Nimcha, literally
I was quite excited to acquire this sword, as it is very much like the one shown in "The Arms and Armour of Arabia" on p.10, fig. 2.1. It has the same blade profile, with a horn karabela hilt and a brass corssguard made of two separate pieces, riveted together at the ends of the quillons and to the hilt at the lower part of the guard, just as in the picture in Elgood's book. Not the same, of course, but extremely similar.
The whole sword is only 23 inches in length, and I am attaching a photo next to a Hadhrami saif for comparison. Elgood is not very specific on the Geographic area of these swords, other than "parts of the peninsula". The seller reportedly purchased it in 1997 in the Sana'a souk, and so Yemen is probably a good guess, especially considering the karabela hilt form.
The blade is unmarked, of triangular cross section prior to the yelman. The spine has fullers - would that suggest Indian production?
Where and when would you gentlemen place this sword?
Thank you,
Teodor
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