Maker's Mark ID Requested

G. Mansfield · 11th March 2025, 10:51 PM

Rob, regarding koummya blades, it is often difficult to know if the blades are Moroccan or European as there is such a vast variety in style, quality, and stampings. I have seen ones marked with blades from London, Toledo, Coller Agader, the Seal of Solomun, the double eyelashes, crosses, horsemen, ect. Some of these stamps can be of European origin, while others can be copied and stamped into Moroccan blades in replication of earlier European stamps (Like nimcha stamps of early Italian and German trade swords). Others probably purely Moroccan. I really can’t tell, but the variety of stamps are interesting to say the least and not a whole lot of information regarding them.

Jim, thank you for your kind words, as always. The collection kept growing and it was a way to help share some of the examples rather than being hidden away. The 2020 book, “The Small Catalog of Moroccan and Algerian Edged Weapons” by Eric Claude is a good reference for North African weapons, including a large section on the koummya. Unfortunately, there is not a detailed description of these style of makers marks. In the book, Claude classifies multiple variations of hilt type, such as the gendarme hat, peacock tail, hanzer, and s’bula (Photo Attached). This is where the “hanzer” type is associated to that you ask about. I am unsure if this is the “formal” terminology, but it is certainly used by collectors and popularized today describing koummya hilt variations. The hilt material usually consists of wood, bovine horn, rhino, bone, and ivory sometimes adorned with brass, silver, gold, filigree, stones and enamel….probably associated with the owners wealth and status. I do not know of the significance of camel bone. The boar tusk shape that you mention is a reference to the “Lion Claw” or “Boars Tooth.” Claude states that those types were carried by the “makhzen” (dignitaries close to the black guard of the Sultan of Morocco. The black guard was founded by Yusuf Ibn Tashfin in 1088 and reorganized by Mouley Ismail at the end of the 17th century and continues to this day. The blades have a much stronger curvature compared to the standard koummya. Attached are photos of a lion claw example from the collection and another koummya in a more moderate decoration but showing the “crusader cross” stamp. Again, I am unsure of the makers mark here too. There are a few posts on this forum referencing the cross motif as the Cross of Saint James or Santiago and another related to the Moroccan figure Raisuni.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...an+sword+james

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=koummiya

https://www.the-mansfield-collection...aw-koummya-432

Jim McDougall · 12th March 2025, 04:30 PM

Geoffrey, thank you SO much for posting this valuable information! and again, your photography is fantastic. Your adding to all these links to pertinent threads from years ago has given me the chance to retrace so many discussions long forgotten that had valuable information.
It was quite a 'rabbit hole' !!

but what amazing things were found.

As you say, there is not a great deal on these weapons, but the book you recommended by Eric Claude seems remarkable......I tried in vain to find a copy.....expensive but essential for anyone serious on this subject matter. '
Still , the information you have shared and what I found in the progression of threads has provided a fairly sound reference base. Most of the examples I found cited the pages in Eric Claude referred to.

Something I found in the threads regarding the crosses found as markings on some of the koummya seems important.

In the Berber tribal culture, it would seem that as noted Spanish symbology would be present in their use. In the Nasrid weaponry and material culture there are various uses of crosses in various configurations (a later example is the Cross of Santiago) and in cases aligned with the Islamic eight point star.

During the time of the Sharif,the Raissouli, in the early 20th c. it seems that there was notable alignment of course with the Islamic heritage of Spain, and specifically the sword of Boabdil, which had four crosses surrounding the Eight Point Star. It would seem the crosses seen on the groupings (or singular) marks seen on these koummya blades.

During the 'Rif Wars' (1921-1926) Raissouli aligned with Spanish forces as I understand, suggesting perhaps the Spanish element mentioned.

Could these crosses, more flourished than the simple crosses on the Boabdil sword hilt, be marks of key symbolism to the Berber clans under Raisouli?

Ian · 15th March 2025, 02:26 AM

Geoffrey and Jim,

Thank you for coming in on this one. I am pleased to see that moving Rob's post to the Euro Forum has generated such good feedback for his topic.

Regards, Ian.

kronckew · 24th March 2025, 07:36 AM

Mulai er Raisuli was somewhat oddly portrayed by Sean Connery, Scots accent and all, in the film "The Wind and the Lion", one of my favourite movies tho. Lots of swords, cavalry charges, gun battles, etc. The US Marines in Morocco was especially cool.

Photo of the Raisuli in later years along with a photo of Sean from the movie.

