On the Origins of the so-called Berber Sabres

Jim McDougall · 30th July 2016, 02:41 AM

Ibrahiim,
You have astutely keyed in on a number of elements in these various loosely connected forms. These so called 'Berber' sabres are actually believed to be reprofiled British blades and these open, guardless hilts with an aperture which seems like a birds eye that were apparently machete type weapons. These were seemingly from tropical regions in the 'Spanish Main', which includes Central America and the Gulf littoral of Mexico.

The notable nock in the hilt seems to post date the Arabian sa'if which became known in the Maghreb as the 'nimcha' with that very feature.
This nock for the back of the hand, little finger is found in these 'Berber' sabres, as well as the curious swords from Cuba (termed Guanabacoa) which have these as well as finger stalls in the grip.
The espada ancha forms from South America (Brazil ) and other with the striated shell guards also have these nocks for the hand,
and their diffusion reflects the diffusion of these influences throughout Spanish colonial regions.

The occurrence of the 'Berber' sabres in Morocco was due to volunteers into those Spanish controlled areas in early 20th c. in civil disruptions.
The fact that these are absent from the very thorough works of Charles Buttin, who lived often, as did his family in Morocco, suggests they were not a known indigenous form in these or earlier times. He was an avid researcher and cataloguer of ethnographic weapons, whose works we often rely on.

30th July 2016, 02:41 AM	#30
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,191	Ibrahiim, You have astutely keyed in on a number of elements in these various loosely connected forms. These so called 'Berber' sabres are actually believed to be reprofiled British blades and these open, guardless hilts with an aperture which seems like a birds eye that were apparently machete type weapons. These were seemingly from tropical regions in the 'Spanish Main', which includes Central America and the Gulf littoral of Mexico. The notable nock in the hilt seems to post date the Arabian sa'if which became known in the Maghreb as the 'nimcha' with that very feature. This nock for the back of the hand, little finger is found in these 'Berber' sabres, as well as the curious swords from Cuba (termed Guanabacoa) which have these as well as finger stalls in the grip. The espada ancha forms from South America (Brazil ) and other with the striated shell guards also have these nocks for the hand, and their diffusion reflects the diffusion of these influences throughout Spanish colonial regions. The occurrence of the 'Berber' sabres in Morocco was due to volunteers into those Spanish controlled areas in early 20th c. in civil disruptions. The fact that these are absent from the very thorough works of Charles Buttin, who lived often, as did his family in Morocco, suggests they were not a known indigenous form in these or earlier times. He was an avid researcher and cataloguer of ethnographic weapons, whose works we often rely on.