An Early Arab Zanzibar Saif

  • Arab Zanzibar Saif

  • Arab Zanzibar Saif

  • Arab Zanzibar Saif

  • Arab Zanzibar Saif

  • Arab Zanzibar Saif

  • Arab Zanzibar Saif

  • Arab Zanzibar Saif

  • Arab Zanzibar Saif

  • Arab Zanzibar Saif

  • Arab Zanzibar Saif

Arab Zanzibar Saif
Omani Empire - Sultanate of Zanzibar (Zanzibar) - Sultanate of Muscat and Oman (Oman)
Hilt: Late 18th - Early 19th century
Blade: 17th century
Steel, horn, silver
Blade: 86,4cm
Hilt & Blade: 103,5cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: -cm
Collection Date: 2023
Collection Number: 353

Ex. Oriental Arms: Haifa, Israel (2023) (https://oriental-arms.com/product/arab-saif-with-17-c-european-blade/)

An Arab saif from the archipelago islands of Zanzibar off of Africa's Eastern Coastline. Their form often resembles that of North African nimcha saifs and are closely related. This example is from the islands of Zanzibar under at the time its Omani Empire, as it shares many Islamic influences from the Arab trade in these regions.

The straight long steel blade is double- edged tapering to a point with a deep central fuller in its entirety. It is most likely a German trade blade from the 18th century. Blades such as these were widely traded to North Africa and the Southern Arabian Peninsula in the 18th and 19th centuries. Most were of earlier European imports from the 17th - 19th century, and later become heirloom blades in these regions that many times predate the replaced worn hilts. Zanzibar became the main slave trade hub during the 19th century, with many saifs in this same type of fashion.

The hilt of horn, stylized in the Arab form with a curved pommel decorated with a silver ferrule collar in the shape of a crown and silver circular and teardrop studs and nails. Steel D-guard, rolled quillions, and knuckle guard. A very good sword of early type.


The last two photos:
The first taken in Zanzibar in 1931. The second, Bwana Henri and his sons in Tanganyika, 1890. Both photos show similar saifs.