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Old 1st March 2005, 03:42 AM   #1
Jim McDougall
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
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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
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