arabic sword Identification
 

Hello,
I found this sword last week end , it have a horn hilt , a brass or bronze guard and a curved blade , its length is 33,4" , I think it is originary of north africa but if someone can tell me more on it, is it a nimcha family , shamshir family or a tourist family.
Thanks in advance.

I certainly do not think 'tourist' ...but is almost certainly a composite sword. The blade is probably of European manufacture, the hilt seems a little 'clumsy' / 'chunky' and seems unfinished (nor is it tightly fitted against the guard)....if it is Rhino, it seems strange that more finesse was not used with such a valued 'material'. Nevertheless, there could have been reasons, in the sword's history, that the sword hilt was not completely finished....perhaps it was needed in a hurry. It certainly seems very ergonomic in the Nimcha style.

The main question, to my mind, is when this sword was put together. It certainly looks functional. One of the pictures of the pommel end of the hilt seems to show a 'bent over' tang ?? or is it part of the hilt?

Pictures are not the best way to determine the authenticity of a sword ...so my comments are only based on the pictures. I do like it but have reservations. How does it handle ? does it feel 'balanced'

Kind Regards David

Hi "ericlaude"
it looks like the assembly of three elements :confused:
indeed, an air of a little of everything ... :p ;
"nimcha" for the hilt, "shamshir" for the guard (reduced)
funny

à +

Dom

yes kaskara, a metal part of the blade crosses the handle

The blade is European, from ca.1790 onwards. Someone had painted it black, to hide the corrosion, and to make it look old.

I think it could be a Zanzibari sub-form.