Hi everyone,

I have this sword that is supposedly a saif from Zanzibar. According to a book I have (The Book of the Sword), Zanzibari swords were typically European looking. Based on the folded down third quillon, I think its a nimcha. Do any of you have any other information on nimchas and saifs? If you guys could pin a date in this sword, it would be greatly appreciated! Also, there's a neat little crescent moon with seven stars above it on the blade. Does anyone know what that could mean?

Thanks for all the help!

Close ups:





Full sword and scabbard:

Does no one have any information on this type of sword? :\

Hi Jess,

I am no expert by any means, but from what I have gleaned over the years, I would say this is exactly what you stated it had been represented as, namely a saif in the style produced in Zanzibar. The blade looks to me to be European hilted in the Zanibar fashion. I understood that many European blades were acquired/obtained by trade, picked up off the battlefield, etc. and found their way to the arms manucfacturing centers of the middle east & north Africa. I would guess here a cavalry sword blade repurposed. Consistent with other examples I have seen (in pictures, not in person, it has a rounded point seen on many arab saifs. I believe "saif" is merely the arab word for sword ,but again, I could be wrong, as I am not a linguist. Over the years I have seen arab swords referred to as "saifs" and usually they have rounded points, indicating they were primarily slashing cutters-again usually appearing to me to be meant for use from horseback (or perhaps camel back).

I can see why you think it could be a nimcha, as the hilts are similar; but not the same. I have an authentic nimcha and have handled one other. I believe it was owned by Therion of Therion Arms actually. The swords I understand as being Morracan nimchas are very similar to to this, but while it has the extra upturned quillon, it does not have the side ring like yours, which I thought appeared on the Zanibar saifs.

I think yours is a beautiful piece btw.

The age is hard to say. I would hazzard a guess at anywhere from late 18th to very early 20th. If I had to guess, I would say mid 19th C. The style and wear of the armour's marks makes me think it is earlier rather than later in my estimated range. The surviving scabbard detail is very nice as well. The patterned leather work and remaining chape and ring fittings appear in style and material to be consistant with my estimated age range, at least to my admittedly untrained eye. It looks to me like a suspension ring is now missing. The original two ring suspension to me again suggest a cavalry weapon, but maybe that was the norm for suspending this sword on foot as well, I really don't know. ...

All in all a very nice looking authentic antique. Any provance provided by who or wherever you acquired it from beyond what you stated? How long is the blade btw? How did you acquire it btw? Antique dealer, auction house, flea market? Just curious.

Finally, I know there are much more knowledgable folks than me on eastern arms, hopefully they will chime in. I often find a lot of examples of eastern arms on the cite of oriental arms several Moraccan nimchas are shown in its photo galleries
and one is for sale right now. See:

http://www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=3924

My nimcha is very similar to those true Morroccan nimchas depicted on that site.

Thanks for sharing this very nice sword.

Best regards,

Terry

Jess-- here are some great pictures of a early 19th C Morraccan nimcha sword for sale on e-bay from a reputable seller:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NICE-NORTH-AFRICAN-NIMCHA...2c53ba705f