Hey everyone, first time poster here and must say, I'm quite impressed with the site. Anyways im rambling. I was going through my garage and found a sword that I received from my "Oma" aka grandmother for my birthday a few years back. She doesn't know to much about the sword except that it was a gift to her late boyfriend. He recieved this gift in India back in the 60's for his effort and work for the road and highway work that he did. He recieved this sword from a prince and ofcourse know none names of this prince, but there is a picture of him with the sword standing near the prince. Now the sword has unique markings and designs on it. One symbol seen in the pic is a half crescent moon with SIX stars"two of the stars and almost worn off". The sword seems to be made out of silver and has some type of tusk or ivory within the sheeth its self. The sword seems to be a Shimshar or a scimitar, I don't know. Any info or idea of what it is worth and the rarity of this would be much appreciated. Thank you, Curtis.

<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e109/CurtisAsh/?action=view&current=100_0217.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e109/CurtisAsh/100_0217.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

A bit west of India I would think. Possibly Turkish or Arabic but definitely of a west of the Persian gulf flavor. These praticularly right angle hilts are generally regarded as a Saif. I have some images of later European made swords that are of that influence and occasionally found in America as militia swords. It is only a small hurdle from that to the horsehead pommels we see on even more influences and design.

At any rate, not of India manufacture, I don't think. They come with a wide variety in length and curve. A nice sword to be presented by a relative.

Cheers

GC

An earlier ancestor of the horse pommels of England (that's my impression)

what would be my best bet of finding exact history on the type of sword and birth place?

Are you sure he wasn't in Arabia (or maybe Syria or Iraq)? It's definitely an Arab Saif. I don't think yours looks particularly old, it may well have been newly made when it was given. Swords of this general style are being made in the middle east to this day as presentation items (the 2nd President Bush was given one on a trip to Bahrain a few years back).

Ill have to double check with her to make sure. What are the usuall values of swords like these?