Yemeni Swords. In the Omani Market place.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 16th February 2012, 11:05 AM

Salaams all ~ Yemeni Swords.

Here are a few Yemeni swords which are flooding into Oman at this time. I stopped counting at about 100 in the main shop in Muscats Mutrah Souk.... and there were 200 more in their storeroom...( as well as 3000 tourists !)

Mostly Karabella Hilts with European blades. Caught on film (at photo 4) is an Ethiopian blade imported from Germany with a welded hilt waiting for an Omani long hiltstyle thus the pommel (confirmed by shopowner this work has been often conducted by him and his father before etc in their own workshops)~

1. 3 swords a. Zanzibari Nimcha. b. Saudia Bedu derivative. c. Yemeni Nimcha.
2. as above.
3. Wall loads of swords.
4. Ethiopian on a welded tang awaiting a long Omani Hilt.
5. Saudia derivative from Ottoman / Abbasid/ Greek style.
6. Zanzibar Nimcha.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Note; When I say Yemeni I mean supplied from there and owing to the upheaval currently wreaking havoc. Sanaa is a conduit for such equipment from the entire region including Zanzibari, African and Saudia.

David R · 16th February 2012, 11:25 AM

Oh how I would love to browse that market, some interesting blades there! Any particular reason for their appearance at this time?

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 18th February 2012, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David R

Oh how I would love to browse that market, some interesting blades there! Any particular reason for their appearance at this time?

Salaams David I have it sussed as clever positioning by the souk shop owner who has many contacts in the trade and supply from all over Oman and Yemen built up over two generations of shop work. Yemen which is in turmoil is desperate for cash. Like all souks there is 98% garbage and 2 % good stuff...and as in all things it is in the end what people are prepared to fork out for a decent item in an environment where price is seasonal... with thousands of tourists thronging the souk in the cooler weather the price is horrible... such is life.
Regards Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

ariel · 16th February 2012, 12:01 PM

What kind of prices do they command?

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 16th February 2012, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

What kind of prices do they command?

Salaams Ariel~ How many beans make 5? Two beans, a bean. a bean and a half and half a bean. Drop me a line and I will give you some idea privately... meanwhile any chance please of seeing your Old Omani Battle Sword acquisition... Im especially interested in the blade stamp.
Regards Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

A.alnakkas · 16th February 2012, 12:25 PM

Nice one Ibrahim, send me an email with more details about the location + prices.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 16th February 2012, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.alnakkas

Nice one Ibrahim, send me an email with more details about the location + prices.

Salaams A.alnakkas ~ Absolute pleasure indeed ! Can you just PM me with more of the detail in your request and I will send you the souk owners shop details and hopefully we will gain a great visitor to our shores...Getting you into the shop will be easy enough but I fear you will not want to leave !!
Regards Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Jim McDougall · 16th February 2012, 05:38 PM

Amazing grouping of these Arabian swords Ibrahiim !!! Thank you for sharing them.
In observing the groupings, in the first photo, top to bottom:

I would note that these triple fullered sabre blades, particularly with the 'cabalistic' symbols are of an 18th century blade form commonly produced in Solingen, and believed to have been continued well into, if not through the 19th century (Gilkerson). These found considerable favor in regions of the Caucusus where variations of these began to occur in shashkas, and blade producers there copied them and exported many into Arabian trade networks.

The top sabre is known actually (by hilt form) as the Moroccan sa'if, though typically termed incorrectly 'nimcha'. While of course many of these probably did end up in Red Sea trade and as far as Zanzibar, the hilt which has been considered 'Zanzibari' (Buttin, 1933) has similar grip/pommel shape with palm nock at the top, quillon system and distinctively a perpandicular ring extending from crossguard center. This form with the ring seems to have arrived in some volume into the Yemen in the early 20th century from Zanzibar, hence the attribution (also personal contact with Artzi Yarom, Oriental Arms on this). Is does seem likely these 'Moroccan-Algerian' type hilts would be found in Arabia as the hilt form does seem to have originated in the Arabian sphere, likely derived from Italian hilt forms of much earlier (A. North).

The center sabre has an essentially Persian type hilt, but the general design and canted pommel cap in a collectively silvered style seems to reflect Caucasian styles which are typically nielloed and from latter 19th century. The crossguard with bulbous quillon terms reflects European style and of course this is a composite which is to be expected as these swords were so ofren refurbished to remain serviceable.

The bottom sword is not technically a karabella, but does have the stylized version of that type hilt (the term itself is used toward the hilt typically).
This style hilt is of the form usually seen in Hadhremaut in repousse silvered dress, though simpler versions are seen more into the interior regions as seen here.

The 'Ethiopian' blade awaiting the cylindrical hilt is of a triple fuller form which was produced in Solingen around 1880s, and actually resembles the same block forte and hollowed fullers seen on Imperial German swords of that period, though the blades were usually single edged on those examples.
Many of these blades, which seem to have been Weyersberg made, were indeed sent to Abyssinia, and from there many went to Yemen where they had rhino horn hilts removed and silvered hilts added. This seems to have centered in San'aa, one of the main entrepots for the arrival of import blades in this part of Arabia.

