Nimcha, literally

[TVV]

Jim and Jeff,
Thank you for your comments. The overall length of the entire sword is 31 inches. My feeling is also that it has been shortened. I will try to get a picture of the tip and more detailed measurements tomorrow.
Thanks,
Teodor

[Jim McDougall]

In taking a closer look at the blade tip here, it does not appear 'center point' and with that does appear shortened, and I concur with Teodor and Jeff
This makes a great deal more sense, as horsemans sword blades of the 1770's to 1780's were straight and commonly of this section.

All best regards,
JIm

[TVV]

Here is a picture of the tip .

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you Teodor! The modification is clearly seen...and I need my glasses checked!

All the best,
Jim

[TVV]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Thank you Teodor! The modification is clearly seen...and I need my glasses checked!

All the best,
Jim

Jim,

As far as your glasses are concerned, I would like to get a pair of those, as they allow you to often see things that evade other observers.
In this case we agree that the blade is shortened. Is there any chance this may have been done on purpose, to adapt the blade for naval use?

Thanks,
Teodor

[ariel]

Why necessarily naval? Couldn't the owner just be a "shorty"? Or having personal preference? Or the sword being more "parade" variety? Or... Who knows what other reason people might have had to wear a shorter sword?Certainly, other fighting swords all over the world had variable lengths.

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you for the kind words Teodor!
These sa'if typically regarded as distinctly Moroccan, are actually originally an Arabian form which is why the nimcha term became associated. They became well known in the 17th century as I have noted, and commonly linked with the broadly defined maritime marauders known as the Barbary pirates.

With this it has often been presumed that these familiar swords would have had shorter cutlass length blades, but in actuality it seems that they were often mounted with straight blades of considerable length. This was because most of the blades, like commonly the case, were trade or captured blades. I often had thought it unusual for a sabre type hilt to be mounted with straight blade, but it seems to have been common than realized, as I discovered in studying early Mexican cavalry sabres mounted with straight dragoon blades.

With all of this considered, we can only speculate why the blade would have been shortened, perhaps damage to the original tip? Personal preference would indeed come into play as well, but as noted, many of these retained the long cavalry type blades. It is worthy of note as well that these Barbary pirates' action was not always confined to on board melees, but often included raids into locations on land, where a full length sword was of course more in place.

Whatever the case, it is an intriguing piece with great blade and markings, and would ,by type, be quite at home on our pirates thread!!

All the best,
Jim

[TVV]

Originally Posted by ariel

Why necessarily naval? Couldn't the owner just be a "shorty"? Or having personal preference? Or the sword being more "parade" variety? Or... Who knows what other reason people might have had to wear a shorter sword?Certainly, other fighting swords all over the world had variable lengths.

This is a great question, Ariel. Personal preference is always a possibility. Even more likely, as Jim pointed out, is a case in which the blade was broken and the tip redone.
I am not sure if the owner was a shorty, but the hilt fits very comfortably in my hand and I am 6'5". It is of about the same size of another Moroccan saif that I have, which is mounted with a long, curved blade, most likely from a 19th century French cavalry sword. Thus I do not feel it was made for a shorter person.
A parade or court weapon is an interesting suggestion. The plain iron mounts are anything but fancy though and this sword to me appears to be a user, not an adornment.
Why naval? I am not sure it was naval myself, I am just hoping so. Wishful thinking on my part .

Jim,
Thank you very much for your detailed response. I thought about posting in one of the pirates threads, but did not want to hijack it. Also, while it is nice to think that this might have been the weapon of a Barbary pirat, there is no way we can ever know it for sure. I would not mind it if this thread is expanded to a discussion of the weapons of the Barbary pirates, from Haireddin Barbarossa to the 19th century.
I will put a picture of the markings in the Old Markings discussion thread for future reference.
Best regards and many thanks to all who took the time to reply here,
Teodor