Nimcha: opinions and translations?

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you Evgeny for the response, and Kubur has noted (#33) that no third quillon presence seems evident. The reason I brought up the dual quillons was to support that such variation did exist in Maghrebi nimcha, and were apparently relegated to Algerian versions (the Moroccan had three quillons).

I well understand wishful thinking in examining and identifying a weapon, but for me truth and correct as possible classification also have their own virtues. Often the investigation of a weapon brings to light wonderful historic aspects of its presence in certain contexts which might not otherwise have been revealed.

The fact that this is probably not a Genoan weapon indigenous to this Black Sea region as it dates long after Genoan colonial presence had dissipated there does not preclude the fact it might still be an Italian blade. However, its means of arriving in the area it was found MAY have been through the conduit of the Ottoman forces with Maghebi weapons in this region in the 18th c.
Even if found to be a weapon which indeed came from these Black Sea regions, the blade still could be North Italian or Styrian, as these centers produced blades well through the 18th c. These same blades which often reached North Africa also went to many foreign ports including East European, Russian, Balkan etc.

Whatever the case, the fact that this sword was found in situ in the location you describe gives it stellar provenance on its own merits.

[Evgeny_K]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

The fact that this is probably not a Genoan weapon indigenous to this Black Sea region as it dates long after Genoan colonial presence had dissipated there does not preclude the fact it might still be an Italian blade. However, its means of arriving in the area it was found MAY have been through the conduit of the Ottoman forces with Maghebi weapons in this region in the 18th c.
Even if found to be a weapon which indeed came from these Black Sea regions, the blade still could be North Italian or Styrian, as these centers produced blades well through the 18th c. These same blades which often reached North Africa also went to many foreign ports including East European, Russian, Balkan etc.

Whatever the case, the fact that this sword was found in situ in the location you describe gives it stellar provenance on its own merits.

Thank you, Jim!

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Evgeny_K

Thank you, Jim!

Absolutely Evgeny! My pleasure and thank you for the opportunity to look into this great sword!

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

First my congratulations everyone who has placed details here since this sword type is doubly difficult to analyze because of its apparent duality both in the Mediterranean and in the Indian Ocean.
The word Nimcha is Persian and used in the Baluch language also. I think that although it seems a short weapon this is only half the story since there are big swords around from the Moroccan side and those which were used by Band of London Officer Tobias Blose plus those seen a court in Morocco were examples from artwork. Thus what does it mean; Nimcha?

Nim means half not small. Nim o Nim means half n' half. Yak o Nim means half past One. Nimcha is likely to mean half sword....or half sharpened sword.

In most cases Nimcha have a heavy back edge and a sharp cutting edge suggesting that is the traditional style. A chopping slashing form; From Horseback or in its shorter style a cutlass.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Nimcha.

Thje weapon below with the sunlight from the window on it simply compared with the Butin charts gives the impression that this is a Nimcha and likely from Saudia.

The give away being the silver covered hilt and sharply turned pommel . Interestingly this weapon also has the chain knuckle arrangement and straight crossguard…Finials terminating in vegetal ends. The geometry in the centre of the crossguard suggests an evil eye design.. The blade has a heavy looking backblade and is curved to a point. The 5 silver sworls on the hilt suggest geometric hand of Fatima style.

The example against a jet black background is another KSA version.. and also has a 5 geometric decoration on the hilt in this case circular perhaps coins or coin lookalikes often copied. The weapon with three silver shots on the hilt is Yemeni. The other Nimcha is lengthways and has a black leathered hilt and is a Met Museum item...with a similar rounded rainguard.