My first Nimcha

[Jim McDougall]

The reference from Eric Claude is outstanding, and I cannot believe I have failed to get that book! Teodor and I have had many great discussions on these over many years and his keen specialization on the nimcha have given me a greater understanding of the form(s) through those detailed discussions (see 'search' under nimcha to see these).

As he notes the blade does not have the more dramatic flare typical of the Algerian forms of blade often seen. It seems these types of blades date back to the 16th c. as does the 'nimcha' type hilt ("Arts of the Muslim Knight", Mohammed, #40; Elgood, "Arms & Armor of Arabia). A sultan of Tunis c. 1573 is shown with a nimcha, and one of the oldest examples known is c. 1532, from Oran, Algeria (in Met in N.Y.). ..when this was a haven for Turkish pirates.

The nimcha was used by the Black Guard of the Alawi Sultan of Morocco as well as the Odjak of Algiers, so clearly was in use in its numerous variations from Morocco, Algiers, as far as Tunis.........in Arabia in Yemen, as far as Zanzibar, via the Muscati trade routes to the Omani Sultanate there.

The D-ring form seems mostly aligned with Yemen and Zanzibar...though one example seen has a Star of Solomon on the blade, which suggests one of the Armenian importers in Harar (Ethiopia), reflecting the many sources for blades on these swords.

So this shows the often extant conflict of hilt features, not to mention blades on these.

On a more historical note, these hilts seem to derive from Italian forms of 16th century ("A Late Fifteenth Century Italian Sword" Anthony North, Connousseur, Dec. 1975) with similar guard system.
Also part of this influence comes the familiar 'hand nock' notch at the top of the grip, which seems the almost signature element noticeable in these Arab swords. This feature also transmitted to Spanish colonial sword types via their colonies in Morocco and trade in the Spanish Main.

First example pictured has the widened point mentioned in earlier nimchas, and from those from the Oran example, whose 16th c, form continued in these regions. This example remounted with karabela style hilt from Yemen, 19th c.

The next is a Spanish colonial full length sword with espada ancha type hilt, shell guard as popular in Americas in Spanish trade ports of call in Caribbean, hilt 18th c. (note hand nock of N.African infl.) with 19th c. blade.

Last is another Spanish colonial (these typically S. American) with early 19th c. British blade, hilt with shell guard and serpent quillon popular in eastern Mexico ports (again note hand nock).