Gorgeous genoui with rhino horn hilt

[Jim McDougall]

Very good suggestion Emanuel, and it is true that the Italian trade indeed did produce considerable influence from early times in the Maghreb and throughout the North African littoral. It seems that there have been strong suggestions that the distinctly shaped pommel of the koumiyya derives from the pommel shape of the Italian cinqueda. In those early times such weapons might have come from either Genoa or Venice, both city states who were fiercely competitive for trade.
I wonder if the possible reference to Genoa, might have been used in other weapons in Maghreb regions as well, much as Emanuel suggests in the same parlance as 'firangi' in India, loosely meaning 'foreign'.

I am inclined to think that Italian bayonets would likely not be included, at least from colonial presence in the Sahara, but since they were of course present in East Africa, the profound trade may account for some possibility.

We gotta get the bayonet books!

All best regards,
Jim