Arab Saif Sword, 17th Century

This sword is an Arab sword called Saif, which is a common name for saber and sword. It should not be confused with a Moroccan Nimcha saber. Arab sabers and swords have greatly inspired these Nimchas, but here, it is in no way a Moroccan weapon.
Poor in iron and blacksmiths, Arabia gave up the manufacture of blades as soon as the supply of Western blades was possible.
After the first weapons recovered during the crusades, from the 15th century onwards, there were blades sold by the Genoese, then from the 16th century onwards, blades from Solingen or Styria. This is the case of our example, which has a blade originating from Solingen and dating from the second half of the 16th century.
The mount of the weapon is purely Arab. The study of No. 991 of the Buttin collection catalogue, as well as the descriptions of models 996 to 1001, can be usefully consulted. The sword presented here is almost identical to No. 999 of the Buttin collection.
BLADE: It is a straight, double-edged blade with a lenticular section, identical to the blades of the Germanic cavalry swords of the years 1580-1600. On the first 33 cm of the blade, there are 3 thin fullers. The central fuller continues for about ten centimetres more. In the middle of the blade, on each side, we find, partly erased, the markings with two opposing moons typical of Solingen manufacture.
The point is made of a sudden coming together of the edges, this shape is characteristic of blades mounted in Arabia, it allowed the point strike, which was practiced in the military fencing of Arab horsemen of the time.
Blade length = 87.2 cm, width near the guard = 4.4 cm, thickness near the guard = 5.3 mm. Balance point at 15 cm from the guard, which is characteristic of cavalry swords, to give force to the cutting blow.
GUARD: It is made of iron, in one piece, and of a very particular shape:
The 2 lower quillons are joined by a guard ring, inspired by Italian swords of the 16th century. The upper quillon corresponding to the back of the blade is curved towards it parallel to the lower quillon. The knuckle bow or joint arc is very strongly curved and joins the handle without being fixed to it. All these metal parts of the guard are soberly chiseled. The style of work allows us to date this guard from the 2nd half of the 17th century.
GRIP : it is made of black horn, which appears to be rhinoceros horn. It presents the silhouette of a fantastic animal head. The part corresponding to the finger grip is geometrically engraved. The handle ends with a cut iron plate, on which the blade tang is riveted, by means of a small brass button.

It is therefore a beautiful piece, uncommon, at a reasonable price which shows once again the interfaces between East and West at the time of the 16th-17th centuries.
Shipping costs: France 20€, Europe 30€
Ref B-04XX