The inscriptions read in translation: 'Bequeathed by His Excellency al-Saifi al Ukuz [the officer of] al-Malik al-Ashraf in the year seven hundred and sixty-nine [A.D. 1367-8]' and 'in the hall he built, [and bearing his name], in the Frontier city of al-Iskandariya, the well-guarded. He who shall take it [and not return it] that will be imputed to him as a crime'

This is one a group of swords which may have been gifts from Peter de Lusignau, King of Cyprus to the Sultan during peace negotiations in 1367

Saif al-din, al'Ukuz was a mamluk of Sultan Malik Ashraf Sha'ban. He was governor of the city of Alexandria until 1367 and subsequently vizier to the Sultan, when probably the hall of the Armoury at Alexandria was built by him

See Et. Combe and A.F.C. de Cosson, 'European Swords with Arabic inscriptions from the armoury of Alexandria', Bulletin de la Société Royale d'Archéologie d'Alexandrie, No.31, Alexandria 1937, pp.5-7; Et Combe "Nouveaux Sabres Eropéens á inscriptions Arabes de l'Arsenal l'Alexandre", ibid, No.37, 1938; The Kretzchmar von Kienbusch Collection of Armor and Arms, 1963, Nos.324 and 325; D.G. Alexander, 'European Swords in the Collection of Istanbul, part I, Swords from the Arsenal of Alexandria', Waffen-und Kostümkunde, vol.27 (1985)