A new Nimcha for comment

Tatyana Dianova · 11th February 2025, 09:46 AM

This is a very nice sword from Zanzibar, 18-19 century.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21833

TVV · 11th February 2025, 05:48 PM

Tatyana is 100% correct, this is a sword from Zanzibar. Here is another thread you may want to look at for more info on these:

http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=28273

efrahjalt · 14th February 2025, 03:12 AM

Thank you for the links. Excellent references. I was not aware that that nimchas were also a style in Zanzibar. I fully expected this would be a sword from North Africa. Very interesting.

Jim McDougall · 14th February 2025, 04:18 PM

The so called 'nimcha' is an intriguing ethnographic sword form which has a wide swath in its variations, as discussed in the thread from several years ago linked by TVV.
Broadly these are Arab sa'if in that general parlance and as has been well pointed out by TVV in those discussions, there are still locally favored elements and features in these which can specify classification to certain areas. Zanzibar was clearly one such region.

The fact that these are Arab swords of course simply indicates these are known in the Arab populated spheres, which includes the North African Maghreb (Morocco and Algeria). The Zanzibar denominator arises from that place being key to trade from Arabia as it was a Sultanate of Oman, and that trade extended to Yemen.
The first indication to me personally that there was a Zanzibar variant was from Artzi Yarom (Oriental Arms) some 30 years ago pertaining to a number of these procured from Yemen in the 80s and which were attributed to Zanzibar, having these distinctive guard rings.

Charles Buttin (1933) shows numbers of these in groupings of these 'nimcha' (a term he does not use, only sa'if) and never specifies Zanzibar as a classification.

gp · 14th February 2025, 06:01 PM

looking into this , I stumbled upon this sword with accompanying text...adding to perhaps more confussion?

Jim McDougall · 14th February 2025, 08:57 PM

Excellent reference GP, what is it from?
As noted it cites Buttin (1933) and Robert Hales, who was a more current authority on these arms. By this time the nimcha term was circulating among collectors, among the countless 'collectors' terms that had become emblazoned on many weapon forms as classifications aligned often with certain areas.

The 'turtle' feature on the pommel cap which seems aligned with 'Zanzibar' types of the 'nimcha' was something brought to attention by Peter Hudson in posts here some years ago. It seems that stylized turtle element may be associated with local lore in Zanzibari culture which he noted in his research concerning the Omani Sultanate there. He had become familiar with the Omani aspects of Zanzibar in research while he was situated in Oman.

The blade on the original post example appears to be early 19th century European light cavalry saber (probably Solingen) which has the wide distal area with radius to 'hatchet' point. The 'nimcha' misnomer seems to have derived from unclear etymology presumed Arabic or Persian which means 'small sword' (loosely). I do not recall the details from Elgood's book of Arabian arms. Clearly the term does not properly apply to most of these which characteristically have full length sword blades, almost invariably from European trade blades.

VERY nice example in original post, and I personally like the dark, rugged look as is, and outstanding cavalry blade.

TVV · 14th February 2025, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Clearly the term does not properly apply to most of these which characteristically have full length sword blades, almost invariably from European trade blades.

Jim, I have a picture archive of 50+ of these swords, which I will continue to call Zanzibar nimchas to differentiate them from other Omani and East African swords that have different hilts. I am yet to see one with a blade that has European markings or even imitations thereof. In fact, the only markings I have seen are a Crescent with three stars and the so-called hourglass mark, both of which to my understanding are local or Indian. And this is true regardless of the blade type - curved or straight, single or double edged, fullers or no fullers - never a European mark.

Given the sample size, this cannot be ascribed entirely on coincidence, and is in stark contrast to kattaras and the straight cylindrical hilt swords from Oman and Omani East African possessions, which typically have multiple European (or imitation) marks and symbols.

Either the nimchas did not use European blades, but rather locally made ones or Indian imports, or they were left unmarked on purpose and/or the European marks erased.

Gunnar's reference is from Helgot, but from the sold items section so I believe it is in compliance with forum rules.

14th February 2025, 04:18 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,189	The so called 'nimcha' is an intriguing ethnographic sword form which has a wide swath in its variations, as discussed in the thread from several years ago linked by TVV. Broadly these are Arab sa'if in that general parlance and as has been well pointed out by TVV in those discussions, there are still locally favored elements and features in these which can specify classification to certain areas. Zanzibar was clearly one such region. The fact that these are Arab swords of course simply indicates these are known in the Arab populated spheres, which includes the North African Maghreb (Morocco and Algeria). The Zanzibar denominator arises from that place being key to trade from Arabia as it was a Sultanate of Oman, and that trade extended to Yemen. The first indication to me personally that there was a Zanzibar variant was from Artzi Yarom (Oriental Arms) some 30 years ago pertaining to a number of these procured from Yemen in the 80s and which were attributed to Zanzibar, having these distinctive guard rings. Charles Buttin (1933) shows numbers of these in groupings of these 'nimcha' (a term he does not use, only sa'if) and never specifies Zanzibar as a classification. Attached Images

14th February 2025, 06:01 PM	#5
gp Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 823	looking into this , I stumbled upon this sword with accompanying text...adding to perhaps more confussion? Attached Images

14th February 2025, 08:57 PM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,189	Excellent reference GP, what is it from? As noted it cites Buttin (1933) and Robert Hales, who was a more current authority on these arms. By this time the nimcha term was circulating among collectors, among the countless 'collectors' terms that had become emblazoned on many weapon forms as classifications aligned often with certain areas. The 'turtle' feature on the pommel cap which seems aligned with 'Zanzibar' types of the 'nimcha' was something brought to attention by Peter Hudson in posts here some years ago. It seems that stylized turtle element may be associated with local lore in Zanzibari culture which he noted in his research concerning the Omani Sultanate there. He had become familiar with the Omani aspects of Zanzibar in research while he was situated in Oman. The blade on the original post example appears to be early 19th century European light cavalry saber (probably Solingen) which has the wide distal area with radius to 'hatchet' point. The 'nimcha' misnomer seems to have derived from unclear etymology presumed Arabic or Persian which means 'small sword' (loosely). I do not recall the details from Elgood's book of Arabian arms. Clearly the term does not properly apply to most of these which characteristically have full length sword blades, almost invariably from European trade blades. VERY nice example in original post, and I personally like the dark, rugged look as is, and outstanding cavalry blade. Last edited by Jim McDougall; 14th February 2025 at 09:10 PM.

11th February 2025, 09:46 AM	#1
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 734	This is a very nice sword from Zanzibar, 18-19 century. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21833

11th February 2025, 05:48 PM	#2
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,660	Tatyana is 100% correct, this is a sword from Zanzibar. Here is another thread you may want to look at for more info on these: http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=28273

14th February 2025, 03:12 AM	#3
efrahjalt Member Join Date: Mar 2020 Posts: 58	Thank you for the links. Excellent references. I was not aware that that nimchas were also a style in Zanzibar. I fully expected this would be a sword from North Africa. Very interesting.