Unusual African Broadsword

[ariel]

Yup. They used trade blades and come in all shapes and sizes.

[stephen wood]

...who used trade blades?

[TVV]

Originally Posted by stephen wood

...who used trade blades?

More or less all of Northern Africa. If I recall correctly, in his book on African Arms, in the chapter dedicated to Sudanic Africa, Spring mentions that the city of Kano in Northern Nigeria (still ruled by an Emir today!) was a major trading center, where no less than 50,000 blades were imported from Europe annually. The blades were hilted there according to local preferences, and then sold all over Northern Africa, even as far as Khartoum.
In other words, it is not so unusual for a sword with a "kaskara" blade to be mounted in Manding fashion.
Nice sword, congratulations.
Teodor

[stephen wood]

Thanks...that explains the 1822 Cavalry Sabres rehilted takouba style, and so on...

[Jim McDougall]

As Teodor has well stated, these triple fuller trade blades, typically Solingen products, were indeed used profusely throughout North Africa, most prevalent in the Tuareg takoubas of the Sahara, and the Sudanese 'kaskara'. There were various points of entry into the trade caravan routes, but Kano was was of the key dispersal centers.

The cylindrical hilt mounted with this trade broadsword blade is very similar to examples seen as far west as Sierra Leone, but certainly is likely to occur in regions as far inland as Mali, the primary domain of the Manding. The leather work on this does appear Manding,but without the typical trappings seen on the usual guardless sabres. These Manding sabres usually are mounted with European cavalry blades, natually most often French.

The curved blade examples of takouba mentioned often also have the European cavalry blades, and according to research done by Lee Jones seem to be termed 'alguinjar'. The term seems to be generally applied to takoubas outside the general standard with regular broadsword blades. One place that comes to mind with provenanced example of one of these curved blade takoubas is Ougadougou, Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta). Another instance of 'alguinjar' was one from same general area mounted with a straight British infantry officers blade by Mole.

Best regards,
Jim

[stephen wood]

...very interesting. I have students from Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, Senegal - maybe it's time I did a show and tell with some of my pieces

The triple-fullered trade blades must have been archaic by European standards in the 19th century - were Solingen makers producing them for this (considerable) niche market?

[Jim McDougall]

Hi Stephen,
The Solingen swordsmiths were probably one of the most dynamic manufacturing and marketing machines in the history of commerce in my opinion. They became dominant in the production of blades that were indeed tailored to whatever market they were intended for.

In "Book of the Sword" (R.Burton, 1884, p.162) it is noted that Henry Barth ("Travels in Central Africa 1849-1855", London, 1875) states that "...the blade, made mostly in Solingen, characterizes the free and noble Imoshagh; and all travellers remark that it preserves the old knightly form of crusading days". It is footnoted by Burton that English and Styrian 'razors' are also largely imported.
Other resources also confirm that German blades were still coming into the trade network in the 19th century, while many earlier blades, constantly traded and remounted were prevalent across North Africa.

The fact that these broadswords, by European standards of the time, and that these North African warriors still wore chain link armour, led to the much romaticized myths about these being the weapons of the Crusaders.

I think show and tell would be a great idea!! I used to work with a number of folks from various African countries, and enjoyed talking with them about where they were from. Their eyes would light up with joy and pride when they realized I was so interested in their countries and that I knew much of the history, pleasing them very much.

All the best,
Jim