Berber Cavalry Saber ??

[TVV]

Originally Posted by ariel

Teodor,

Blades traveled, and surplus Spanish blades obviously found their way to the Spain-controlled N. Africa.

I completely agree with this, but while there is a variety of blades on nimchas: the Spanish one on yours, French blades, local blades, old Solingen backsword blades, etc., these allegedly Berber swords seem to be exclusively fitted with Spanish mottos, when inscriptions are present. It is a very different case from an odd trade blade or two.

I am afraid a conclusion will only be reached when we find a period photo of a warrior (or warriors) with this type of weapon. One is eventually bound to surface.

Regards,
Teodor

[ariel]

As I mentioned before, there is an oil painting in Versailles showing battle between the French and the Berbers. In in the right lower corner there is a Berber wielding exactly the same sword with clipped point. When I was there, I did not photograph it, dumbhead! Perhaps, one of our French colleagues may do us all a favor.

[archer]

After some cleaning clearer designs began to emerge. Perhaps patterns will be identifiable to an area the sheath was made. I haven't had a chance to begin looking yet. Rick I think the Pinched tang is a good start. The vague patterns in the rust, were connect the dot types, no help, the blade remains unmarked. after thought the leather work is a bit primitive, simple cuts and dye. Almost like scarification.
Regards, Steve

[Richard G]

There appear to be similarities between this sword and the knives in threads:-
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=16661
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=14832
i.e.
They all display the dot in a roundel type of decoration,
They all seem to have the same "pinched" tang construction,
The scabbards show similar tooling,
I would suggest the consensus is settling on a North or North West African origin.
Regards
Richard

[archer]

This is a link about circle decorations:http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=16661 look at the knives sheath. It appears to have only one wooden insert, as does my swords scabbard. The circles are kind of understandable as a simple design to make.
The second link provided by Richard G shows an odd tapered tang! http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=14832 This thread as Kanjar 1 had stated earlier pointed to Algeria and Northern Africa as a possible source of the knives. What do you think?
Oh, one more thing the odd steel shown on this knife reminds me some better quality Koummya's can have a similar odd looking steel. Regards, Steve

[archer]

This Koummya was purchased from France (E Bay) seller, said it was from North Central Morocco bordering Algeria. Note dagger with the same oddly rough textured steel.

[TVV]

The circle and dot motif is way too common to base anything on it, I am afraid: I can easily find Balkan and Central Asian examples. The sheath is much more intriguing, and its more complex decoration would probably serve us better in identifying the culture, where the sword was made.
Regards,
Teodor