Wierd Aluminium Hilted Sabre. Any Info?

laEspadaAncha · 2nd October 2012, 08:15 PM

The hilt and in particular the pommel recall a flyssa to me - Maghreb, maybe Kabyle or an overlapping area of Algeria or Eastern Morocco?

I know the langlet, knucklebow, and use of aluminum are hardly typical, but what about this sword is typical? The scabbard definitely looks African IMO.

A.alnakkas · 2nd October 2012, 08:39 PM

Hey mate,

The scabbard does look African yeah. I doubt its Moroccan, didnt they use leather on wood for their scabbards? this is a full leather scabbard.

Dom · 2nd October 2012, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.alnakkas

The scabbard does look African yeah. I doubt its Moroccan, didnt they use leather on wood for their scabbards? this is a full leather scabbard.

My Bro. your doubts are justified

either from Morocco, or Kabylia, I never saw some sword looks like this one

employs aluminum would think, recycling of ?? that's the question pending

à +

Dom

VANDOO · 2nd October 2012, 09:44 PM

IT DON'T LOOK LIKE MUCH TODAY BUT DURING THE TIME OF NAPOLEAN THAT HANDLE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PRECIOUS THAN A SOLID GOLD ONE.

PROBABLY NOT THAT OLD LIKELY OF WW2 VINTAGE BUT PERHAPS SOME ONE IN AFRICA STILL THOUGHT IT A PRESTIGEOUS METAL AS IT WAS LIKELY RARE IN PARTS OF AFRICA EVEN THEN. DOES THE HANDLE APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN CAST OR JUST PIECED TOGETHER FROM BITS OF SOMETHING ELSE? VERY INTERESTING

spiral · 2nd October 2012, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VANDOO

DOES THE HANDLE APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN CAST OR JUST PIECED TOGETHER FROM BITS OF SOMETHING ELSE? VERY INTERESTING

The grip is definaly cast....

Whether Aluminium, zinc or pot metal is hard to say, without bieng in hand or weighing the balance....

Spiral

Jim McDougall · 2nd October 2012, 11:40 PM

Ar first glance this seemed Bedouin, but then I recalled images of these kinds of hilts, typically cast brass, on sabres in use in West Africa. If I recall correctly one was held by a warrior in I believe Sierra Leone involved in insurgence in those regions in 1980s (somewhere there is a photo from a magazine cover).
Unsure of what this metal is but looks aluminum alloy, the blade is probably surplus military from colonial sources in French regions.

Edster · 3rd October 2012, 02:41 AM

I have a single edge Rashayda sword with a cast one-piece grip that looks to be aluminum. Has a similar guard, but isn't of any "ethnic" design. Blade is sort of thick and not a fine steel. Similar scabbard. Got in Kassala.

2nd October 2012, 08:15 PM	#1
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	The hilt and in particular the pommel recall a flyssa to me - Maghreb, maybe Kabyle or an overlapping area of Algeria or Eastern Morocco? I know the langlet, knucklebow, and use of aluminum are hardly typical, but what about this sword is typical? The scabbard definitely looks African IMO.

2nd October 2012, 08:39 PM	#2
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	Hey mate, The scabbard does look African yeah. I doubt its Moroccan, didnt they use leather on wood for their scabbards? this is a full leather scabbard.

2nd October 2012, 09:44 PM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	IT DON'T LOOK LIKE MUCH TODAY BUT DURING THE TIME OF NAPOLEAN THAT HANDLE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PRECIOUS THAN A SOLID GOLD ONE. PROBABLY NOT THAT OLD LIKELY OF WW2 VINTAGE BUT PERHAPS SOME ONE IN AFRICA STILL THOUGHT IT A PRESTIGEOUS METAL AS IT WAS LIKELY RARE IN PARTS OF AFRICA EVEN THEN. DOES THE HANDLE APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN CAST OR JUST PIECED TOGETHER FROM BITS OF SOMETHING ELSE? VERY INTERESTING

2nd October 2012, 11:40 PM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,486	Ar first glance this seemed Bedouin, but then I recalled images of these kinds of hilts, typically cast brass, on sabres in use in West Africa. If I recall correctly one was held by a warrior in I believe Sierra Leone involved in insurgence in those regions in 1980s (somewhere there is a photo from a magazine cover). Unsure of what this metal is but looks aluminum alloy, the blade is probably surplus military from colonial sources in French regions.

3rd October 2012, 02:41 AM	#7
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 422	I have a single edge Rashayda sword with a cast one-piece grip that looks to be aluminum. Has a similar guard, but isn't of any "ethnic" design. Blade is sort of thick and not a fine steel. Similar scabbard. Got in Kassala.