Interesting Saif with Provenance for Sharing

A.alnakkas · 26th June 2015, 05:23 PM

Hey Jim,

Indians and Yemenis copied European designs and often the flex is different on their swords. Also, I owned a Qajar blade with such features.

A.alnakkas · 30th June 2015, 10:42 AM

This is another saif in my collection with a blade that seemed European at first but its actually wootz.

A.alnakkas · 20th November 2015, 11:04 AM

Well, I facepalmed that I at some point, thought this is not a European blade. A friend just found a small proof mark on the blade, has a crown and a G under it.. Will try to photograph it

A.alnakkas · 20th November 2015, 01:30 PM

Anyone have any idea about the origin of this proof mark?

Pukka Bundook · 20th November 2015, 01:59 PM

That mark reminds me very much of the Swedish mark, seen on arms made by Carl Gustav.

Richard.

A.alnakkas · 20th November 2015, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pukka Bundook

That mark reminds me very much of the Swedish mark, seen on arms made by Carl Gustav.

Richard.

Hey Richard,

Any examples?

Richard G · 24th November 2015, 10:58 AM

Lotfy,
The mark also resembles (and I mean resembles) an Englsh government inspectors mark. These were a mark of quality control applied to arms intended for British goverment use. They are frequenly found on the well known " Khyber" copies of EIC firearms that still fool an awful lot of people. I have not, as far as I can remember, seen them on any "Khyber" blades, but they do appear on British military issue swords of the mid 19th Cent. and later. I have a nimcha type saif which has a blade in European style but which shows signs of a mechanical watering which in my opinion is almost unheard of in a European blade.
I suggest it is a possibilty that your blade is Indian or Pakistani made, in a European style, and with a spurios stamp, to give it a bit of extra clout. As far as I am aware many of these copies were contemporary with the original.
Regards
Richard

26th June 2015, 05:23 PM	#1
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	Hey Jim, Indians and Yemenis copied European designs and often the flex is different on their swords. Also, I owned a Qajar blade with such features. Attached Images

30th June 2015, 10:42 AM	#2
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	This is another saif in my collection with a blade that seemed European at first but its actually wootz. Attached Images

20th November 2015, 01:30 PM	#4
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	Anyone have any idea about the origin of this proof mark? Attached Images

20th November 2015, 11:04 AM	#3
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	Well, I facepalmed that I at some point, thought this is not a European blade. A friend just found a small proof mark on the blade, has a crown and a G under it.. Will try to photograph it

20th November 2015, 01:59 PM	#5
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	That mark reminds me very much of the Swedish mark, seen on arms made by Carl Gustav. Richard.

24th November 2015, 10:58 AM	#7
Richard G Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 415	Lotfy, The mark also resembles (and I mean resembles) an Englsh government inspectors mark. These were a mark of quality control applied to arms intended for British goverment use. They are frequenly found on the well known " Khyber" copies of EIC firearms that still fool an awful lot of people. I have not, as far as I can remember, seen them on any "Khyber" blades, but they do appear on British military issue swords of the mid 19th Cent. and later. I have a nimcha type saif which has a blade in European style but which shows signs of a mechanical watering which in my opinion is almost unheard of in a European blade. I suggest it is a possibilty that your blade is Indian or Pakistani made, in a European style, and with a spurios stamp, to give it a bit of extra clout. As far as I am aware many of these copies were contemporary with the original. Regards Richard