Interesting North African, Berber? swords

Iain · 15th January 2013, 06:14 PM

Hi Martin, thanks so much for the photo. The example in the Royal Armouries at Leeds is listed as Tunisian, but I guess this shows the style was a bit more widespread. Which makes sense.

Martin Lubojacky · 15th January 2013, 10:29 PM

Hi Iain, it is not so far from South Tunisia to Libian Tripoli. Also Berbers have been living on both sides of the border (using e.g. the same or similar jewelery design).

Andy Stevens · 16th January 2013, 02:14 PM

Martin, thankyou so much for the image, these are interesting swords and it's great to finally say for sure where they come from. Well done that man!

Kubur · 4th November 2016, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iain

Hi Martin, thanks so much for the photo. The example in the Royal Armouries at Leeds is listed as Tunisian, but I guess this shows the style was a bit more widespread. Which makes sense.

Royal armouries Leeds

ariel · 4th November 2016, 10:44 PM

Not so long ago Czerny's tried to sell one as a Tunisian.
Starting price was €1000 + 28% to the house. No bites.....

I also have one with (what I was told) 17-18 century European blade and original scabbard.

Kubur · 5th November 2016, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

I also have one with (what I was told) 17-18 century European blade and original scabbard.

Me too!

About Leeds sword
Did you notice that they cut off 1/3 of the blade? I think that it was a double edged sword with central fullers. They cut the blade to make it as a a single edged sabre with upper fullers as you can see on some Arabian swords or shashka...

Jim McDougall · 6th November 2016, 03:48 PM

Interesting observation on the Leeds sword. It does seem like the blade could have been reprofiled in that manner and curious that such dramatic stock removal and effort would be undertaken distinctly to achieve a sabre blade.
This speaks to the type of use that must have been preferred regionally in these areas suggesting the favor of sabre over broadsword, at least in some degree. Since in these areas the broadsword blades seen in takouba and kaskara predominated, this action suggests certain individual or limited preference although limited, did recognize influences from the west.
These are the kinds of anomalies in ethnographic weapons which are fascinating to include in investigations.

Kubur · 13th November 2016, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

I also have one with (what I was told) 17-18 century European blade and original scabbard.

Ariel if you show me yours, i will show you mine.
Mmmmm i was saying the same to the little girls when i was a little boy...

15th January 2013, 06:14 PM	#1
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	Hi Martin, thanks so much for the photo. The example in the Royal Armouries at Leeds is listed as Tunisian, but I guess this shows the style was a bit more widespread. Which makes sense.

15th January 2013, 10:29 PM	#2
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	Hi Iain, it is not so far from South Tunisia to Libian Tripoli. Also Berbers have been living on both sides of the border (using e.g. the same or similar jewelery design).

16th January 2013, 02:14 PM	#3
Andy Stevens Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London Posts: 155	Martin, thankyou so much for the image, these are interesting swords and it's great to finally say for sure where they come from. Well done that man!

4th November 2016, 10:44 PM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Not so long ago Czerny's tried to sell one as a Tunisian. Starting price was €1000 + 28% to the house. No bites..... I also have one with (what I was told) 17-18 century European blade and original scabbard.

6th November 2016, 03:48 PM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,191	Interesting observation on the Leeds sword. It does seem like the blade could have been reprofiled in that manner and curious that such dramatic stock removal and effort would be undertaken distinctly to achieve a sabre blade. This speaks to the type of use that must have been preferred regionally in these areas suggesting the favor of sabre over broadsword, at least in some degree. Since in these areas the broadsword blades seen in takouba and kaskara predominated, this action suggests certain individual or limited preference although limited, did recognize influences from the west. These are the kinds of anomalies in ethnographic weapons which are fascinating to include in investigations.