[Jim McDougall]

Despite probable modern mounting and assembly, many composite swords offer great opportunities in evaluating the components used, often having their own genuine antiquity. The remounting of old and heirloom blades is actually very common in ethnographic spheres.

In the case of the 'odd' sword posted in the OP of over three years ago, the blade, as well discussed, appears European and with a curious inscription of letters which may be a combination of symbols and letters or perhaps with acrostic value in some degree.

It seems well determined that the blade has had an extension added to move back the cubed pommel to allow for the long grip of the Omani sayf. While these long open hilts became popularized during the al Busayyidi dynasty of Oman in the early 19th c. , it appears that there were many of this form made for ceremonial events. Contemporary to these it would seem that this style hilt appealed to status oriented figures such as merchants and distinguished officials, and they may have had European trade blades (readily available in their entrepots) mounted accordingly.

Although it is believed that this blade on the sword discussed as well as on the second (in sayf Yemani mounts) with 'SVARES' inscription, are from a European source in recent time, this only negates the importance of the possible Portuguese attribution. As far as thier own antiquity as blades of probably 17th c. , they are very worthy of discussion on their own merit. so keying them to Portuguese presence in Oman in these early times need not be a consideration for provenance of the blades.

Returning to the sword of the OP, the character of the pommel is most interesting, and appears to have motif completely uncharacteristic of pommels, despite occasional occurrences on blades.

The 'magic square' (often termed 'buduh' but in Arabic 'wafq') is a device which far predates Islam, but was filtered from China via India into early use in Arabia. As far as recorded use I could only locate the 10th c use as described by Jabir ibn Hayyan (Geber) but I am admittedly not well versed in such matters. The point is that this, as described by Ibrahiim, is most certainly a talismanic device well known on Islamic swords.

The six point star, is not seen in this parlance as Jewish (of course) nor as some rendition of the well known proof mark surround seen on Wilkinson swords c. 1860s.....but as Norman noted earlier, a symbol of strength with two joined triangles. This was used in early times in various cultures but was known in Islam as well.

The cubed pommel is characteristic of the early Omani sayf with long open hilt of the earliest period of the reign of Saiid bin Sultan (1804-1856) and on the 'dance' versions which typically had the aperture in the pommel. This was presumably for a wrist lanyard or festoon, and not typically seen on the more embellished examples for dignitary or status oriented wear.

It would be a most 'odd' incongruence, actually paradox, to have a pommel with Islamic talismanic virtues joined to a European blade carrying what may be Christian invocations. Obviously none of that has yet been determined, but the possibilities are most interesting.

In the blade inscription one of the key elements is the majescule A which is apparently at both ends of the number/letters. Here I would note that these elaborate 'A' characters which look like a M because of the center drop down forming a lozenge in the center, were used in numerous instances besides Augsburg and by various makers in Spain and others.
This suggests that the 'A' is likely a symbolic device in my opinion, but at this point its meaning unknown.

Attached is an example in 'latten' (inlaid gold metal).