strange african short sword??

mjamerks · 23rd July 2010, 08:34 PM

I hereby post pics of a short sword,on request by Ariel,who spotted it on my wall picture of the Moukhala.
I bought it once together with an old Nimcha from a old french guy,that had it in his family long time,this family used to live in the former french colonies in Africa.

The hilt is in the shape of a snake,and the blade is of the Storta form.

This sword was used as you can see.

I believe it is North-african with a possible european trade blade???

Never did put much attention to it,but I guess this is the place to put.
Overall length: 61.5 cm
Wide Base blade: 2.5 cm
Thickness blade base: 0.5 cm
Point widest: 3.3 cm
Thickness point less then 1.5 mm

If more info is needed,let me know.

Martin Merks

ariel · 23rd July 2010, 10:38 PM

Thanks for posting it!

Doesn't it look like a a real naval Nimcha: the blade is likely oriental, short, widening toward the point. The handle is shamshir-like with 2 drooping quillons ( a la Algiers ).
It may, of course, be my fantasy, or the sword was assempled long ago from different parts, but the reference to North Afrika is enticing...
Another day, another mystery...

ariel · 23rd July 2010, 10:48 PM

double posting

Atlantia · 23rd July 2010, 11:38 PM

We've seen this sword before haven't we?
Wasn't it discussed a little while back?

ariel · 23rd July 2010, 11:49 PM

Come to think of it.....

Jim McDougall · 24th July 2010, 04:38 AM

To me it looks indeed like a Meditteranean naval sabre, but more of the type seen in Elgood ("Arms and Armour of Arabia") in the first photos in the sword chapter. The double fullers are very much the same, but rather than being the distally wide tip, this has the curious clipped point.

We know many of these blades were European on nimchas, what about this one?

Here are photos of similar examples Ariel posted in May, which give some great perspective of these maritime style sabres. Maybe we can pick up the discussion where we left off.

Gavin Nugent · 24th July 2010, 04:55 AM

Welcome Martin,

Nice to see some new and unusual variety in the forum.

I am curious about the hilt on this piece, what material is it? It looks to be iron? To me it is Naval and of North African origins and despite the terrible condition of the blade, it is something I would love to have in hand for further study.

Gav

Henk · 24th July 2010, 11:49 AM

Just like Atlantia I had the same idea we saw this sword before.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=snake
It was brought up by Luc Lefebvre. But the discussion ended quite early.
Maybe some new ideas will be brought up in this post?

fernando · 24th July 2010, 03:24 PM

Interesting piece !
So it wasn't Martin, but the previous owner, who asked Luc to post it here for ID?

Luc LEFEBVRE · 24th July 2010, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Interesting piece !
So it wasn't Martin, but the previous owner, who asked Luc to post it here for ID?

Yes he asked me for ID.

23rd July 2010, 08:34 PM	#1
mjamerks Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: netherlands Posts: 108	strange african short sword?? I hereby post pics of a short sword,on request by Ariel,who spotted it on my wall picture of the Moukhala. I bought it once together with an old Nimcha from a old french guy,that had it in his family long time,this family used to live in the former french colonies in Africa. The hilt is in the shape of a snake,and the blade is of the Storta form. This sword was used as you can see. I believe it is North-african with a possible european trade blade??? Never did put much attention to it,but I guess this is the place to put. Overall length: 61.5 cm Wide Base blade: 2.5 cm Thickness blade base: 0.5 cm Point widest: 3.3 cm Thickness point less then 1.5 mm If more info is needed,let me know. Martin Merks Attached Images

23rd July 2010, 10:48 PM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	double posting Last edited by ariel; 24th July 2010 at 02:40 AM.

24th July 2010, 04:38 AM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,943	To me it looks indeed like a Meditteranean naval sabre, but more of the type seen in Elgood ("Arms and Armour of Arabia") in the first photos in the sword chapter. The double fullers are very much the same, but rather than being the distally wide tip, this has the curious clipped point. We know many of these blades were European on nimchas, what about this one? Here are photos of similar examples Ariel posted in May, which give some great perspective of these maritime style sabres. Maybe we can pick up the discussion where we left off. Attached Images

24th July 2010, 04:55 AM	#7
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Interesting piece Welcome Martin, Nice to see some new and unusual variety in the forum. I am curious about the hilt on this piece, what material is it? It looks to be iron? To me it is Naval and of North African origins and despite the terrible condition of the blade, it is something I would love to have in hand for further study. Gav

23rd July 2010, 10:38 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Thanks for posting it! Doesn't it look like a a real naval Nimcha: the blade is likely oriental, short, widening toward the point. The handle is shamshir-like with 2 drooping quillons ( a la Algiers ). It may, of course, be my fantasy, or the sword was assempled long ago from different parts, but the reference to North Afrika is enticing... Another day, another mystery...

23rd July 2010, 11:38 PM	#4
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	We've seen this sword before haven't we? Wasn't it discussed a little while back?

23rd July 2010, 11:49 PM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Come to think of it.....

24th July 2010, 11:49 AM	#8
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Just like Atlantia I had the same idea we saw this sword before. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=snake It was brought up by Luc Lefebvre. But the discussion ended quite early. Maybe some new ideas will be brought up in this post?

24th July 2010, 03:24 PM	#9
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Interesting piece ! So it wasn't Martin, but the previous owner, who asked Luc to post it here for ID?