Barbary corsairs/swords

Rick · 26th July 2008, 06:43 PM

How interesting !

A Parang Nabur .

These swords seem to have gotten around .

M ELEY · 27th July 2008, 02:03 AM

Hmmm. Well, of course, the Malay pirates were second to none for their activities that span to the present day. But Berber Corsairs carrying these? Again, I guess through trade routes such would be possible, but typical?

fernando · 27th July 2008, 09:56 AM

Well, it would not be the first time museums give bizarre info on things

. For a start, they call it a nimcha, which (even) i know is not correct.
The tag text for a nimcha is probably right, and so must be the preponderance of the parang for the Malay pirates, so only the conjugation of both being wrong

M ELEY · 27th July 2008, 05:36 PM

It's an awesome sword, none the less. Thanks for posting it, Fernando! Anything 'pirate' catches my attention. I particularly like the fittings, they are gold or gold-leaf?

fernando · 27th July 2008, 07:32 PM

Hi Mark,
With a patient observation of the tag text in three of the pictures, that i had cut off to concentrate on the sword images editing, i think i managed to read it. Here is a crude translation:

ARABIAN SABRE OF THE "Nimcha" TYPE.
Origin: Northwest of Africa, possibly Morocco.
Period: XVIII-XIX century.
Total length: 74 cms.
Blade of one only edge, widening at the point, with very deep gutters.
Handle of wood, with a pistol grip shape, with spur hand guard in brass.
It was the type of weapon prefered by the pirates that used to rapine the ships along the African coast.

I understand your question about the fittings being gold or golden, though.
That brass happens to have a rather high polished finishing.

Fernando

26th July 2008, 06:43 PM	#1
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	How interesting ! A Parang Nabur . These swords seem to have gotten around . Attached Images Last edited by Rick; 26th July 2008 at 07:00 PM.

27th July 2008, 07:32 PM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Hi Mark, With a patient observation of the tag text in three of the pictures, that i had cut off to concentrate on the sword images editing, i think i managed to read it. Here is a crude translation: ARABIAN SABRE OF THE "Nimcha" TYPE. Origin: Northwest of Africa, possibly Morocco. Period: XVIII-XIX century. Total length: 74 cms. Blade of one only edge, widening at the point, with very deep gutters. Handle of wood, with a pistol grip shape, with spur hand guard in brass. It was the type of weapon prefered by the pirates that used to rapine the ships along the African coast. I understand your question about the fittings being gold or golden, though. That brass happens to have a rather high polished finishing. Fernando Attached Images

27th July 2008, 02:03 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,158	Hmmm. Well, of course, the Malay pirates were second to none for their activities that span to the present day. But Berber Corsairs carrying these? Again, I guess through trade routes such would be possible, but typical?

27th July 2008, 09:56 AM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Well, it would not be the first time museums give bizarre info on things . For a start, they call it a nimcha, which (even) i know is not correct. The tag text for a nimcha is probably right, and so must be the preponderance of the parang for the Malay pirates, so only the conjugation of both being wrong

27th July 2008, 05:36 PM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,158	It's an awesome sword, none the less. Thanks for posting it, Fernando! Anything 'pirate' catches my attention. I particularly like the fittings, they are gold or gold-leaf?