Bedoein sword?

werecow · 26th March 2026, 01:49 PM

Picked up this very worn sword for the price of a pizza and a half.

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It has the typical triple fullered blade you see on Moroccan nimcha and lots of other swords from around the world and horn grip scales. The shape of the grip looks a lot like those of Bedouin swords, but it's missing some of the decorative elements that are typical for the group, so I'm not quite sure. Do you think this is an accurate identification?

For reference, here's the type of sword I'm thinking of:

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Sajen · 26th March 2026, 03:20 PM

Hi Nathan,

I am far away from being an expert on these swords but I think that you are correct with your attribution! You will have a lot of work with cleaning the blade!

Regards,
Detlef

Bob A · 26th March 2026, 04:29 PM

Nice find, but as the interminable cleaning process grinds on, you may wish you'd opted for the pizza.

Jim McDougall · 26th March 2026, 05:52 PM

I likes em as they are! rough,
This seems, by the hilt style, to be Bedouin alright, and of forms in Sinai Peninsula, but of course hard to be exact.

kronckew · 26th March 2026, 09:53 PM

Yup, bedu. Also Sinai area, as Jim mentioned.

Mine for comparison: Mine is missing the silver band on the pommel end of the horn grip.

Pertinax · 26th March 2026, 10:35 PM

[QUOTE=werecow;302787]Picked up this very worn sword for the price of a pizza and a half.

Congratulations, a very interesting subject. And the chores of cleaning always bring pleasure.

TVV · 26th March 2026, 11:07 PM

Congratulations from me as well, these swords are not all that easy to find in my experience. I used to dread cleaning heavily corroded blades like this when I was trying to do it by hand, but since I discovered chelation agents, which do the work quickly and easily and only attack the iron oxide molecules, without harming the blade underneath, it is no longer a problem.

RobT · 26th March 2026, 11:41 PM

TVV,

I use a US made chelation product called Evapo-Rust. I totally immerse the blade in the solution for 24 to 48 hours in tanks I have specially made. It works quite well for red rust but isn’t very good on black rust. Do you use a different product that works well on black rust?

Sincerely,
RobT

werecow · 26th March 2026, 11:53 PM

Thanks all! Nice to have that confirmed. I already soaked the very dried out grip in neatsfoot oil for a day but a large chunk has started to peel off, as you can see in the pictures. Not sure what I should do there. Just leave it be, or...?

As for the blade, I will give it an initial light cleaning to get rid of active rust and will save the rest of the work for when I can sit outside.

Quote:

Nice find, but as the interminable cleaning process grinds on, you may wish you'd opted for the pizza.

This one didn't drain the wallet too much so I still have enough for another pizza.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi Nathan,

I'm Jelle, but hi Detlef!

TVV · Yesterday, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobT

TVV,

I use a US made chelation product called Evapo-Rust. I totally immerse the blade in the solution for 24 to 48 hours in tanks I have specially made. It works quite well for red rust but isn’t very good on black rust. Do you use a different product that works well on black rust?

Sincerely,
RobT

I use EvapoRust as well, and a tank made out of PVC pipe. The EvapoRust is usually fully spent and black after 48 hours, and while not prohibitively expensive, may not be the most cost effective solution. There are YouTube videos with formulas for homemade chelation agents with really cheap ingredients (even EvapoRust is 90%+ water, after all), but I am yet to test them.

werecow · Yesterday, 12:12 AM

Yeah, I've actually been meaning to try out this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhzNttK_-ko
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCltNiN_LGc

Might be a good candidate for it.

TVV · Yesterday, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by werecow

Yeah, I've actually been meaning to try out this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhzNttK_-ko
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCltNiN_LGc

Might be a good candidate for it.

I tried the jelly but did not like the results. Soaking in a liquid solution works better. You may want to try this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVYZ...qPtn56&index=1

Sajen · Yesterday, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by werecow

I'm Jelle, but hi Detlef!

Sorry Jelle!

I was in the wrong fairytale!

werecow · Yesterday, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVV

I tried the jelly but did not like the results. Soaking in a liquid solution works better. You may want to try this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVYZ...qPtn56&index=1

Ah, I've come across that before as well I think. I will give it another look, thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Sorry Jelle!

I was in the wrong fairytale!

No worries. I go to a lot of expat social events and it sometimes takes months to learn people's names.

At one point I was talking to one nice guy on and off for 6 months and I kept hoping he would introduce himself to another guest because it was too awkward to ask at that point.

