Saif or Scimitar
The saif, or scimitar, is a single-edged curved sword that originated in the Middle East, with early examples dating back to the 9th century Abbasid Caliphate’s Central Asian province of Khurasan. Its origins were influenced by the sabers wielded by Central Asian Turkic nomads who had recently come under the Abbasid rule and converted to Islam, and who within a few generations became the region’s true rulers.
The better specimens of saifs or scimitars were made of Damascus steel, which was derived from a high-quality crucible known as wootz steel. The blades of Damascus steel scimitars are characterized by patterns of mottling and banding reminiscent of flowing water. Unlike their cousin, the Turkish kilij, scimitars are lighter, and while they did not possess the devastating cutting power of the kilij, their lightness and agility allowed for the greater facility of use. In short, while both the kilij and saif are members of the family of curved sabers, the kilij traded speed and agility for the type of devastating cutting power that could cut an opponent in half with a single blow. By contrast, the saif eschewed such excessive power for agility and speed, rendering it useful not only for slashing from horseback, but also serviceable in dueling if its wielder was unhorsed.
As light sabers, scimitars are optimized for use from horseback by a rider slashing downwards, single-handed, at targets on foot to the left and right of his mount. They are distinguished by their thin blades, which feature little taper until towards the end of the blade, which culminates in a sharp point that renders the sword useful for thrusting, although not as effectively as straight swords that are optimized for thrusting.
In the task for which they were designed, however, scimitars were murderous. Against broken formations fleeing on foot, even a small contingent of scimitar-wielding horsemen riding into the disorganized groups could inflict devastating losses in short order. Even after infantry came to dominate the battlefield with disciplined formations that were impervious to horsemen, cavalry hovering at the edge of the battlefields, waiting for the opportunity to charge in and ride down the foot soldiers should their ranks become disorganized, were a constant menace who could at any moment transform mistakes by the infantry into massacres.