Interesting kaskara with brass hilt and rounded tip

Gavin Nugent · 14th December 2011, 02:26 PM

Here are some hilt detail images, I hope they help your discussions.

Iain · 14th December 2011, 03:14 PM

Thanks Gav, that answers a lot of questions for me. The entire thing looks rather new...

I guess then this was a "made for export" item. Still an interesting hybrid of influences.

Lew · 14th December 2011, 03:39 PM

Iian

I remember seeing an old picture of one of the Egyptian Pashas with this type of sword. I will look for it in my archives.

Iain · 14th December 2011, 03:42 PM

Thanks Lew, would be very interested to see that! A small flicker of hope remains then there is something more to this style.

Atlantia · 14th December 2011, 04:00 PM

Well done Gav.

This is interesting. I don't immediately recognise the decoration as Egyptian work now that I can see it more clearly.
In fact it reminds me more of the style of decoration sometimes seen on the brasswork of Telek daggers.

The close-up also seems to show an abnormally long tang with two or is it three? pegs running almost to the top of the hilt.

Jim McDougall · 16th December 2011, 06:57 AM

This sword seems to be a ceremonial or diplomatic item which reflects influences of domed type pommels on some swords hilted in San'a or perhaps Hadhramaut in Yemen. In the time of the Anglo-Egyptian condominium the British Protectorate of Aden in Arabia included these regions, which were in turn of course connected to Khedival Egypt and the Sudan.

Iain, the example you show in post #10 has scabbard mounts very similar to sa'ifs mounted in Hadhramaut.

The kaskara style in the remainder of the hilt is evident.

The two knives are Kpinga from the Azande of S.Sudan in form and again evidently produced in embellished form for probably diplomatic purposes as gifts and representative in grouping of traditional weapons.

Gav, thanks for the extra images!!!

Heres on from Michael Blalock (2009) from a shop in San'a

Iain · 16th December 2011, 12:03 PM

Hi Jim,

Many thanks for this, that certainly seems to explain this particular item. From the photo of Michael's it looks like similar styles extended around the Gulf.

Again, many thanks for the notes on this. :-)

Iain

16th December 2011, 06:57 AM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,284	This sword seems to be a ceremonial or diplomatic item which reflects influences of domed type pommels on some swords hilted in San'a or perhaps Hadhramaut in Yemen. In the time of the Anglo-Egyptian condominium the British Protectorate of Aden in Arabia included these regions, which were in turn of course connected to Khedival Egypt and the Sudan. Iain, the example you show in post #10 has scabbard mounts very similar to sa'ifs mounted in Hadhramaut. The kaskara style in the remainder of the hilt is evident. The two knives are Kpinga from the Azande of S.Sudan in form and again evidently produced in embellished form for probably diplomatic purposes as gifts and representative in grouping of traditional weapons. Gav, thanks for the extra images!!! Heres on from Michael Blalock (2009) from a shop in San'a Attached Images Last edited by Jim McDougall; 16th December 2011 at 07:12 AM.

14th December 2011, 02:26 PM	#1
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	hilt detail Here are some hilt detail images, I hope they help your discussions. Attached Images

14th December 2011, 03:14 PM	#2
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,717	Thanks Gav, that answers a lot of questions for me. The entire thing looks rather new... I guess then this was a "made for export" item. Still an interesting hybrid of influences.

14th December 2011, 03:39 PM	#3
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Iian I remember seeing an old picture of one of the Egyptian Pashas with this type of sword. I will look for it in my archives.

14th December 2011, 03:42 PM	#4
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,717	Thanks Lew, would be very interested to see that! A small flicker of hope remains then there is something more to this style.

14th December 2011, 04:00 PM	#5
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Well done Gav. This is interesting. I don't immediately recognise the decoration as Egyptian work now that I can see it more clearly. In fact it reminds me more of the style of decoration sometimes seen on the brasswork of Telek daggers. The close-up also seems to show an abnormally long tang with two or is it three? pegs running almost to the top of the hilt.

16th December 2011, 12:03 PM	#7
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,717	Hi Jim, Many thanks for this, that certainly seems to explain this particular item. From the photo of Michael's it looks like similar styles extended around the Gulf. Again, many thanks for the notes on this. :-) Iain