Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Jim McDougall · 5th March 2016, 06:54 PM

I gotta say Harry, I love being along on this great ride of yours!!!
This one is indeed a Syrian sa'if, and the blade is from a British M1796 light cavalry sabre.
These were around in huge volume throughout the 19th century, long after being superceded by the M1821 patterns of sabres for troopers. These in surplus seem to have entered every imaginable entrepot as surplus or trade items. While the British were of course quite present in Arabia (notably Aden) that these blades entered trade markets seems well established.
There should be a makers stamp (or remains of one) on blade back near forte.

5th March 2016, 06:54 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,190	I gotta say Harry, I love being along on this great ride of yours!!! This one is indeed a Syrian sa'if, and the blade is from a British M1796 light cavalry sabre. These were around in huge volume throughout the 19th century, long after being superceded by the M1821 patterns of sabres for troopers. These in surplus seem to have entered every imaginable entrepot as surplus or trade items. While the British were of course quite present in Arabia (notably Aden) that these blades entered trade markets seems well established. There should be a makers stamp (or remains of one) on blade back near forte.