Nimcha, literally

TVV · 13th November 2014, 08:41 AM

I was quite excited to acquire this sword, as it is very much like the one shown in "The Arms and Armour of Arabia" on p.10, fig. 2.1. It has the same blade profile, with a horn karabela hilt and a brass corssguard made of two separate pieces, riveted together at the ends of the quillons and to the hilt at the lower part of the guard, just as in the picture in Elgood's book. Not the same, of course, but extremely similar.

The whole sword is only 23 inches in length, and I am attaching a photo next to a Hadhrami saif for comparison. Elgood is not very specific on the Geographic area of these swords, other than "parts of the peninsula". The seller reportedly purchased it in 1997 in the Sana'a souk, and so Yemen is probably a good guess, especially considering the karabela hilt form.

The blade is unmarked, of triangular cross section prior to the yelman. The spine has fullers - would that suggest Indian production?

Where and when would you gentlemen place this sword?

Thank you,
Teodor

Kubur · 13th November 2014, 10:47 AM

I think you are right, Yemen.
I know nothing about the origin of the blade.
What I know is this kind of short blade was used on board, on the boats / dhows. So probably from the Hadramawt or even Zanzibar...
This kind of blade was also used by Algerian pirates on the Mediterranean sea.
Kubur

Gavin Nugent · 13th November 2014, 11:13 AM

Nice sword. I place it as 19th century European export blade in native guise.

I have a similar blade of form in size from an Ethiopian Shotel, similar fuller to the spine and it has an English look to my eye...if I come across it during the move in the coming weeks I'll put it up to compare...if you don't see it this side of Christmas, please remind me early next year.

Gavin

kahnjar1 · 13th November 2014, 07:27 PM

Hi Teodor,
Very nice piece. Thanks for sharing. I am totally green with envy.

Stu

TVV · 14th November 2014, 08:28 AM

Thank you for your responses. The blade is 7/8 of an inch thick at the base, and just less than an inch wide at that part, very much like a wedge in cross section. The way the fullers are executed is a little too rough for a European made blade, which is why I suspect a local or Indian copy.

This blade profile certainly was used in the Mediterranean as well, and there are multiple threads with examples from various European museums - the one in Malta seems to have a whole bunch of such blades in Maghrebi hilts. Elgood appears to suggest that the form existed in Arabia prior to the Ottoman conquest, but looking at the hilt and crossguard on mine the Ottoman influence is very obvious.

Regards,
Teodor

13th November 2014, 08:41 AM	#1
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,625	Nimcha, literally I was quite excited to acquire this sword, as it is very much like the one shown in "The Arms and Armour of Arabia" on p.10, fig. 2.1. It has the same blade profile, with a horn karabela hilt and a brass corssguard made of two separate pieces, riveted together at the ends of the quillons and to the hilt at the lower part of the guard, just as in the picture in Elgood's book. Not the same, of course, but extremely similar. The whole sword is only 23 inches in length, and I am attaching a photo next to a Hadhrami saif for comparison. Elgood is not very specific on the Geographic area of these swords, other than "parts of the peninsula". The seller reportedly purchased it in 1997 in the Sana'a souk, and so Yemen is probably a good guess, especially considering the karabela hilt form. The blade is unmarked, of triangular cross section prior to the yelman. The spine has fullers - would that suggest Indian production? Where and when would you gentlemen place this sword? Thank you, Teodor Attached Images

13th November 2014, 10:47 AM	#2
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	I think you are right, Yemen. I know nothing about the origin of the blade. What I know is this kind of short blade was used on board, on the boats / dhows. So probably from the Hadramawt or even Zanzibar... This kind of blade was also used by Algerian pirates on the Mediterranean sea. Kubur

13th November 2014, 11:13 AM	#3
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Nice sword. I place it as 19th century European export blade in native guise. I have a similar blade of form in size from an Ethiopian Shotel, similar fuller to the spine and it has an English look to my eye...if I come across it during the move in the coming weeks I'll put it up to compare...if you don't see it this side of Christmas, please remind me early next year. Gavin

13th November 2014, 07:27 PM	#4
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,741	Hi Teodor, Very nice piece. Thanks for sharing. I am totally green with envy. Stu

14th November 2014, 08:28 AM	#5
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,625	Thank you for your responses. The blade is 7/8 of an inch thick at the base, and just less than an inch wide at that part, very much like a wedge in cross section. The way the fullers are executed is a little too rough for a European made blade, which is why I suspect a local or Indian copy. This blade profile certainly was used in the Mediterranean as well, and there are multiple threads with examples from various European museums - the one in Malta seems to have a whole bunch of such blades in Maghrebi hilts. Elgood appears to suggest that the form existed in Arabia prior to the Ottoman conquest, but looking at the hilt and crossguard on mine the Ottoman influence is very obvious. Regards, Teodor