THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MOROCCAN AND A ZANZIBARI NIMCHA.

Jim McDougall · 8th May 2022, 05:54 AM

Wanted to add these three with notes:
1. This is what may best be called 'Maghrebi' as these are found from Algeria to Morocco, but typically they are known to collectors as Moroccan sa'if.
The mark at the forte is located in the same place as typically these are found on Algerian examples (Briggs, 1965). There are varied marks but significance unclear.
2. This is the so called 'Zanzibar' form, which term seems to have developed in the 80s and possibly from numbers of these which were apparently sent into Yemen from there. This was one of about 40 discovered in a Yemeni arsenal (?).
The markings of three crosses on the blade may be interpretations of German blade markings.As previously noted, Buttin (1933) makes no notice of these being peculiar to Zanzibar and terms them Arab sa'if only.

3. A sa'if of 19th c.(possibly earlier) Hadhramaut, according to Elgood and Lebedynsky, which may have silverwork from Hyderabad. There appear to be two hilt forms, the one with canted pommel and hand nock, and this more karabela form. Hadhramaut is of course a Yemeni region.

The pages are from Elgood ("Arms and Armor of Arabia" 1994) and Buttin, collection catalog 1933.

8th May 2022, 05:54 AM	#20
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,815	Comparitive examples Wanted to add these three with notes: 1. This is what may best be called 'Maghrebi' as these are found from Algeria to Morocco, but typically they are known to collectors as Moroccan sa'if. The mark at the forte is located in the same place as typically these are found on Algerian examples (Briggs, 1965). There are varied marks but significance unclear. 2. This is the so called 'Zanzibar' form, which term seems to have developed in the 80s and possibly from numbers of these which were apparently sent into Yemen from there. This was one of about 40 discovered in a Yemeni arsenal (?). The markings of three crosses on the blade may be interpretations of German blade markings.As previously noted, Buttin (1933) makes no notice of these being peculiar to Zanzibar and terms them Arab sa'if only. 3. A sa'if of 19th c.(possibly earlier) Hadhramaut, according to Elgood and Lebedynsky, which may have silverwork from Hyderabad. There appear to be two hilt forms, the one with canted pommel and hand nock, and this more karabela form. Hadhramaut is of course a Yemeni region. The pages are from Elgood ("Arms and Armor of Arabia" 1994) and Buttin, collection catalog 1933. Attached Images