Very Interesting Saif/Nimcha

[S.Al-Anizi]

Hi,

I just got these pics from a friend who would like to sell this sword. I thought I would show you the pics, just for sharing though. I would also like to know what you think. I think that the blade is european, locally etched. The marks on the blade are the most interesting thing about it. There are some amharic words on it, which would mean an ethiopian provenance, but we never knew that these swords were found in ethiopia (I think)?! There is also a star of david sign on the forte, which would mean that this sword belonged to a jew, which would be reasonable as there were many jews in ethiopia and Yemen. This could also be an Ethiopian blade remounted in Yemeni fittings.

[S.Al-Anizi]

A couple more:

[Lew]

The blade seems to be from an Ethiopian saber it may not be original to the hilt? The scabbard seems to be Ethiopian made also?

Lew

[David]

Originally Posted by S.Al-Anizi

There is also a star of david sign on the forte, which would mean that this sword belonged to a jew, which would be reasonable as there were many jews in ethiopia and Yemen.

It doesn't necessarily follow that this sword was owned by a Jewish person simply because the Seal of Solomon appears on it, especially if the sword does indeed come from Ethiopia. This is a symbol that is embraced by far more than the Jewish faith. Attached are the Seal of Solomon metal from the Ethiopian government. I don't believe the hexagram has anything to do with Judism in this case, especially since there is a cross at it's center. Also here is a link that shows the 6-pointed star on the U.S.marine sabre. Again, i do not think there is a link to Judism in this case. The link isn't direct. Click Symbols and Icons and then click the 3rd gray box to the right of that for the image:
http://www.marines.com/page/usmc.jsp...hRedirect=true

[RhysMichael]

I was under the impression that most of the saif with the ring on the hilt like this came from near Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar. So if this is from Ethiopia it would be an interesting find. I want to say I have seen similar markings on a gurade ( and Gurade is the amharic word for sword ) I will look and see if I can find it again.

Maybe Mark or Jim will chime in on this, in another place Mark stated this about ethiopian blades

There has been extensive trading for centuries across the Red Sea between Ethiopia & Eritrea (and the various small kingdoms that preceeded them), and the Arabian peninsula. The highland tribes of Ethiopia (such as the dominant Amhara, the Tigrinia and the Gurage) and coastal tribes such as the Danakil, the Afar and the Issa, are in fact Semitic peoples, indicating close ties with Arabia. It is not unlikely that a blade could make its way to the southern peninsula, perhaps via the port of Djibouti which is directly opposite, there to be re-fitted.

Isnt amharic also spoken in Eritrea ?

And I have been told there are Jambiya with Jewish blades so it would not be out of the realm of posibilities for there to be a Jewish blade in a saif

[Tim Simmons]

S.Al. Anizi, an interesting turn round in questions. The star/seal of Solomon is used by Christians as a symbol of right/justice and wisdom as far as I know. These two British military swords carry the symbol and I am sure there is absolutely nothing to do with Judaism. Solomon features in a great deal of Ethiopian art as the Ethiopians hold that Sheba hails from thier own land. I have an Ethiopia painting depicting Solomon and Sheba doing some sort of biblical thing.

[Lew]

Originally Posted by RhysMichael

And I have been told there are Jambiya with Jewish blades so it would not be out of the realm of posibilities for there to be a Jewish blade in a saif

RhysMichael

Can you be more specific. What are Jewish blades



The story that I have heard from my Yeman friends is that most of the better silver work seen on the higher quality jambiya and swords were done by Jewish silversmiths dating back to the last century 1800-1950. I have not heard of any Jewish bladesmiths making swords or daggers in that part of the world.

Lew

[RhysMichael]

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

RhysMichael

Can you be more specific. What are Jewish blades



The story that I have heard from my Yeman friends is that most of the better silver work seen on the higher quality jambiya and swords were done by Jewish silversmiths dating back to the last century 1800-1950. I have not heard of any Jewish bladesmiths making swords or daggers in that part of the world.

Lew

Lew it took me a while to remember where I had read it and I interpreted to be the blade but maybe it was meant to speak of the silver work. The exact quote was from Manoucher

Many antique Jambiyas or Jan' biyyah used to be made by Jewish smiths.These blades have better quality than the other ones. Please note that many Jambiyas do not have quality blades, but the workmanship which goes into the grip and sheath is excellent.

When I see smith I assume blade, it could be my bad

[S.Al-Anizi]

Thanks for the replies, Louie, David, Rhys, and Tim. I must confess, I never really knew what the hexagram really stood for in any of the three faiths, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, which they all used throughout history. I must also admit, that I know very little about Ethiopian ethnicity, culture, and symbols, which are one of the most interesting in the world. Thanks for the link and pointing that out David, very interesting to see a hexagram with a cross in the middle of it.

This blade is most probably European, made for the Ethiopian army, but found itself in Zanzibar or Yemen. I have seen many hexagrams on european sabre blades, especially wilkinson's, but never really understood what they stood for

As to Yemeni jews, they probably only worked in silver, their work being referred to as "ibri" by arabs, which means hebrew, and regarded as the best.

[Jeff D]

Originally Posted by S.Al-Anizi

found itself in Zanzibar or Yemen. I have seen many hexagrams on european sabre blades, especially Wilkinson's, but never really understood what they stood for

Hi Saqr,

The Wilkinson sword company started with the brass proof mark as a way of marking that their blades were superior. Other companies soon copied this practice. So Wilkinson started placing the hexagrams around their proof marks to differentiate themselves.That also was eventially copied.

Jeff