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Old 7th April 2018, 07:34 PM   #1
ariel
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Default Unusual nimcha blade: need help

Here is a run-of-the-mill Moroccan Nimcha.
One unusual thing about it is its blade.
As a rule, Nimchas carry curved saber blade, and the majority I have encountered thus far are European trade examples.
This one has straight blade with large false edge. Also, locally-made blades have 3 narrow fullers. This one has 7.
The fullering and the false edge ( and, to a much less degree, straight construction) are very different from the usual local pattern. No markings to claim European origin.

Is this a more sophisticated local production?
Or, trade European blade with no markings?
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Old 7th April 2018, 09:26 PM   #2
Jens Nordlunde
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Ariel,
The number of fullers seem to be very big, but what about the ricasso?
As you know I do know very little about these swords.
Jens
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Old 7th April 2018, 10:18 PM   #3
fernando
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How about a close up of the blade far to the right, where the fullers converge.
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Old 7th April 2018, 11:18 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ariel
As a rule, Nimchas carry curved saber blade, and the majority I have encountered thus far are European trade examples.
Hi Ariel
I've seen many straight blades on nimchas, it's not uncommon,
most of the time old imported blades
But I can't say nothing about this blade.
Kubur
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Old 8th April 2018, 01:41 AM   #5
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Here is the distal part of the blade with converging fullers.
I checked all my Arabian swords, including 2 Nimchas from Morocco: none of them have a ricasso, including trade European blades.
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Old 8th April 2018, 02:27 AM   #6
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Ariel, glad you acquired this sword and thank you for sharing it here for discussion. From what I remember from the auction pictures you have also done an excellent job cleaning it. I wonder if the blade could be Indian due to the ricasso and the uneven fullering.

Teodor
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Old 8th April 2018, 10:31 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TVV
... I wonder if the blade could be Indian due to the ricasso and the uneven fullering...
That's what i was daring to guess ... on an uneducated basis, though.
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Old 8th April 2018, 02:05 PM   #8
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Me too, Indian is reasonnable.
Now the question is do you think that the blade was added by a collector recently or in Morocco in the 18th 19th c.?
I'm very suspicious about an Indian blade on a Moroccan nimcha...
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Old 8th April 2018, 02:13 PM   #9
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Guys,
Ricasso serves as a differentiating sign only between Indian and Persian Shamshir blades. Many European blades had ricasso and I wonder whether Indians not borrowed the idea of a ricasso from Europe.
I will have to look at my Indian straight- bladed ones.
Thanks to Jens for his gentle hint.
Fernando, did the converging fullers help you?
TVV, the cleaning job has just begun:-) Its wooden handle is dirty, dry and cracked, and has a lot of nasty thin splinters and worm holes. I will have to polish it, otherwise I would not be able to hold it without thick gloves. Then the natural wood color will disappear. Would staining it ( say, dark mahogany) be appropriate? Also, would filling the holes with stainable filler be OK?
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