Now for that other sword, Nimcha?

tom hyle · 19th March 2005, 12:45 PM

I've encountered both nails and wooden wedges driven into tang holes to re-tighten hilts many times from many cultures on everthing from everyday tools to fancy weapons; I wouldn't read much of anything into it.
The thickness of the the blade is interesting in comination with its native look (mark, long ricassoe, narrow though wider than usual fuller that runs right up into the handle); I've owned two of these, and both had what I'm pretty sure are native blades, one showing considerable age and I wouldn't be surprised if it's c.18, and both were nicely sping tempered. I don't typically go around flexing other peoples' swords, so that's really the extent of my input on that issue.

Conogre · 19th March 2005, 09:41 PM

My apologies Tom....I misunderstood "springy" steel as opposed to "spring steel", which in African, Philippine and Indonesian weapons often means recently made from old automobile springs and very often, highly inferior.
Yes, for the weight and thickness of the spine there is an amazing amount of flexibility to the blade, although it's by no means a lightweight and would require being in very good shape to be used for any but short periods of time.
I think that these were primarily used as horseman's swords, weren't they?
If so, the added weight would have made for a devastating swing and cut when added to the speed of a charging steed that likely would have cut a swath through foot soldiers with ease.
Even on foot, the couple that I've seen were also capable of breaking the blade on a more lightly constructed with comparative ease, likewise all but a heavy spear shaft.
Mike

Federico · 21st March 2005, 05:41 AM

Hello Tom, so were these traditionally nailed in place, or do you think (of course I am not being fair since I have showed pics of the nails) that it was done later in life?

As for the flex, there does seem to be some flex, but I havent had the heart to really give it a good flexing, so I cant tell if it is just incidental due to the length of the blade, or if it is trully spring tempered. Though overall, despite the thick spine, it is a very light blade, easily manipulated with one hand. The fuller lightens the feel by a whole lot. One thing that has amazed me by this piece, is how well executed the fuller is. Even with modern tools, such precise fullering is difficult.

tom hyle · 21st March 2005, 06:28 AM

I often feel there are pics I'm not getting; I have pics of the sword and its hilt; none of the nails. the nails are almost certainly an after-market tightening. Now, a tightening I've seen routinely on these is that one or both of the lagnets it hammered down to the blade, and I've also seen little flat discs of metal used as wedges in this region.

Emanuel · 26th July 2005, 03:06 PM

Hello,
I have a question regarding nimcha -saif- longswords. As I understand from the numerous threads on this forum and from other sites -blade.japet- the nimcha comes in the short jambiya style variety and the long curved or straight variety. The differences between moroccan nimcha and arab saif seem to be the type of guard. The moroccan places strong emphasis on the quillons with right-angle hand guard while the arab prefers simpler crescent guard and curved hand-guard and lion's head pommel. My question has to do specifically with the moroccan nimcha and the quillons. In all examples I've seen, there is one quillon on one side and two on the other. Are there any genuine exceptions to this? I have recently seen examples -moroccan from all signs- with only one quillon on each side of the guard. Is this of any significance?

Thank you,
Manolo

19th March 2005, 12:45 PM	#1
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	I've encountered both nails and wooden wedges driven into tang holes to re-tighten hilts many times from many cultures on everthing from everyday tools to fancy weapons; I wouldn't read much of anything into it. The thickness of the the blade is interesting in comination with its native look (mark, long ricassoe, narrow though wider than usual fuller that runs right up into the handle); I've owned two of these, and both had what I'm pretty sure are native blades, one showing considerable age and I wouldn't be surprised if it's c.18, and both were nicely sping tempered. I don't typically go around flexing other peoples' swords, so that's really the extent of my input on that issue.

19th March 2005, 09:41 PM	#2
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	My apologies Tom....I misunderstood "springy" steel as opposed to "spring steel", which in African, Philippine and Indonesian weapons often means recently made from old automobile springs and very often, highly inferior. Yes, for the weight and thickness of the spine there is an amazing amount of flexibility to the blade, although it's by no means a lightweight and would require being in very good shape to be used for any but short periods of time. I think that these were primarily used as horseman's swords, weren't they? If so, the added weight would have made for a devastating swing and cut when added to the speed of a charging steed that likely would have cut a swath through foot soldiers with ease. Even on foot, the couple that I've seen were also capable of breaking the blade on a more lightly constructed with comparative ease, likewise all but a heavy spear shaft. Mike

21st March 2005, 05:41 AM	#3
Federico Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA Posts: 312	Hello Tom, so were these traditionally nailed in place, or do you think (of course I am not being fair since I have showed pics of the nails) that it was done later in life? As for the flex, there does seem to be some flex, but I havent had the heart to really give it a good flexing, so I cant tell if it is just incidental due to the length of the blade, or if it is trully spring tempered. Though overall, despite the thick spine, it is a very light blade, easily manipulated with one hand. The fuller lightens the feel by a whole lot. One thing that has amazed me by this piece, is how well executed the fuller is. Even with modern tools, such precise fullering is difficult.

21st March 2005, 06:28 AM	#4
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	I often feel there are pics I'm not getting; I have pics of the sword and its hilt; none of the nails. the nails are almost certainly an after-market tightening. Now, a tightening I've seen routinely on these is that one or both of the lagnets it hammered down to the blade, and I've also seen little flat discs of metal used as wedges in this region.

26th July 2005, 03:06 PM	#5
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hello, I have a question regarding nimcha -saif- longswords. As I understand from the numerous threads on this forum and from other sites -blade.japet- the nimcha comes in the short jambiya style variety and the long curved or straight variety. The differences between moroccan nimcha and arab saif seem to be the type of guard. The moroccan places strong emphasis on the quillons with right-angle hand guard while the arab prefers simpler crescent guard and curved hand-guard and lion's head pommel. My question has to do specifically with the moroccan nimcha and the quillons. In all examples I've seen, there is one quillon on one side and two on the other. Are there any genuine exceptions to this? I have recently seen examples -moroccan from all signs- with only one quillon on each side of the guard. Is this of any significance? Thank you, Manolo