Quick question _ sudanese kaskara

[colin henshaw]

There are others on the forum who know more about these than me, but it looks a good old sword... congratulations. I would say its mid to late 19th century.

Hopefully someone will be able to translate the inscription, and give you more information.

[Iain]

Good example, its 19th century. The blade is from the Solingen maker Peter Kull and a pattern from the mid 19th century.

Can't help on the inscription but usually these are verses from the Koran.

This a nice example of a typical Solingen export blade, simple but well made that were sent in the thousands to Africa.

[Drabant1701]

Originally Posted by Iain

Good example, its 19th century. The blade is from the Solingen maker Peter Kull and a pattern from the mid 19th century.

Can't help on the inscription but usually these are verses from the Koran.

This a nice example of a typical Solingen export blade, simple but well made that were sent in the thousands to Africa.

Thank you very much Ian! That is more information than I could have hoped for. I am curious as to how you know that it is a blade from Peter Kull.

[Iain]

Originally Posted by Drabant1701

Thank you very much Ian! That is more information than I could have hoped for. I am curious as to how you know that it is a blade from Peter Kull.

The fly, lion and globus cruciger stamps are a combination known to have been used by Kull and appear in one of the blade mark compendiums. I'll see if I can dig up a scan.

Quite a few blade of this exact pattern can be found in kaskara and more occasionally takouba. Sometimes the stamps were locally filled with copper.

[Edster]

I usually defer to Iain's superior knowledge and experience, but the blade doesn't necessarily look to me like a factory forged piece as would have been made in Solingen. It looks to be pretty (too?) thick for a few inches near the guard, but does appear to taper toward the tip. Is the blade stiff or flexible?
Also, the maker's marks and inscriptions are deep and don't appear to made into a hardened surface. Could the blade be made of a softer steel closer to wrought iron and produced outside a factory setting? Please correct me if my ignorance is showing.

Regards,
Ed

[Iain]

Originally Posted by Edster

I usually defer to Iain's superior knowledge and experience, but the blade doesn't necessarily look to me like a factory forged piece as would have been made in Solingen. It looks to be pretty (too?) thick for a few inches near the guard, but does appear to taper toward the tip. Is the blade stiff or flexible?
Also, the maker's marks and inscriptions are deep and don't appear to made into a hardened surface. Could the blade be made of a softer steel closer to wrought iron and produced outside a factory setting? Please correct me if my ignorance is showing.

Regards,
Ed

Hi Ed, I've seen 5 or 6 of these over the years, all of the same profile. Rudimentary to a degree, but cheap to knock out I'd imagine. The stamps would be done hot I believe.

[Drabant1701]

Originally Posted by Edster

I usually defer to Iain's superior knowledge and experience, but the blade doesn't necessarily look to me like a factory forged piece as would have been made in Solingen. It looks to be pretty (too?) thick for a few inches near the guard, but does appear to taper toward the tip. Is the blade stiff or flexible?
Also, the maker's marks and inscriptions are deep and don't appear to made into a hardened surface. Could the blade be made of a softer steel closer to wrought iron and produced outside a factory setting? Please correct me if my ignorance is showing.

Regards,
Ed

I would say that the blade is flexible.

[Edster]

Good call Iain, U D Man! Glad it flexed. I'm always eager to learn.

By the way, the cross guard is of the old-time flared type and well made. I hope someone can translate the engraving. It could be a Mahdi Era piece.

Best,
Ed

[Philip]

Originally Posted by Edster

I usually defer to Iain's superior knowledge and experience, but the blade doesn't necessarily look to me like a factory forged piece as would have been made in Solingen. It looks to be pretty (too?) thick for a few inches near the guard, but does appear to taper toward the tip. Is the blade stiff or flexible?
Also, the maker's marks and inscriptions are deep and don't appear to made into a hardened surface. Could the blade be made of a softer steel closer to wrought iron and produced outside a factory setting? Please correct me if my ignorance is showing.

Regards,
Ed

Ed, I too was wondering if this blade could in fact be pre-Industrial Revolution, an older handforged one. After all, the Solingen blade industry does go a long way back.

As to stamped makers marks, my experience with earlier blades (late medieval through 17th cent. has shown that:
1. Blades were not quenched all the way back to the hilt. The forte (around the ricasso) was intentionally left softer but more resilient to avoid brittleness in an area that absorbs shock from parrying, and which has a natural stress point, i.e. the junction between the tang and the shoulders of the blade. After all, this part of a blade was of no use for cutting so the ability of its edges to stay sharp was not an issue.
2. Contrary to the common misconception that only Eastern blades were differentially hardened (at the edges, with a softer back), I note from observation that European smiths were well aware of the concept as well and it is apparent on quite a bit of their output, revealed by color differences produced by etchants and verified by physical hardness tests.

I have several rapiers and broadswords in my own collection which have deep stamps near midline at the lower fortes of their blades.