11th March 2025, 10:51 PM	#1
G. Mansfield Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Colorado Posts: 91	Rob, regarding koummya blades, it is often difficult to know if the blades are Moroccan or European as there is such a vast variety in style, quality, and stampings. I have seen ones marked with blades from London, Toledo, Coller Agader, the Seal of Solomun, the double eyelashes, crosses, horsemen, ect. Some of these stamps can be of European origin, while others can be copied and stamped into Moroccan blades in replication of earlier European stamps (Like nimcha stamps of early Italian and German trade swords). Others probably purely Moroccan. I really can’t tell, but the variety of stamps are interesting to say the least and not a whole lot of information regarding them. Jim, thank you for your kind words, as always. The collection kept growing and it was a way to help share some of the examples rather than being hidden away. The 2020 book, “The Small Catalog of Moroccan and Algerian Edged Weapons” by Eric Claude is a good reference for North African weapons, including a large section on the koummya. Unfortunately, there is not a detailed description of these style of makers marks. In the book, Claude classifies multiple variations of hilt type, such as the gendarme hat, peacock tail, hanzer, and s’bula (Photo Attached). This is where the “hanzer” type is associated to that you ask about. I am unsure if this is the “formal” terminology, but it is certainly used by collectors and popularized today describing koummya hilt variations. The hilt material usually consists of wood, bovine horn, rhino, bone, and ivory sometimes adorned with brass, silver, gold, filigree, stones and enamel….probably associated with the owners wealth and status. I do not know of the significance of camel bone. The boar tusk shape that you mention is a reference to the “Lion Claw” or “Boars Tooth.” Claude states that those types were carried by the “makhzen” (dignitaries close to the black guard of the Sultan of Morocco. The black guard was founded by Yusuf Ibn Tashfin in 1088 and reorganized by Mouley Ismail at the end of the 17th century and continues to this day. The blades have a much stronger curvature compared to the standard koummya. Attached are photos of a lion claw example from the collection and another koummya in a more moderate decoration but showing the “crusader cross” stamp. Again, I am unsure of the makers mark here too. There are a few posts on this forum referencing the cross motif as the Cross of Saint James or Santiago and another related to the Moroccan figure Raisuni. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...an+sword+james http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=koummiya https://www.the-mansfield-collection...aw-koummya-432 Attached Images

12th March 2025, 04:30 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,189	Geoffrey, thank you SO much for posting this valuable information! and again, your photography is fantastic. Your adding to all these links to pertinent threads from years ago has given me the chance to retrace so many discussions long forgotten that had valuable information. It was quite a 'rabbit hole' !! but what amazing things were found. As you say, there is not a great deal on these weapons, but the book you recommended by Eric Claude seems remarkable......I tried in vain to find a copy.....expensive but essential for anyone serious on this subject matter. ' Still , the information you have shared and what I found in the progression of threads has provided a fairly sound reference base. Most of the examples I found cited the pages in Eric Claude referred to. Something I found in the threads regarding the crosses found as markings on some of the koummya seems important. In the Berber tribal culture, it would seem that as noted Spanish symbology would be present in their use. In the Nasrid weaponry and material culture there are various uses of crosses in various configurations (a later example is the Cross of Santiago) and in cases aligned with the Islamic eight point star. During the time of the Sharif,the Raissouli, in the early 20th c. it seems that there was notable alignment of course with the Islamic heritage of Spain, and specifically the sword of Boabdil, which had four crosses surrounding the Eight Point Star. It would seem the crosses seen on the groupings (or singular) marks seen on these koummya blades. During the 'Rif Wars' (1921-1926) Raissouli aligned with Spanish forces as I understand, suggesting perhaps the Spanish element mentioned. Could these crosses, more flourished than the simple crosses on the Boabdil sword hilt, be marks of key symbolism to the Berber clans under Raisouli? Attached Images

24th March 2025, 07:36 AM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	Mulai er Raisuli was somewhat oddly portrayed by Sean Connery, Scots accent and all, in the film "The Wind and the Lion", one of my favourite movies tho. Lots of swords, cavalry charges, gun battles, etc. The US Marines in Morocco was especially cool. Photo of the Raisuli in later years along with a photo of Sean from the movie. Attached Images

15th March 2025, 02:26 AM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,360	Geoffrey and Jim, Thank you for coming in on this one. I am pleased to see that moving Rob's post to the Euro Forum has generated such good feedback for his topic. Regards, Ian.