On the Origins of the so-called Berber Sabres

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 14th April 2016, 02:58 PM

Salaams All, I find it most compelling with the attribution of Peacock feather decoration in the hilt....The note that Kabyl Berber involvement in Mexico is further fascinating.. and overall that the sword ( possibly derived from Iberian style) and its derivatives sketch a web of involvement wrapped around Spanish global activity from the Manila Galleons and grasping at Zanzibar and Moroccan/Algerian styles. The fact that Spanish ships also entered and exited the Indian Ocean via the Cape of Good Hope as well as via the Atlantic Acapulco Filipies run shows how diverse the designs of regional styles became... not to mention a similar sword on the waist of a captain of the Trained Bands of London pictured in Islamic arms and Armour by the late Antony North. (Tobias Blose; Captain.)

This is a very revealing thread !!

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Rick · 14th April 2016, 04:37 PM

Agree, it's nice to see this thread resurface.

What has always puzzled me is the purpose of re-profiling the point of some of these blades into a sort of clipper ship bow shape.

What would be the function of this configuration?

Maybe I missed that from the previous posts.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 14th April 2016, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Agree, it's nice to see this thread resurface.

What has always puzzled me is the purpose of re-profiling the point of some of these blades into a sort of clipper ship bow shape.

What would be the function of this configuration?

Maybe I missed that from the previous posts.

This is a good question which appears to have the answer built around its apparent ability at cutting ships ropes...whilst retaining some degree of thrust ability by retaining the stiffened tip... a lethal combination. What is also puzzling is that the hilt seems to have migrated across many trade routes...Spanish?... but the blade changes...in some cases long despite its misnomer Nimcha (half blade in Baluch)...in some cases short but in no cases to my knowledge do we see this clipped bow shape tip in the Indian Ocean styles...
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

14th April 2016, 02:58 PM	#1
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Salaams All, I find it most compelling with the attribution of Peacock feather decoration in the hilt....The note that Kabyl Berber involvement in Mexico is further fascinating.. and overall that the sword ( possibly derived from Iberian style) and its derivatives sketch a web of involvement wrapped around Spanish global activity from the Manila Galleons and grasping at Zanzibar and Moroccan/Algerian styles. The fact that Spanish ships also entered and exited the Indian Ocean via the Cape of Good Hope as well as via the Atlantic Acapulco Filipies run shows how diverse the designs of regional styles became... not to mention a similar sword on the waist of a captain of the Trained Bands of London pictured in Islamic arms and Armour by the late Antony North. (Tobias Blose; Captain.) This is a very revealing thread !! Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 14th April 2016 at 04:07 PM.

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14th April 2016, 04:37 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,441	Agree, it's nice to see this thread resurface. What has always puzzled me is the purpose of re-profiling the point of some of these blades into a sort of clipper ship bow shape. What would be the function of this configuration? Maybe I missed that from the previous posts.