A Mameluke sword is a cross-hilted, curved, scimitar-like sword. It is related to the shamshir, which had its origins in Persia from where the style migrated to India, Egypt and North Africa. It was adopted in the 19th century by several Western militaries, including the French Army, British Army and the United States Marine Corps. The Mameluke sword remains the ceremonial sidearm for some units to this day