Also known as 'Shamsheer', 'Chimchir'.

A deeply curved Persian sabre. The word 'scimitar' is said to be derived from the Persian name.

The Persian sabre is purely a cutting weapon, the point being practically useless owing to the extreme curvature. The curve is, however, perfect for the draw-cut, so much used by Asiatics, for which it is intended. The blades are narrow in width but rather thick, and are not usually decorated except with the name of the maker or the owner, and perhaps the date. The hilts are simple and light with a single cross guard and a pommel projecting at one side. Occasionally a different style of hilt is used; it has short, recurved quillions and an ogival pommel. The scabbards are usually covered with leather, often embossed, and the steel/silver/gold mountings are chiselled, or, more rarely, inlaid. The hilts and mountings are sometimes decorated with carving, inlaying or enamel, but are more often quite simple. The better blades are always of watered steel, and the finest are of great beauty. As the blade has an even curve it is not necessary to split the back of the scabbard to admit it as with the Turkish form. It is carried, edge down, hung from the left side of the belt by two slings.

Persian 'Shamshir' blades are frequently used in both Turkey and India where they are generally remounted in the styles characteristic of these countries.