mysterious marking on kaskara

Iain · 31st July 2011, 08:45 PM

What Jim said.

Can't honestly word it better myself. I am usually disappointed with every new piece I get - that typically goes away after a few days, but things are hardly ever what we would hope for in arms collecting. Part of the game is learning to appreciate an example objectively - something I struggle with fairly often.

I would still love to see more photography of the hilt of your sword - it is quite unique and well worth additional study. I am quite intrigued by the pommel and even the grip shape has such a difference with the typical Sudanese cylindrical grips that part of me wonders if it was redone by a Western collector or owner.

David R · 16th February 2012, 03:29 PM

Back in the days before the Chinese started making replicas a lot of kaskara and takouba were revamped by reenactors into "medieval" swords, and for swords used in cutting demonstrations this still goes on. I have two such myself, originaly a kaskara and a takouba, the one with an old (17thC) Solingen type blade and the other native made. Both came to me as unmounted blades, but I have seen complete swords reconfigured even quite recently.
I am now looking to retro fit my two, and another unmounted takouba blade I have back into their African form.
Myself, I am more than happy to have a trade blade in an ethnic sword ..Interestingly Ian Bottomly at the Royal Armouries tells me that the starting point for some Western collections was native blades from all over the world brought back to use as models for trade blade production. Thus producing what the market already wanted, rather than trying to sell the locals an unfamiliar item.
There is also the wonderfull post by S.Al-Anizi about the Bazaar in Riyadh, in which a respected local dealer claims that European blades are second only to the best Indian wootz.

Iain · 16th February 2012, 06:08 PM

Hi David,

I for one would be interested to see photos of the Solingen blade.

All the best,
Iain

David R · 16th February 2012, 11:01 PM

Hi Ian, nothin' special about the blade, 870 ml. long 41ml. wide, flat lentoid with 3 narrow fullers..one long two short. Two half moons with faces each side of the blade. A pretty typical Kaskara blade. I don't have a working camera at present but will try to get pics posted as soon as. I bought it some years ago from Dave Edge of the Wallace Collection in a private sale, and he gave the provinance and date.

31st July 2011, 08:45 PM	#1
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,717	What Jim said. Can't honestly word it better myself. I am usually disappointed with every new piece I get - that typically goes away after a few days, but things are hardly ever what we would hope for in arms collecting. Part of the game is learning to appreciate an example objectively - something I struggle with fairly often. I would still love to see more photography of the hilt of your sword - it is quite unique and well worth additional study. I am quite intrigued by the pommel and even the grip shape has such a difference with the typical Sudanese cylindrical grips that part of me wonders if it was redone by a Western collector or owner.

16th February 2012, 03:29 PM	#2
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,120	Back in the days before the Chinese started making replicas a lot of kaskara and takouba were revamped by reenactors into "medieval" swords, and for swords used in cutting demonstrations this still goes on. I have two such myself, originaly a kaskara and a takouba, the one with an old (17thC) Solingen type blade and the other native made. Both came to me as unmounted blades, but I have seen complete swords reconfigured even quite recently. I am now looking to retro fit my two, and another unmounted takouba blade I have back into their African form. Myself, I am more than happy to have a trade blade in an ethnic sword ..Interestingly Ian Bottomly at the Royal Armouries tells me that the starting point for some Western collections was native blades from all over the world brought back to use as models for trade blade production. Thus producing what the market already wanted, rather than trying to sell the locals an unfamiliar item. There is also the wonderfull post by S.Al-Anizi about the Bazaar in Riyadh, in which a respected local dealer claims that European blades are second only to the best Indian wootz.

16th February 2012, 06:08 PM	#3
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,717	Hi David, I for one would be interested to see photos of the Solingen blade. All the best, Iain

16th February 2012, 11:01 PM	#4
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,120	Hi Ian, nothin' special about the blade, 870 ml. long 41ml. wide, flat lentoid with 3 narrow fullers..one long two short. Two half moons with faces each side of the blade. A pretty typical Kaskara blade. I don't have a working camera at present but will try to get pics posted as soon as. I bought it some years ago from Dave Edge of the Wallace Collection in a private sale, and he gave the provinance and date.