Nimchas in the Grand Master Palace Armory in Valletta

[ariel]

Originally Posted by TVV

I could be wrong here but I do not see a Central Asian hilt - I see a nimcha blade adapted to an early yataghan hilt.

I am not implying anything Central Asian. But a weapon with saber blade, eared handle and no crossguard is a decent description of a shashka-like one. My question ( likely an unanswerable one) is whether we are witnessing a connection or just a parallel development. Something to put in the memory piggy bank;-)

As to the sorry physical state of nimcha blades... For a minute or two I thought that when I retire , volunteering going to Valletta and cleaning them might not be a bad idea. I could even donate WD-40, steel wool and Renaissance wax.