The sickle marks (Moons?) on Berber work are seen on a lot of the modern decorator stuff; the curved double-edgers and newer flatter versions of the short sword I'm coming to think of as closer to flyssa (and to kodme) than to the nimchas it's usually thought of as a decayed form of; I think some of us know the type I mean? But I'm not sure it's seen on old Berbese work.
In terms of shape and other artistic concerns, there may be some resemblance to Arab swords/art; I was more thinking of the structure of the thing (which remains somewhat mysterious), but even looking at the overall shape, the big difference I see from nimcha is that the hook is a forward curve in the handle, with the back of the handle curving as well as the front, so it is more a curved/crooked handle than a hooked pommel, if you follow what I'm saying; contrast to nimcha, where the back of the handle stays straight(ish), while the hook is a block that extends from the front edge of the handle, with a matching nook in the hilt. Some Arabian swords, and Persian swords have a very similarly curved hook, but never with the finger nook, I think? Just rambling, I guess; trying to anylize this shape. Wasn't there a link to a pic of that salwar yataghan? It seems that its European-based hilt is one of which I've heard/read that the hilt (and I think sheath covering fabric) were the regulated part, and the blade was private issue?
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