I have a sword from the middle east that was given to me many years ago. Unfortunately I know nothing about it. I think it was brought over from Kuwait, but I'm not sure. Anyone know what this might be called or where it might originate from more precisely?

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The picture came out a little fuzzy, so I may take more shots that show the blade artwork.

It looks a little like some renditions of the Byzantine paramerion or the jambiya dagger. I can't help suspecting, though, that if it was really an Arab sword then it might have started out straight (looking rather like a more radically tapered version of the gladius and been bent in use!

Actually, it looks Sudanese to me.

There's a nearly identical dagger being sold at Czerny's, BTW: http://www.czernys.com/auctions_lot.php?oggetto=25351

I hadn't considered the possibility of it being African, since as far as I know it was brought over here from Kuwait, but that certainly seems quite plausible. Thanks for the Czerny's link, Mikko! You're quite right, that looks nearly identical. I think you've nailed it.

I have a few additional shots showing more of the detail:

http://ed.toton.org/photos/2006/weapons/a1137b.jpg
http://ed.toton.org/photos/2006/weapons/a1138b.jpg
http://ed.toton.org/photos/2006/weapons/a1139b.jpg

Could you show us a picture with something to judge the length by? It doesn't really look Arabic, but it does look african of some sort. I did a little research and it could possibly be a nimcha of some sort.


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Yes, I believe I was completely mistaken about its origin. The link that Mikko provided appears to be spot on in comparison, so I now believe it to be a Sudanese ceremonial dagger.

I can do better than a size reference in the picture... I took some measurements previously:


Overall Length : 27 inches
Blade Length: 19.75 inches
Hilt Length: 7.25 inches
Blade Width at guard: 2 inches
Center of Gravity: 3 inches from guard

Hello Ed,

I think I know where you got this from. I live in Kuwait and I have seen some of these lying around. Unfortunately, this isnt worth much, its a newly made, african dagger. Its not arab.

Cheers!

Excellent, thanks. Yes, I had assumed the value was low, but it's nice to get some confirmation about its origin.