Barbary corsairs/swords

M ELEY · 22nd July 2008, 05:13 AM

OK, I know we're been down this path before with pirate weapons (one of my favorite subjects!), so here goes with another question. The recent Zanzibar sword got my interest up. In regards to the Barbary Corsairs and Algerian pirates of the 18th-early 19th century, of the swords from those lands (Rif Valley, Morocco, etc), which had the most likeliness of being carried to sea- the Berber saber, the nimcha/Zanzibar sword, the saif, the flyssa, or ? Most of the Berber sabers I've seen seem to be more mid-19th century and of course, there are those 'wedding nimcha' that keep turning up!

I know that sea-faring warriors carried whatever they laid hands on, but realistically, I wonder what museums or records show they typically carried? Many of the pics I've seen have them carrying "fantasy-type" clipped point shamshirs or talwar. NOT likely! What of the Moroccan daggers (kourami, I think hey are called?). Opinions, please?

22nd July 2008, 05:13 AM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,099	Barbary corsairs/swords OK, I know we're been down this path before with pirate weapons (one of my favorite subjects!), so here goes with another question. The recent Zanzibar sword got my interest up. In regards to the Barbary Corsairs and Algerian pirates of the 18th-early 19th century, of the swords from those lands (Rif Valley, Morocco, etc), which had the most likeliness of being carried to sea- the Berber saber, the nimcha/Zanzibar sword, the saif, the flyssa, or ? Most of the Berber sabers I've seen seem to be more mid-19th century and of course, there are those 'wedding nimcha' that keep turning up! I know that sea-faring warriors carried whatever they laid hands on, but realistically, I wonder what museums or records show they typically carried? Many of the pics I've seen have them carrying "fantasy-type" clipped point shamshirs or talwar. NOT likely! What of the Moroccan daggers (kourami, I think hey are called?). Opinions, please? Last edited by M ELEY; 22nd July 2008 at 05:15 AM. Reason: Forgot text