Kaskara for comments

katana · 24th October 2008, 01:01 PM

Hi Teodor,
Kaskara blades were often locally marked / etched .... copying earlier markings seen on European blades. I have seen blades etched/chiselled with sun,star and the half moon symbols (which seemed to be original to the blade) with a snake (added later) design running down the fuller with Arabic script.
In essence the locals viewed the markings on the 'imported' blades as talismatic, a sign of quality......or both. So differing combinations of these symbols 'co-exist' on the same blade.

Interestingly, it seems that some late 19th C 'trade' blades have no markings at all

Whether this was due to the Madhist uprising or not...who knows ?? (perhaps, the demand for swords required quickly gave little time to 'embellish' the blades with symbols)

Regards David

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24th October 2008, 01:01 PM	#5
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Teodor, Kaskara blades were often locally marked / etched .... copying earlier markings seen on European blades. I have seen blades etched/chiselled with sun,star and the half moon symbols (which seemed to be original to the blade) with a snake (added later) design running down the fuller with Arabic script. In essence the locals viewed the markings on the 'imported' blades as talismatic, a sign of quality......or both. So differing combinations of these symbols 'co-exist' on the same blade. Interestingly, it seems that some late 19th C 'trade' blades have no markings at all Whether this was due to the Madhist uprising or not...who knows ?? (perhaps, the demand for swords required quickly gave little time to 'embellish' the blades with symbols) Regards David