known

13th March 2008, 10:15 PM	#10
S.Al-Anizi Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Arabia Posts: 278	Nice Saif mate! As Don, said, i would also say ive never seen anything like this..... The scabbard throat, chape, and the hilt and fittings are all in the Nejdi manner, a "Gurda" the blade most probably European. Although the hilt has some strange "syrian" influence to it. May I ask about the the scabbard material?? is it of woven wool?