Algerian? Maroccan? dagger

Ascalon · 16th May 2009, 09:47 AM

I received this piece last week.
The inscription on the blade are curious. Arabic number but gregorian calendar (1883). The other inscription seems to be more strange, i don't recognise the alphabet.
Any enlightenment welcomed.

Thanks

kahnjar1 · 16th May 2009, 10:21 AM

Algerian in my humble opinion. Looks better than most I have seen.
Regards Stuart

ariel · 16th May 2009, 01:22 PM

The date is 1883.
Gregorian date using Arabic numerals? Or, is it 1883 H, ie 2448 Gregorian?

Ascalon · 16th May 2009, 09:22 PM

Christian kabyl or copte perhaps?

Emanuel · 17th May 2009, 01:00 AM

A Moroccan "wedding nimcha". Sometimes they have the smaller flyssa blades that were produced after the mid-19th century for "travellers".

The flyssa blades may have been produced by Kabyles at first, and then copied - with quality suffering greatly in my opinion - around Algeria and Morocco.

The handle is based on the Moroccan nimcha, so I'm further inclined to say this is a Moroccan piece.

This one is still far better than the "new" ones with blades stamped out of sheet metal.

Cheers,
Emanuel

Lew · 17th May 2009, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manolo

A Moroccan "wedding nimcha". Sometimes they have the smaller flyssa blades that were produced after the mid-19th century for "travellers".

Cheers,
Emanuel

I agree with you Manolo. This though is a very finely made example excellent materials and workmanship.

Lew

Dom · 17th May 2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ascalon

Christian kabyl or copte perhaps?

Copte ?
no way,
because Copte are from East Africa, e.i. ; Egypt, Sudan, and even Ethiopia

if Kabyl was, and are, for some of them, Christians, they aren't Coptic

also, in Islamic countries, specially about Egypt, the Christians (none military) wasn't allowed to carry weapons

in our case, I thing about a Berber short sword, mixup between; "flissa" and "nimcha" as well as mentionned Manolo, and Louis

à +

Dom

16th May 2009, 09:47 AM	#1
Ascalon Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: France Posts: 45	Algerian? Maroccan? dagger I received this piece last week. The inscription on the blade are curious. Arabic number but gregorian calendar (1883). The other inscription seems to be more strange, i don't recognise the alphabet. Any enlightenment welcomed. Thanks

16th May 2009, 10:21 AM	#2
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,741	Algerian in my humble opinion. Looks better than most I have seen. Regards Stuart

16th May 2009, 01:22 PM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The date is 1883. Gregorian date using Arabic numerals? Or, is it 1883 H, ie 2448 Gregorian?

16th May 2009, 09:22 PM	#4
Ascalon Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: France Posts: 45	Christian kabyl or copte perhaps?

17th May 2009, 01:00 AM	#5
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	A Moroccan "wedding nimcha". Sometimes they have the smaller flyssa blades that were produced after the mid-19th century for "travellers". The flyssa blades may have been produced by Kabyles at first, and then copied - with quality suffering greatly in my opinion - around Algeria and Morocco. The handle is based on the Moroccan nimcha, so I'm further inclined to say this is a Moroccan piece. This one is still far better than the "new" ones with blades stamped out of sheet metal. Cheers, Emanuel