ID THIS SWORD

carlos · 4th January 2005, 08:00 PM

I HAVE THIS SWORD FOR 4 YEARS AND I DON´T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT.I THINK IT´S NORTHAFRICAN BUT I´M NOT SURE.CAN ANYBODY HELP ME?
THANKS.
I POST PHOTOS TO LEE

Lee · 5th January 2005, 12:33 PM

Images received from Carlos

ariel · 5th January 2005, 08:52 PM

A very cool one. The handle/crossguard indeed remind me of a Moroccan Nimcha but the crossguard is not typical. I've seen similar cross/handguards on the Bedouin swords (Sinai/Negev/Transjordan) and even their decoration was very much alike. But... they have a "shashka" type handle. The shortish blade that is widening toward the end is Arabian/Yemeni in character, what one sees in real "nimchas" (kind of cutlass-type sword). I think it would be safe to say that it is from the Arabian Peninsula. Just to be "academically precise" let's just call it a Saif.
Love it!

RSWORD · 5th January 2005, 11:39 PM

I agree with Ariel. The designs crudely chiseled on the cross guard is similar to ones found on Saif attributed to Zanzibar.

4th January 2005, 08:00 PM	#1
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 737	ID THIS SWORD I HAVE THIS SWORD FOR 4 YEARS AND I DON´T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT.I THINK IT´S NORTHAFRICAN BUT I´M NOT SURE.CAN ANYBODY HELP ME? THANKS. I POST PHOTOS TO LEE

5th January 2005, 12:33 PM	#2
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 914	Images received from Carlos Attached Images

5th January 2005, 08:52 PM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	A very cool one. The handle/crossguard indeed remind me of a Moroccan Nimcha but the crossguard is not typical. I've seen similar cross/handguards on the Bedouin swords (Sinai/Negev/Transjordan) and even their decoration was very much alike. But... they have a "shashka" type handle. The shortish blade that is widening toward the end is Arabian/Yemeni in character, what one sees in real "nimchas" (kind of cutlass-type sword). I think it would be safe to say that it is from the Arabian Peninsula. Just to be "academically precise" let's just call it a Saif. Love it!

5th January 2005, 11:39 PM	#4
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,083	I agree with Ariel. The designs crudely chiseled on the cross guard is similar to ones found on Saif attributed to Zanzibar.