Zanzibar Saif, Should I restore?

[Gavin Nugent]

Lofty,

This thread may help a little;

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=buttin+saif

If anyone can offer you larger resolution of the Buttin collections or the image on page 79 of Tirri's work as a start, it might be helpful....and yes, they do have drags but typically no chape.

Gav

[A.alnakkas]

Thanks alot all!

Gav, I'll check my Tirri book (Only have 2 books anyways:PP) and see if I can get proper close ups of the fittings.

Judging from the ones you handled though, are the fittings thick? Would love it if someone posts some zooms on available examples.

Dom and Stu, sounds like a great idea imo but if you check the leather example you can see under it that there is the same carving so perhaps the wooden one was patinated later? no idea, but certainly a choice since anyways I have to make the fittings here.. Aleksey uses leather only :-(

Fearn, thanks alot for the advice I really appreciate it. Most likely I'll send this one with the newly made fittings to Aleksey so he can work on it, but will see.

Going to send a PM to Kurt so he may send me some zooms of the fittings on his BEAUTIFUL nimcha.

[Martin Lubojacky]

Hi Lotfy,
So now I know who was quicklier than me - I was also thinking about buying this nice sabre that time (to have a couple - see bellow). Congratulations !

Why there could not be just a wooden scabbard ? Maybe they used both wooden and leather covered ? The scabbard on my seif is very well patinated, and I am of the opinion - by frequent use. Also, why they would embelish it with engrawings/carvings if this would be covered by leather ?
Regards,
Martin

[A.alnakkas]

Thanks Martin! yours is a very nice one, I may contact you about it later on :P

What makes me think this one might be covered is that it has no patina on it and I think some scabbards covered with leather also have decoration, check the included picture.

But I dont mind not covering this one with leather.. less money wasted and more money for buying other stuff :P

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by A.alnakkas

Thanks Martin! yours is a very nice one, I may contact you about it later on :P

What makes me think this one might be covered is that it has no patina on it and I think some scabbards covered with leather also have decoration, check the included picture.

But I dont mind not covering this one with leather.. less money wasted and more money for buying other stuff :P

This is the pic I mentioned. I still believe that the scabbard appears to be lacquered wood. There is certainly a leather wrap where the hanger is but it does not appear to go further down the scabbard.
Stu