His name is Dave, btw. I learned that maybe a week or two before he moved to another country. I probably could have guessed at random since this meetup was maybe 20% daves.

werecow · Yesterday, 01:55 PM

One more question. I want to stabilize this bit of horn that is sloughing off on the grip so that it doesn't get worse. I was thinking of just putting a few drops of glue in there to fill up that crack. Is that an acceptable repair? And if so, what glue is best for antique horn?

Pertinax · Yesterday, 07:45 PM

To remove rust, I use 3% iodine monochloride (ICl), which removes all rust down to the bare metal.

It's available at pet pharmacies.

The vapors it releases are harmless and can be reused. Apply with a brush, and wear gloves when using.

Sajen · Yesterday, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by werecow

One more question. I want to stabilize this bit of horn that is sloughing off on the grip so that it doesn't get worse. I was thinking of just putting a few drops of glue in there to fill up that crack. Is that an acceptable repair? And if so, what glue is best for antique horn?

I would use a two-component adhesive and a zip tie to hold it in place until it's dried.

werecow · Today, 01:56 PM

Alright, that seems sensible enough, thanks!

Also, let's cross-link to a couple of other threads for future navigability:

Bedouin? Saber
Bedouin Sabre

And a few examples from elsewhere:

ARAB BEDOUIN SWORD SHASHKA CA.1900
Good Bedouin Sword from the Sinai Peninsula - 9767
Acquisition of late 19th to early 20th century sword

26th March 2026, 01:49 PM	#1
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 665	Bedoein sword? Picked up this very worn sword for the price of a pizza and a half. It has the typical triple fullered blade you see on Moroccan nimcha and lots of other swords from around the world and horn grip scales. The shape of the grip looks a lot like those of Bedouin swords, but it's missing some of the decorative elements that are typical for the group, so I'm not quite sure. Do you think this is an accurate identification? For reference, here's the type of sword I'm thinking of:

26th March 2026, 09:53 PM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,282	Yup, bedu. Also Sinai area, as Jim mentioned. Mine for comparison: Mine is missing the silver band on the pommel end of the horn grip. Attached Images

26th March 2026, 11:41 PM	#8
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 625	What Product Do You Use TVV, I use a US made chelation product called Evapo-Rust. I totally immerse the blade in the solution for 24 to 48 hours in tanks I have specially made. It works quite well for red rust but isn’t very good on black rust. Do you use a different product that works well on black rust? Sincerely, RobT

Yesterday, 01:55 PM	#15
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 665	One more question. I want to stabilize this bit of horn that is sloughing off on the grip so that it doesn't get worse. I was thinking of just putting a few drops of glue in there to fill up that crack. Is that an acceptable repair? And if so, what glue is best for antique horn? Attached Images

26th March 2026, 03:20 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,678	Hi Nathan, I am far away from being an expert on these swords but I think that you are correct with your attribution! You will have a lot of work with cleaning the blade! Regards, Detlef

26th March 2026, 04:29 PM	#3
Bob A Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 466	Nice find, but as the interminable cleaning process grinds on, you may wish you'd opted for the pizza.

26th March 2026, 05:52 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,834	I likes em as they are! rough, This seems, by the hilt style, to be Bedouin alright, and of forms in Sinai Peninsula, but of course hard to be exact.

26th March 2026, 10:35 PM	#6
Pertinax Member Join Date: Dec 2023 Location: City by the Black Sea Posts: 340	[QUOTE=werecow;302787]Picked up this very worn sword for the price of a pizza and a half. Congratulations, a very interesting subject. And the chores of cleaning always bring pleasure.

26th March 2026, 11:07 PM	#7
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,759	Congratulations from me as well, these swords are not all that easy to find in my experience. I used to dread cleaning heavily corroded blades like this when I was trying to do it by hand, but since I discovered chelation agents, which do the work quickly and easily and only attack the iron oxide molecules, without harming the blade underneath, it is no longer a problem.

Yesterday, 12:12 AM	#11
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 665	Yeah, I've actually been meaning to try out this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhzNttK_-ko https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCltNiN_LGc Might be a good candidate for it.

Yesterday, 07:45 PM	#16
Pertinax Member Join Date: Dec 2023 Location: City by the Black Sea Posts: 340	To remove rust, I use 3% iodine monochloride (ICl), which removes all rust down to the bare metal. It's available at pet pharmacies. The vapors it releases are harmless and can be reused. Apply with a brush, and wear gloves when using.

Today, 01:56 PM	#18
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 665	Alright, that seems sensible enough, thanks! Also, let's cross-link to a couple of other threads for future navigability: Bedouin? Saber Bedouin Sabre And a few examples from elsewhere: ARAB BEDOUIN SWORD SHASHKA CA.1900 Good Bedouin Sword from the Sinai Peninsula - 9767 Acquisition of late 19th to early 20th century sword