All the best,
Jim

Dom · 17th February 2012, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.alnakkas

more details about the location + prices.

Salam Aleikum Lotfi ...
are you forecasting a "ġazwa" (غزو)

à +

Dom

katana · 17th February 2012, 01:05 PM

Salaams Ibrahiim,
interesting blades ..... but this item caught my eye (ringed in the picture) ....any ideas to what it is called ....perhaps just a fantasy piece but does seem functional.

Kind Regards David

.

16th February 2012, 11:05 AM	#1
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Yemeni Swords. In the Omani Market place. Salaams all ~ Yemeni Swords. Here are a few Yemeni swords which are flooding into Oman at this time. I stopped counting at about 100 in the main shop in Muscats Mutrah Souk.... and there were 200 more in their storeroom...( as well as 3000 tourists !) Mostly Karabella Hilts with European blades. Caught on film (at photo 4) is an Ethiopian blade imported from Germany with a welded hilt waiting for an Omani long hiltstyle thus the pommel (confirmed by shopowner this work has been often conducted by him and his father before etc in their own workshops)~ 1. 3 swords a. Zanzibari Nimcha. b. Saudia Bedu derivative. c. Yemeni Nimcha. 2. as above. 3. Wall loads of swords. 4. Ethiopian on a welded tang awaiting a long Omani Hilt. 5. Saudia derivative from Ottoman / Abbasid/ Greek style. 6. Zanzibar Nimcha. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Note; When I say Yemeni I mean supplied from there and owing to the upheaval currently wreaking havoc. Sanaa is a conduit for such equipment from the entire region including Zanzibari, African and Saudia. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 16th February 2012 at 11:29 AM.

16th February 2012, 11:25 AM	#2
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,057	Wish ! Oh how I would love to browse that market, some interesting blades there! Any particular reason for their appearance at this time?

17th February 2012, 01:05 PM	#10
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Salaams Ibrahiim, interesting blades ..... but this item caught my eye (ringed in the picture) ....any ideas to what it is called ....perhaps just a fantasy piece but does seem functional. Kind Regards David . Attached Images

16th February 2012, 12:01 PM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	What kind of prices do they command?

16th February 2012, 12:25 PM	#6
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,339	Nice one Ibrahim, send me an email with more details about the location + prices.

16th February 2012, 05:38 PM	#8
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,785	Amazing grouping of these Arabian swords Ibrahiim !!! Thank you for sharing them. In observing the groupings, in the first photo, top to bottom: I would note that these triple fullered sabre blades, particularly with the 'cabalistic' symbols are of an 18th century blade form commonly produced in Solingen, and believed to have been continued well into, if not through the 19th century (Gilkerson). These found considerable favor in regions of the Caucusus where variations of these began to occur in shashkas, and blade producers there copied them and exported many into Arabian trade networks. The top sabre is known actually (by hilt form) as the Moroccan sa'if, though typically termed incorrectly 'nimcha'. While of course many of these probably did end up in Red Sea trade and as far as Zanzibar, the hilt which has been considered 'Zanzibari' (Buttin, 1933) has similar grip/pommel shape with palm nock at the top, quillon system and distinctively a perpandicular ring extending from crossguard center. This form with the ring seems to have arrived in some volume into the Yemen in the early 20th century from Zanzibar, hence the attribution (also personal contact with Artzi Yarom, Oriental Arms on this). Is does seem likely these 'Moroccan-Algerian' type hilts would be found in Arabia as the hilt form does seem to have originated in the Arabian sphere, likely derived from Italian hilt forms of much earlier (A. North). The center sabre has an essentially Persian type hilt, but the general design and canted pommel cap in a collectively silvered style seems to reflect Caucasian styles which are typically nielloed and from latter 19th century. The crossguard with bulbous quillon terms reflects European style and of course this is a composite which is to be expected as these swords were so ofren refurbished to remain serviceable. The bottom sword is not technically a karabella, but does have the stylized version of that type hilt (the term itself is used toward the hilt typically). This style hilt is of the form usually seen in Hadhremaut in repousse silvered dress, though simpler versions are seen more into the interior regions as seen here. The 'Ethiopian' blade awaiting the cylindrical hilt is of a triple fuller form which was produced in Solingen around 1880s, and actually resembles the same block forte and hollowed fullers seen on Imperial German swords of that period, though the blades were usually single edged on those examples. Many of these blades, which seem to have been Weyersberg made, were indeed sent to Abyssinia, and from there many went to Yemen where they had rhino horn hilts removed and silvered hilts added. This seems to have centered in San'aa, one of the main entrepots for the arrival of import blades in this part of Arabia. All the best, Jim