Quote:
|
Originally Posted by estcrh
So is the nimca based on a European sword, or are the European swords with a similar hilt copys of nimcha, which came first?
Glaive de l'Ecole de Mars
|
That is an interesting question, and becomes truly a conundrum when the views of arms researchers of the stature of Charles Buttin suggest that the Ceylonese kastane may have been the inspiration for the European swords with such guard systems.
These types of guards as well as the knucklebow were not particularly key in swords of the Indian subcontinent, which was the source as I understand for much of the design of the kastane as far as decorative motif.
Meanwhile, Italy was keenly involved in the developing styles of sword play and the innovative hand protections that came with it, hence the evolution of the complex hilt rapier. These evolutions of guard systems as noted, were taking place as early as the 16th century and in degree even earlier.
The sword play of India and most 'ethnographic' regions including Arabia, Central Asia, etc. was primarily based on defense with a shield and not sword to sword combat.
This is why the so called 'firangi' or Hindu basket hilt evolved from the indigenous khanda, by adding the guard in response to European influence.
The knuckle guard began appearing on various ethnic sword forms with the same kind of European influence through trade and colonialization.
There were in many cases minor influences on European swords in later times as the attraction to 'exotica' lent to using certain styles in certain forms. However this was more of a unique case, such as Japanese styling such as shakudo in 18th century small swords, and the karabela style of the Middle East becoming well known in Poland. It is known that the sabres of the Ottomans became adopted into European style.
Returning to the nimcha, in my opinion, the guard system came from the Italian hilts of 16th century as noted by North (1975), and entered various spheres via the trade of Venice. It has long been suggested that numerous edged weapons of North Africa are directly linked to Italian forms, with various elements in blades and or hilts.
Its transmission to Ceylon was most certainly indirect, probably through Portuguese but with that possibly through Italian influence as well, but in other regions. The swords of Italy were the pace setters for Spain and Portugal in many cases, just as in Europe.
Thank you for asking this, and the great images comparing the Moroccan sa'if and the French academy sword, which was from the 1790s. This was another example of the counter influence of 'foreign' arms to European, which was prevalent after the Napoleonic campaigns in Egypt. The famed 'mameluke' hilt sabre became popular for officers throughout Europe and is still used today in the officers swords of the USMC .