guardless nimcha

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Andreas

Buttin in his catalogue refers to all his “nimcha” swords as saifs. He considers the type as the quintessential Arab sabre, with relatively minor differences in Moroccan swords, and attributes the origin of its form to a Sinhalese prototype.
I found another reference to the Indian nimcha, in a report by the French consul to Calcutta, describing the international exhibition of 1883. He mentions several swords from the Deccan by name, including the “Nimcha, a short sword, carried by the lower classes”.

Andreas, thank you so much! This is exactly what I always hope for in these discussions, other references not previously included; other sword examples from private collections as kindly posted by Kronckew; pertinent illustrative examples as always graciously entered by Estcrh and the key engagement in varying aspects of the topic by Ibrahiim.

These things are how we can bring the knowledge and advance on the understanding of these forms, as a team.

As you note, Buttin(publ.1933) did indeed refer collectively to these groups of sabres as Arabian saif, which I believe he felt served better to describe the entire spectrum rather than variations....though he does specify Moroccan in some examples. It is unclear whether he knew of, or used the term 'nimcha' in his collections or works.
In going through old notes, I found one of the key articles on this topic from Connoisseur magazine December 1975, by the Anthony North, " A Late 15th Century Italian Sword".
In the article he addresses the similarities in the Moroccan saif with an Italian short sabre of 15th century. In this Charles Buttin is mentioned with his comparisons of the kastane of Ceylon with European swords . In a paper he wrote ("Les Poignards et Les Sabres Marocaines", 'Hesperis' tome XXVI,published 1939), he noted an example of this hilt system as Spanish, however as North points out this was a North Italian sword in actuality.

I recall personal discussions with one of the Buttin family from 2004, and it was noted that Charles believed that the European swords had been influenced by the kastane. Obviously the early views of even the most venerable of authorities can have possible errors, just as his dating of some hilts of this form to the 14th and 15th century.
The earliest example we have found of the kastane with its guard in the familiar form is c. 1622 (probably slightly earlier).
The earliest known examples of the 'Moroccan' hilts are in English paintings of 1628 and 1640 .

There does seem to be a void between the late 15th century and the known 17th century examples of these swords in Morocco.
As noted swords with these style hilts are known in Mediterranian context with Italy late 15th, Moroccan early 17th, with the curious examples from India apparently later reflecting probable Arab influence via Hyderabad.
As noted, the kastane has its earliest appearance early 17th c.

So our question is , 'where are the examples of these distinctive multi quillon hilts in the 16th century? Perhaps knowing the location of their notable presence then might reveal more on the diffusion of the hilt form.

As for the term 'nimcha' it does seem selectively used but most evidence points to Indian context, although it does not seem to have been clearly understood by Egerton. Also another curious conflict, in Egerton it is noted the 'nimcha' was used by upper classes, however his emphasis seems to have been on the Deccan to Mahratta regions........the French consul noted by Andreas states conversely, the nimcha to lower classes?

[kronckew]

as mentioned in your last pgh. above, the 'lower' classes in many of these areas were the indigenous populations, the upper or ruling classes in the arab world of the time usually meant the turks, (and/or the brits ) who had their own historic arms systems. arms of the lower classes were not necessarily inferior in quality and effectiveness to those of their masters... as many of the latter found out. us colonials can be stroppy.

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you Kronckew! That adds some most interesting perspective in these descriptions used in these narratives.

Addendum to my notes in my previous post on the article by North (1975).
In my question wondering, if this Venetian sword was from the late 15th century, and the next appearances of these hilts don't turn up until early 17th, where were these in the 16th century?

I think I found the answer. In "Swords and Hilt Weapons" (ed. M. Coe, 1989), Anthony North wrote the chapter "Seventeenth Century Europe" (pp.72-83). On age 77, this exact sword from his 1975 article (a Royal Armouries holding) is captioned 'Venetian hanger, c 1620'.
Perhaps it was an unfortunate misspeak as I know I often do the same thing However, this clears up a very important point toward the ancestry and vintage of this familiar guard system.

In the same chapter, it is noted that loosely similar guards were well known on a number of European hangers in the first half of the century. It is also noted that in addition to the English paintings showing 'nimcha' style hilts of the 'Moroccan' form, another English painting of the period shows Col .Alexander Popham of Littlecote, Wiltshire, wearing a distinctly recognized 'kastane' with the serandipaya and Sinhalese lion clearly seen.

