Saif, Moroccan saif, sife, nimcha, nimsha

Jim McDougall · 12th May 2025, 09:43 PM

Thank you Yuri

It is always fun to solve (or try) mysteries. It is doubtful anyone has records of these often variously configured markings as to what meaning they might have had. Makers tended to have distinctive trademark punzones which were placed singularly in one universal location on the blade, typically the forte.
It seems that although many blades had no makers marks.....typically well established makers had shops, and often other workers making blades, which presumably were not marked as those of the master.

This was the case with the Ferara brothers (your ANDREA FERARA mkg) of Belluno in the regions of Milan in Italy. They worked in the shop of another master forger, and VERY few blades are marked to the Ferara brothers.
How the name became such a ubiquitous mark of quality is a matter of notable debate, but has become the stuff of legend.

Looking at references with these twig, marca mosca, sickles etc. they occur in weird configurations and multiples on the Italian blades, which further indicates that though not isolated to one maker....it is possible that certain combinations might be so used. There have also always been suggestions of the guilds having something to do with these varied devices.

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12th May 2025, 09:43 PM	#10
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Thank you Yuri It is always fun to solve (or try) mysteries. It is doubtful anyone has records of these often variously configured markings as to what meaning they might have had. Makers tended to have distinctive trademark punzones which were placed singularly in one universal location on the blade, typically the forte. It seems that although many blades had no makers marks.....typically well established makers had shops, and often other workers making blades, which presumably were not marked as those of the master. This was the case with the Ferara brothers (your ANDREA FERARA mkg) of Belluno in the regions of Milan in Italy. They worked in the shop of another master forger, and VERY few blades are marked to the Ferara brothers. How the name became such a ubiquitous mark of quality is a matter of notable debate, but has become the stuff of legend. Looking at references with these twig, marca mosca, sickles etc. they occur in weird configurations and multiples on the Italian blades, which further indicates that though not isolated to one maker....it is possible that certain combinations might be so used. There have also always been suggestions of the guilds having something to do with these varied devices.