What Have We Here

RSWORD · 4th May 2005, 12:29 PM

I am away from my references at the moment but my best guess at this time is that this is an Arab sword, possibly from Oman.

tom hyle · 4th May 2005, 12:47 PM

You may be right; what I'm grasping for with the lidsheath/guard may be a similarity to the lidsheath/ferule/guard on jambiya. In fact, now that you say Arab, I think you are probably right. I've definitely seen this very form before, I may have a picture in a book, but my books are in my car, I'm nude, and it's raining.....

Conogre · 4th May 2005, 04:12 PM

The style is almost indo-persian, with both arabic and Indian influences, with the foliage favoring the former.
At a glance the impression was oriental, but looking closer quickly dispells that.
SWEET find and subtely different than most I've seen.
Mike

tom hyle · 5th May 2005, 01:34 AM

Swords and Hilt Weapons by North, Coe, Connolly, et al. Page 141 an extremely similar sword, unfortuneately IDd only as one of a "Group of Turkish and Persian swords and daggers with silver mounts and blades inlaid with gold, sixteenth-eighteenth century." A less similar but still similar sword is on page 139, IDd as Hispano-Mooresque c. 1500.....

Rick · 5th May 2005, 01:41 AM

Good eye Tom .
Just looked at the example in Swords and Hilt Weapons ; a much nicer example . Makes me wonder if our example is a 'decorative' piece from a later era.

M.carter · 5th May 2005, 09:52 AM

This sword is arab, Yemeni. There was a similar sword posted on SFI a while ago. Unfortunately, no one knew anything of these swords.

SFI Sword

Ive just realized something, these swords look very much like the swords in the book "Islamic Swords and Swordsmiths" by Dr.Uncal Yuncel. Portraits 56,57,58,59. Except those had slightly curved blades and were made in the mamluk period, 15th century.

Michael Blalock · 6th May 2005, 01:24 PM

Hi, I bought that sword on ebay and I own the sword shown on SFI. Now I have a collection started. I guess I will need to go back to Yemen or Oman to get more, though I understand they confiscate anything older than 50 years nowadays. It's a shame that the blade on the ebay sword looks like it was sanded or ground. I will post a better picure when I get delivery.

5th May 2005, 01:41 AM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,347	Ahh , Yes Good eye Tom . Just looked at the example in Swords and Hilt Weapons ; a much nicer example . Makes me wonder if our example is a 'decorative' piece from a later era.

5th May 2005, 09:52 AM	#6
M.carter Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 176	This sword is arab, Yemeni. There was a similar sword posted on SFI a while ago. Unfortunately, no one knew anything of these swords. SFI Sword Ive just realized something, these swords look very much like the swords in the book "Islamic Swords and Swordsmiths" by Dr.Uncal Yuncel. Portraits 56,57,58,59. Except those had slightly curved blades and were made in the mamluk period, 15th century. Last edited by M.carter; 5th May 2005 at 10:03 AM.

6th May 2005, 01:24 PM	#7
Michael Blalock Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: dc Posts: 271	Omani/Yemeni Sword Hi, I bought that sword on ebay and I own the sword shown on SFI. Now I have a collection started. I guess I will need to go back to Yemen or Oman to get more, though I understand they confiscate anything older than 50 years nowadays. It's a shame that the blade on the ebay sword looks like it was sanded or ground. I will post a better picure when I get delivery.

4th May 2005, 12:29 PM	#1
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,087	I am away from my references at the moment but my best guess at this time is that this is an Arab sword, possibly from Oman.

4th May 2005, 12:47 PM	#2
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	You may be right; what I'm grasping for with the lidsheath/guard may be a similarity to the lidsheath/ferule/guard on jambiya. In fact, now that you say Arab, I think you are probably right. I've definitely seen this very form before, I may have a picture in a book, but my books are in my car, I'm nude, and it's raining.....

4th May 2005, 04:12 PM	#3
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	The style is almost indo-persian, with both arabic and Indian influences, with the foliage favoring the former. At a glance the impression was oriental, but looking closer quickly dispells that. SWEET find and subtely different than most I've seen. Mike

5th May 2005, 01:34 AM	#4
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Swords and Hilt Weapons by North, Coe, Connolly, et al. Page 141 an extremely similar sword, unfortuneately IDd only as one of a "Group of Turkish and Persian swords and daggers with silver mounts and blades inlaid with gold, sixteenth-eighteenth century." A less similar but still similar sword is on page 139, IDd as Hispano-Mooresque c. 1500.....