This would place our terminus ante quem right in the mid to latter 16TH
century for the hilt form with these distinctive quillons and knuckleguard.
It does not help us determine whether Ceylon was source for the style, or Italy, but I would personally bet on Italy, as they were the innovators in the developing schools of fence. They also set the pace for weapons style and innovation in Europe in these times.
The kastane was a status oriented dress sword which likely evolved in the period noted as a result of European trade contact.
However it should be noted that Sinhalese craftsmen did often craft carved hilts on many European hangers and swords for colonial clients. It is often suggested that the lion heads of the kastane may have popularized the placing of busts of human heads and the use of animal heads on sword hilts.

[estcrh]

So is the nimca based on a European sword, or are the European swords with a similar hilt copys of nimcha, which came first?

Glaive de l'Ecole de Mars

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by estcrh

So is the nimca based on a European sword, or are the European swords with a similar hilt copys of nimcha, which came first?

Glaive de l'Ecole de Mars

That is an interesting question, and becomes truly a conundrum when the views of arms researchers of the stature of Charles Buttin suggest that the Ceylonese kastane may have been the inspiration for the European swords with such guard systems.
These types of guards as well as the knucklebow were not particularly key in swords of the Indian subcontinent, which was the source as I understand for much of the design of the kastane as far as decorative motif.

Meanwhile, Italy was keenly involved in the developing styles of sword play and the innovative hand protections that came with it, hence the evolution of the complex hilt rapier. These evolutions of guard systems as noted, were taking place as early as the 16th century and in degree even earlier.

The sword play of India and most 'ethnographic' regions including Arabia, Central Asia, etc. was primarily based on defense with a shield and not sword to sword combat.
This is why the so called 'firangi' or Hindu basket hilt evolved from the indigenous khanda, by adding the guard in response to European influence.
The knuckle guard began appearing on various ethnic sword forms with the same kind of European influence through trade and colonialization.

There were in many cases minor influences on European swords in later times as the attraction to 'exotica' lent to using certain styles in certain forms. However this was more of a unique case, such as Japanese styling such as shakudo in 18th century small swords, and the karabela style of the Middle East becoming well known in Poland. It is known that the sabres of the Ottomans became adopted into European style.

Returning to the nimcha, in my opinion, the guard system came from the Italian hilts of 16th century as noted by North (1975), and entered various spheres via the trade of Venice. It has long been suggested that numerous edged weapons of North Africa are directly linked to Italian forms, with various elements in blades and or hilts.

Its transmission to Ceylon was most certainly indirect, probably through Portuguese but with that possibly through Italian influence as well, but in other regions. The swords of Italy were the pace setters for Spain and Portugal in many cases, just as in Europe.

Thank you for asking this, and the great images comparing the Moroccan sa'if and the French academy sword, which was from the 1790s. This was another example of the counter influence of 'foreign' arms to European, which was prevalent after the Napoleonic campaigns in Egypt. The famed 'mameluke' hilt sabre became popular for officers throughout Europe and is still used today in the officers swords of the USMC .

[kronckew]

the french ecole de mars sword is on my list of swords to acquire. at it's bottom. one of the ugliest useless cumbersome looking swords i have seen including some modern frangible stainless steel 'fantasy' wall hangers. i include the ecole in the 'fantasy' category, it's only saving grace is that it is not stainless.the steel part of the guard & knuckle guard is it's best feature tho. they should have used that bit and left off the thick rectangular part of the guard. the blade looks too short and the point is way too obtuse. example below.

it is an award to be treasured by those who actually won and were presented with them, a tribute to their performance at the ecole, but the school could have used a better design. it looks like it was designed by a committee. the spanish swords with their proximity to the iberian arab world and morocco may be closer. example also below.

or the itlaian connections mentioned earlier, as in my falchion (sharp repro) way below which is even better.

[Jim McDougall]

These Ecole swords are indeed pretty unattractive and of course intended only for ceremonial or parade use, but their rarity is probably the most compelling factor for collectors. They are intriguing curiosities and seem to have some degree of connection in some fraternal type weapons, which are also gaining in popularity in collecting.

Good points on the Nasrid broadsword shown, and these swords may well have been what prompted Charles Buttin's suggestion for Spanish origin of these quillon arrangements. There was of course as mentioned considerable interaction between Italy and Spain through royal and diplomatic channels through the centuries, so tight similarities are not surprising.