Nimcha: opinions and translations?

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by ariel

I think ( word of caution!) that there is a date on the spine:12( for sure) and then ....58 (???)

We are this year 1437 in al Hijri...

[Kubur]

For me this blade is much much older than the 19th c.
It's a gorgeous example...

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Kubur

For me this blade is much much older than the 19th c.
It's a gorgeous example...

I think you may be right...but if we are going by the so called date on the back of the blade ...we need to know what that is... because it is not clear.

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

I think you may be right...but if we are going by the so called date on the back of the blade ...we need to know what that is... because it is not clear.

yep
the date on the back is engraved, the inscription on the blade is chisled like the Seljuk or Mamluk blades in The arts of the Muslim knight. It's a Moroccan nimcha but an old one. The inscription on the back was probably added later.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Kubur

yep
the date on the back is engraved, the inscription on the blade is chisled like the Seljuk or Mamluk blades in The arts of the Muslim knight. It's a Moroccan nimcha but an old one. The inscription on the back was probably added later.

It is always very tenuous to place a date on a sword because many blades were switched from one hilt to another. dates became added...They assumed the realms of make believe occasionally. Notwithstanding the inscribed date what are the clues to age ? How old can the blade be? How much age is visible in the hilt? Half way down the Knuckle Guard there is a signature or date in a small button sized roundel.....what is that?
I add in retrospect that this is an interesting item. An aristocrats sword thus the addition of Gold work a Rhino hilt and the enamel work known as Champleve...on the stud on top of the Pommel and at the base ring. There is light overall wear suggesting to my eye 18th C.

Such a pity there is no Scabbard but no doubt that would have been richly decorated in similar style. The pitons or projections on the guard are intriguing and original not added according to the decorative style...The bite marks on the blade offer the suggestion of the blade being of Genoa ..I leave all suggestions wide open for comments..

[Evgeny_K]

Gents,
What could you say about this sword? Looks like markings are same?
This sword was found on the Black Sea coast of Russia - a region that was under the influence of Genoa.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

I agree Genoa fits … as I noted earlier there is often a little button about two thirds the way down the knuckle guard with writing on it...this weapon has one... cant make out the letters but it could be a date or makers mark... great to see this thread still going..
Ibrahiim al Balooshi