Kaskara for Comment...

stephen wood · 29th May 2014, 02:08 AM

Ed

many thanks for your insights. I actually came across an article about swords in Suakin/Sawakin on sudan.info just the other day but sadly the whole site has just disappeared

There was an interview with a sword maker or seller - the gist was that swords have become a fashion item or are used for dancing and have lost their status as historical weapons. I managed to salvage some of the photos...

I am going to be giving another talk on Kaskaras at the Arms and Armour Society meeting in February next year.

Edster · 30th May 2014, 01:14 AM

Stephen,

Great photographs from the article. Wonder if/how the Port Sudan sword smith's work is different from the smiths in Kassala. Nice full fullered swords in the smiths hand. Also, one photo looked like there were some cross guards for sale separate from swords. Wonder if the article is a relatively current date. By the way I found the article:
http://www.ssig.gov.my/wp-content/up...ng-from-Hi.pdf

Ed

stephen wood · 30th May 2014, 01:25 AM

...glad you found it, Ed. I get the impression it is contemporary.

Iain · 31st May 2014, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephen wood

I am going to be giving another talk on Kaskaras at the Arms and Armour Society meeting in February next year.

Good to see you posting after a while Stephen. I hope that after your talk you'll be able to share it with the forum. Didn't you give one some years ago?

While my focus is on the other side of the Sudan, I am always intrigued to see what others discover in their research of the kaskara. You've shown some pretty neat examples over the years!

stephen wood · 6th June 2014, 02:39 PM

...now it has arrived I think it's a native blade - a great deal of the shaping of the blade and guard has been done with files. Still, it's actually quite a good one and older than the grip and scabbard. Surely not 19th century though...

29th May 2014, 02:08 AM	#1
stephen wood Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 227	Ed many thanks for your insights. I actually came across an article about swords in Suakin/Sawakin on sudan.info just the other day but sadly the whole site has just disappeared There was an interview with a sword maker or seller - the gist was that swords have become a fashion item or are used for dancing and have lost their status as historical weapons. I managed to salvage some of the photos... I am going to be giving another talk on Kaskaras at the Arms and Armour Society meeting in February next year. Attached Images Last edited by stephen wood; 29th May 2014 at 12:16 PM.

30th May 2014, 01:14 AM	#2
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 415	Stephen, Great photographs from the article. Wonder if/how the Port Sudan sword smith's work is different from the smiths in Kassala. Nice full fullered swords in the smiths hand. Also, one photo looked like there were some cross guards for sale separate from swords. Wonder if the article is a relatively current date. By the way I found the article: http://www.ssig.gov.my/wp-content/up...ng-from-Hi.pdf Ed

30th May 2014, 01:25 AM	#3
stephen wood Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 227	...glad you found it, Ed. I get the impression it is contemporary.

6th June 2014, 02:39 PM	#5
stephen wood Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 227	...now it has arrived I think it's a native blade - a great deal of the shaping of the blade and guard has been done with files. Still, it's actually quite a good one and older than the grip and scabbard. Surely not 19th century though...