Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Nimchas in the Grand Master Palace Armory in Valletta

Jim McDougall · 25th April 2019, 02:05 PM

This truly is an exciting and phenomenal look into this fascinating array of weaponry on Malta, and Teodor thank you for sharing these pictures!

This is an excellent insight into the weaponry which was seen in the dynamic and colorful history of Malta, the military orders there, the Ottoman corsairs (Barbary pirates) and so much of Meditteranean maritime history.

This is also a great look at the variations of the so called 'nimsha' swords we have been discussing presently, and whose origins and development are yet another speculative sword mystery.

These distinctly hilted swords and the typical widely flared point blades were apparently oriented toward maritime use as cutlasses and seem to be primarily associated with the Maghreb, and the Ottoman corsairs/pirates.
However, the hilt style also influenced various sword types throughout the Arab sphere which of course was vary much aligned with Ottoman in many areas.

As noted, it would be hard to classify many of these weapons represented in these collections as from any particular event (such as the siege) or for that matter directly associated with Malta itself or specific provenances. This is because Malta was so 'internationally' connected by trade, the military orders, and its key Meditteranean location so many of these weapons could have arrived there over extended time and from very diverse situations.

The Ottoman influences which were so widely diffused not only by the so called Barbary pirates, but Ottoman maritime operations in trade etc. clearly filtered through here over centuries. Malta itself engaged in its own 'privateering' to prey on these Ottoman vessels, which carried many materials from throughout the Ottoman Empire

That might account for the presence of what appears to be an Afghan 'choora' dagger, though it is obviously far more recent than many other weapons here .Also the ivory/bone hilted yataghan form (sans ears) with nimsha blade, which reminds me of certain similar hilts from Balkan regions I have seen with the 'oriental' influence favored through Europe in 18th c. .

What an incredible museum! and I'd love to see it in person, but this is great, thank you again Teodor!!!

25th April 2019, 02:05 PM	#10
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,731	This truly is an exciting and phenomenal look into this fascinating array of weaponry on Malta, and Teodor thank you for sharing these pictures! This is an excellent insight into the weaponry which was seen in the dynamic and colorful history of Malta, the military orders there, the Ottoman corsairs (Barbary pirates) and so much of Meditteranean maritime history. This is also a great look at the variations of the so called 'nimsha' swords we have been discussing presently, and whose origins and development are yet another speculative sword mystery. These distinctly hilted swords and the typical widely flared point blades were apparently oriented toward maritime use as cutlasses and seem to be primarily associated with the Maghreb, and the Ottoman corsairs/pirates. However, the hilt style also influenced various sword types throughout the Arab sphere which of course was vary much aligned with Ottoman in many areas. As noted, it would be hard to classify many of these weapons represented in these collections as from any particular event (such as the siege) or for that matter directly associated with Malta itself or specific provenances. This is because Malta was so 'internationally' connected by trade, the military orders, and its key Meditteranean location so many of these weapons could have arrived there over extended time and from very diverse situations. The Ottoman influences which were so widely diffused not only by the so called Barbary pirates, but Ottoman maritime operations in trade etc. clearly filtered through here over centuries. Malta itself engaged in its own 'privateering' to prey on these Ottoman vessels, which carried many materials from throughout the Ottoman Empire That might account for the presence of what appears to be an Afghan 'choora' dagger, though it is obviously far more recent than many other weapons here .Also the ivory/bone hilted yataghan form (sans ears) with nimsha blade, which reminds me of certain similar hilts from Balkan regions I have seen with the 'oriental' influence favored through Europe in 18th c. . What an incredible museum! and I'd love to see it in person, but this is great, thank you again Teodor!!!