NIMCHA WITH EUROPEAN BLADE????

ilias · 11th December 2009, 07:09 PM

Hi everyone.
I have just aquired this nimcha.It is not quite my field so I want your advice about the blade.Can be possibly be a trade European blade ? or a custom made one.?It has some marks on it which I cannot identify.
Is it possible to be an 18th c. one?
Thanks in advance for the help.
All the best
Ilias

Mauro · 12th December 2009, 12:52 AM

quite lucky with your nimcha. In my opinion it is a XVII-XVIII century sword. Very nice blade, fascinating and in almost perfect conditions. The andle is most probably horn although it is partly damaged it is still very nice. The maker marks is typical of that period. There is an incredible collection of similar Nimcha in display at the Museum of La valletta, in Malta, that I invite everybody to visit. They say that the swrods were collected after the famous battle of the 1565 won from the Malta knights (the former knights of S.John of Jerusalem) that in the previous centuries had their capital in Rodi (http://hubpages.com/hub/Battle-of-Malta-1565-AD). Apparently the siege was carried out by Suleiman and therefore one could expect to find other kind of sword, more linked to the Ottomans. However, a large part of the arm was supported by the muslim commandant Dragut. In the article I addressed they say he was the King of Tripoli but at the Museum is written that his headquarter was the island of Djerba. I bought a quite similar sword some years ago and I enclose its photo. The blade of my Nimcha has some damages but still the same form. In Malta there is a large variety of blades, possibly from 40 to 80 cm long. They are thinner near the base of the blade and enlarge toward the tip in an asymmetrical way exactly as your and my sword. Another splendid Nimcha has been sold this year at the auction of the Hermann-Historica (Auction 58, n.200) that is also referred to the XVII century. As you can see the guard of my Nimcha is different. It has a nicely decorated bridge at the guard. In Malta most of the sword has a handle similar to your sword and only few of my type. I suppose it is connected to a different geographic provenience but I am not sure which is.
Enjoy your sword and best compliments
Mauro

ilias · 12th December 2009, 09:03 AM

Hi Mauro.
Thanks a lot about the informations that you have provide me.
You have made me happy

So just to put the thing in oreder in my mind.
This kind of swords are possibly 17th c. or earlier with custom made blades as referd at Hermman "Pseudo-European".
Am I right?
My sword is 80cm long.It has a great feeling when you hold it and the quility of the steel blade is great.Thats why I first thought that it could be European.
Thanks a lot again.
All the best
Ilias

RSWORD · 12th December 2009, 02:20 PM

Another possible origin for your blade is India. I have seen quite a few blades of this form with the same markings, which were made in imitation of European markings, and in my opinion this entire ensemble is more likely to date to the 19th century rather than much earlier. Out of curiosity, does the spine from the hilt to the point it drops down towards the middle of the blade made with a recess or groove?

Rick · 12th December 2009, 04:24 PM

Marks on a Kirach blade .
I'd vote for India as the source also .

Jens Nordlunde · 12th December 2009, 04:47 PM

India exported a lot of steel and blades to Arabia and the African east coast from very early times, and the way the blade is looking, I think India may be a possible place of origin.
Jens

11th December 2009, 07:09 PM	#1
ilias Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: GREECE Posts: 73	NIMCHA WITH EUROPEAN BLADE???? Hi everyone. I have just aquired this nimcha.It is not quite my field so I want your advice about the blade.Can be possibly be a trade European blade ? or a custom made one.?It has some marks on it which I cannot identify. Is it possible to be an 18th c. one? Thanks in advance for the help. All the best Ilias Attached Images

12th December 2009, 12:52 AM	#2
Mauro Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 83	quite lucky with your nimcha. In my opinion it is a XVII-XVIII century sword. Very nice blade, fascinating and in almost perfect conditions. The andle is most probably horn although it is partly damaged it is still very nice. The maker marks is typical of that period. There is an incredible collection of similar Nimcha in display at the Museum of La valletta, in Malta, that I invite everybody to visit. They say that the swrods were collected after the famous battle of the 1565 won from the Malta knights (the former knights of S.John of Jerusalem) that in the previous centuries had their capital in Rodi (http://hubpages.com/hub/Battle-of-Malta-1565-AD). Apparently the siege was carried out by Suleiman and therefore one could expect to find other kind of sword, more linked to the Ottomans. However, a large part of the arm was supported by the muslim commandant Dragut. In the article I addressed they say he was the King of Tripoli but at the Museum is written that his headquarter was the island of Djerba. I bought a quite similar sword some years ago and I enclose its photo. The blade of my Nimcha has some damages but still the same form. In Malta there is a large variety of blades, possibly from 40 to 80 cm long. They are thinner near the base of the blade and enlarge toward the tip in an asymmetrical way exactly as your and my sword. Another splendid Nimcha has been sold this year at the auction of the Hermann-Historica (Auction 58, n.200) that is also referred to the XVII century. As you can see the guard of my Nimcha is different. It has a nicely decorated bridge at the guard. In Malta most of the sword has a handle similar to your sword and only few of my type. I suppose it is connected to a different geographic provenience but I am not sure which is. Enjoy your sword and best compliments Mauro Attached Images

12th December 2009, 04:24 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,271	Marks on a Kirach blade . I'd vote for India as the source also . Attached Images

12th December 2009, 09:03 AM	#3
ilias Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: GREECE Posts: 73	Hi Mauro. Thanks a lot about the informations that you have provide me. You have made me happy So just to put the thing in oreder in my mind. This kind of swords are possibly 17th c. or earlier with custom made blades as referd at Hermman "Pseudo-European". Am I right? My sword is 80cm long.It has a great feeling when you hold it and the quility of the steel blade is great.Thats why I first thought that it could be European. Thanks a lot again. All the best Ilias

12th December 2009, 02:20 PM	#4
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,083	Another possible origin for your blade is India. I have seen quite a few blades of this form with the same markings, which were made in imitation of European markings, and in my opinion this entire ensemble is more likely to date to the 19th century rather than much earlier. Out of curiosity, does the spine from the hilt to the point it drops down towards the middle of the blade made with a recess or groove?

12th December 2009, 04:47 PM	#6
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,716	India exported a lot of steel and blades to Arabia and the African east coast from very early times, and the way the blade is looking, I think India may be a possible place of origin. Jens