A very fine Saber from Syria. The blade is Persian. Early to mid 19 C. forged from wootz (Damascus, watered steel) with good contrast pattern, chiseled with Arabic inscription and signed with the maker mark in gold decorated frames. It is heavy 33 inches long 1 1/2 inches wide with a 10 inches back edge and nicely fullered. The cross guard is steel with traces of gold decoration. The ‘Syrian’ attribution comes mainly from the shape of the hilt. The grips are horn inlaid with brass and lead dots and decorated with chiseled steel strips and brass nails. The cross guard is secured to the grips with a twisted copper wire. The pommel is steel and it is sharply down curving. Original wood scabbard covered with black leather and stitched with copper wires in the spiral style. Steel locket, belt fittings and chape, all finely decorated with silver koftgari work in a typical Syrian style. Total length 39 1/2 inches. Very good plus condition.