Period Photos of People with Ethnographic Arms

[estcrh]

Ottoman guards late 1800s to early 1900s, a type of honor or consular guard (kavas or cawas) in the middle east. The last image is of Joseph P. Khabbaz from around 1940, wearing the traditional uniform of chief cawas/kawas, standing under the US Consulate General emblem atop of the gate leading to the embassy where he has worked for 20 yrs.

[RobertGuy]

Interesting to see in the last few posts that the swords are all worn or carried edge up. The suspension rings are sometimes aligned to the edge but often to the back as ''normal''. I'm fairly new to this forum so apologies if I've picked up on something that has been discussed many times before.

[Royston]

I love the staffs, anyone got any information on them or does anyone have one ?
Roy

[CharlesS]

Interesting that the fellow to the far left in photo 4 is also carrying a Moroccan koummya.

[Kubur]

I don't where this guy is coming from but I like the suma ramrod between the two pistols...

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Kubur

I don't where this guy is coming from but I like the suma ramrod between the two pistols...

Actually I recently made this image, it was cropped and edited from the original. Below is the original image and the end result.

https://archive.org/details/lescostumespopul00osma
Les costumes populaires de la Turquie en 1873. Ouvrage publié sous le patronage de la Commission impériale ottomane pour l'Exposition universelle de Vienne by Osman Hamdi Bey, 1842-1910; Launay, Marie de; Turkey. Commission impériale ottomane pour l'Exposition universelle de Vienne, 1873

[estcrh]

A few more examples from the same book.

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Interesting that the fellow to the far left in photo 4 is also carrying a Moroccan koummya.

Certainly an interesting point Charles and well spotted Charles.

Whilst not of the norm or national dress, I don't find it a surprise though, especially when consideration to the Turkish and Moroccan relationship throughout history.

Gavin

[Martin Lubojacky]

Originally Posted by RobertGuy

Interesting to see in the last few posts that the swords are all worn or carried edge up. The suspension rings are sometimes aligned to the edge but often to the back as ''normal''. I'm fairly new to this forum so apologies if I've picked up on something that has been discussed many times before.

In the case of Ottoman shamsirs which I could see in natura - the suspension rings are so close each other, that the sabre always turn edge up when hung.

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by RobertGuy

Interesting to see in the last few posts that the swords are all worn or carried edge up. The suspension rings are sometimes aligned to the edge but often to the back as ''normal''. I'm fairly new to this forum so apologies if I've picked up on something that has been discussed many times before.

RoberyGuy, this facet of sabre suspension is extremely common throughout many societies as it facilitates the draw cut.
The bottom fitting is usually the weight bearing point whilst the upper suspension point positions the hilt to the preferred draw point.

Gavin

[Martin Lubojacky]

Originally Posted by estcrh

Ottoman guards late 1800s to early 1900s, a type of honor or consular guard (kavas or cawas) in the middle east. The last image is of Joseph P. Khabbaz from around 1940, wearing the traditional uniform of chief cawas/kawas, standing under the US Consulate General emblem atop of the gate leading to the embassy where he has worked for 20 yrs.

Estcrh, thank you very much for this photos. If it´s not secret - isn´t it consulate general in Istanbul ?

And as Kubur said - you are amaizing - thanks for the link to that costumes book !

[Martin Lubojacky]

Photo with bigger shields:
Wakuasi warriors from Kavirondo, Western Kenya, probably end of 19th century

Photo with smaller shields:
Also warriors from Kavirondo, Western Kenya, 1910

I do not know, if both groups are Nilotic Kavirondo (that time also used name "Wakuasi"), or not (there are living Nilotic and Bantu Kavirondo in the same region). In any case, the change of the spearheads style and the change of the size of the shields is interesting. As far as the spearheads, I red somewhere, that the era of very long and narrow spearheads began when the export of steel rods to Africa started.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Martin Lubojacky

Photo with bigger shields:
Wakuasi warriors from Kavirondo, Western Kenya, probably end of 19th century

Photo with smaller shields:
Also warriors from Kavirondo, Western Kenya, 1910

I do not know, if both groups are Nilotic Kavirondo (that time also used name "Wakuasi"), or not (there are living Nilotic and Bantu Kavirondo in the same region). In any case, the change of the spearheads style and the change of the size of the shields is interesting. As far as the spearheads, I red somewhere, that the era of very long and narrow spearheads began when the export of steel rods to Africa started.

Martin, here is the Royal Geographical Society description for the first image. Those are some massive spears.

Six Wakwifi warriors taken at Mumia's Kavirondo, Artist / photographer: Ernest Gedge, Date: 1889. Country: Kenya.

[rickystl]

Thanks for the GREAT photos.
Rick.

[David]

I don't think i've seen this one appear on this thread yet.
These guys look fierce to me. I am especially enamored of that rather princely looking fellow in the center whom i assume might be their leader.
"Gewapende Gajo's"expeditie Veldtocht met overste Van Daalen naar de Bovenlanden van Aceh - 1904

[Rumpel]

Photos of Greek-identifying insurgent bands in late Ottoman Macedonia. As much of interest for the accountrements (cartridge boxes etc) as the qamas and bichaqs.

Equivalent pics of pro-Bulgarian and pro-Ottoman fighters show a less 'ethnographic' quality, with a greater emphasis on modern German firearms and equipment.

Original source in higher resolution here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/C...das_Papazoglou

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Martin Lubojacky

Estcrh, thank you very much for this photos. If it´s not secret - isn´t it consulate general in Istanbul ?

And as Kubur said - you are amaizing - thanks for the link to that costumes book !

Martin, here is the information I have, the location is supposedly Beirut, lebanon.


Cities Of Beirut & Damascus
Joseph P. Khabbaz, clad in traditional uniform as chief cawas standing under US Consulate General emblem atop gate leading to the embassy where he has worked for 20 yrs.
Location: Beirut, Lebanon
Date taken: 1938
Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White
Size: 1002 x 1280 pixels (13.9 x 17.8 inches)

[Martin Lubojacky]

Estcrh, Thank you