Item for comments

tom hyle · 1st March 2005, 03:11 AM

I think the hilt is embossed/repouseed sheet iron, with perhaps traces of old silvering. The edge is visibly sharp with a humped bevel in the edge-on photo. My leaning at the moment is Persian 19thc Qajar revival thingy. Is that not writing on the blade?

Andrew · 1st March 2005, 03:23 AM

That certainly looks like Arabic script on the blade to me, Tom. The portion closest to the tip, anyway.

Tim, I'm not certain as to the prevalence of pewter use in SEA, but I have a Thai darb with pewter mounts.

Jim McDougall · 1st March 2005, 03:42 AM

I would definitely concur that this intriguing item would most likely have been found in a bazaar somewhere in 20th c. North Africa, probably Morocco. While entirely decorative, it reflects a number of influences, mostly Ottoman.
The 'koummya' type pommel, which is believed actually to have evolved from the Italian 'cinqueda' from the early trade of Venice into North African ports.
The recurved blade reflects yataghan influence, the upturned point -Algerian littoral- and the profiled back the Ottoman 'kilic'. The pronounced block at the forte corresponds with similar design on some Berber scabbards, on those curious Berber sabres with profiled blade point.

Best regards,
Jim

Conogre · 1st March 2005, 06:14 AM

By the way, the one comment I didn't make before?
Very nice find and I LIKE it!!!!
Well done!
Mike

Mans · 1st March 2005, 10:20 AM

I don't know anything about this piece.

But I can read the arabic scipt in this blade..., "MARAKAS" , perhaps like Marrocco or Marakesh ?

Good steel and very nice pice, I think.

Regards,
Mans.

tom hyle · 1st March 2005, 01:28 PM

khoumiya pommels strike me as being related to ancient and medieval "eared" daggers and swords.
Examining the dents on the handle will tell you the material is a thin sheet backed with something mushable (pitch? soft wood?), and that it is a harder metal than pewter, which would likely be quite scarred from whatever caused such dents.

1st March 2005, 10:20 AM	#5
Mans Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: East Java Posts: 137	Nice piece I don't know anything about this piece. But I can read the arabic scipt in this blade..., "MARAKAS" , perhaps like Marrocco or Marakesh ? Good steel and very nice pice, I think. Regards, Mans.

1st March 2005, 03:11 AM	#1
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	I think the hilt is embossed/repouseed sheet iron, with perhaps traces of old silvering. The edge is visibly sharp with a humped bevel in the edge-on photo. My leaning at the moment is Persian 19thc Qajar revival thingy. Is that not writing on the blade?

1st March 2005, 03:23 AM	#2
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	That certainly looks like Arabic script on the blade to me, Tom. The portion closest to the tip, anyway. Tim, I'm not certain as to the prevalence of pewter use in SEA, but I have a Thai darb with pewter mounts.

1st March 2005, 03:42 AM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,654	I would definitely concur that this intriguing item would most likely have been found in a bazaar somewhere in 20th c. North Africa, probably Morocco. While entirely decorative, it reflects a number of influences, mostly Ottoman. The 'koummya' type pommel, which is believed actually to have evolved from the Italian 'cinqueda' from the early trade of Venice into North African ports. The recurved blade reflects yataghan influence, the upturned point -Algerian littoral- and the profiled back the Ottoman 'kilic'. The pronounced block at the forte corresponds with similar design on some Berber scabbards, on those curious Berber sabres with profiled blade point. Best regards, Jim

1st March 2005, 06:14 AM	#4
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	By the way, the one comment I didn't make before? Very nice find and I LIKE it!!!! Well done! Mike

1st March 2005, 01:28 PM	#6
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	khoumiya pommels strike me as being related to ancient and medieval "eared" daggers and swords. Examining the dents on the handle will tell you the material is a thin sheet backed with something mushable (pitch? soft wood?), and that it is a harder metal than pewter, which would likely be quite scarred from whatever caused such dents.