Lew Waldman's Ethnographic Arms & Armour Collection Archive


102 - Sudanese (East African) Kaskara with 'Andre Ferara' Marked Blade

The double edged blade of this kaskara presently measures 23 inches (58 cm), though it is obvious that it has lost length from the tip end based upon the manner in which the flattened hexagonal cross section continues without transition up to where a short point has been ground. The blade features three fullers in the forte after a short ricasso with a single shallow broad fuller. The fullers are surrounded by an engraved line and this terminates into a cross or anchor design associated with several dots, slightly different from one side to the other. The central fuller contains a stamped inscription; *ANDRE * or one side and continuing on the opposite, further along the fuller, *FERARA* on the opposite. (There may well have been an 'A' ending ANDRE as there is space for it and even a faint trace in raking light.) The inscription 'Andrea Ferrara' has been attributed as being the mark of an Italian smith active in the second half of the 17th century, however, this marking is frequently found on blades of clearly later styles and an alternative and more likely interpretation is that it translates as something along the lines of 'true iron' and is more in the way of a (frequently forged) trademark often applied to trade blades of German origin. European blades made for international trade as well as used blades recycled as styles evolved are well documented to have found their way into African kaskaras and takoubas. The typical kaskara hilt consists of quillons of flattened diamond cross section and a langet with a grip wound with fine leather strips and a leather covered pommel. The brown leather scabbard is embossed upon its display face and includes a likely later reinforcement of the tip in lighter leather. A short strap is attached via brass rings. The strap is in poor condition and nearly torn through in areas. The blade shows mild to moderate pitting. Lew regarded this blade as being 17th century German and the present mountings to date to the mid 19th century. Overall length in the scabbard is 27½ inches (70 cm) with a weight of 27¼ ounces (774 grams).

Lew's presentation of this sword on the forum




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