To answer to Jim, Arial and Teodor posts I have to quote Philip.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Philip
these are all made by chiseling the shape in the steel of the blade, not by installing a separate component made of sheet iron or other metal. And all have the long side towards the edge of the blade.
The Islamic ones retain the feature in a stylistic sense only. By the end of the 15th cent. when these two blades were made, the original functional purpose of the device that inspired its use in medieval Eurasia had morphed into a stylized, decorative element.
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and to add
Sometimes it's not chiseled in the blade but added on the blade like cooper plates on the yatagan for example or the Tabouka.
Clearly decorative but as Philip noticed, the remain of an ancient practise, most probably functionnal.
Why, how and when I don't know.
It just notice that it happens on curved blades but also on straight blades...
I don't have any answer but additionnal comments...
Saying that I have my opinion
First it's to fix blade, guard and hilt alltogether like the nihonto
Second to absorb shocks during a fight
Third to maintain the blade in the scabbard