Kaskaras from The Battle of Omdurman ?

Lee · 17th April 2009, 03:05 PM

All four appear to have 'trade blades' of European origin and this is indeed a very nice assortment of the sorts of blades which may be encountered.

The top one with the engraved decoration appears to have a blade of the same type as may be seen in the takouba in the logo graphic at the top of this page. The Briggs monograph also shows a kaskara with this style of blade (and dates it relatively early) and I have also seen one other kaskara having one of these blades with this engraving and a fuller starting with a squared off origin well beyond the forte.

Jim McDougall · 17th April 2009, 07:53 PM

Hi Colin,
I completely agree with Lee, whose expertise and writing on these simple but outstanding Sudanese broadswords is well established here. These are very nice and sound examples of these battle trophies from a profoundly important period in British colonial history.

These are as noted ,characteristically mounted with European trade blades, and the top one with the central fuller extending fully to the blade tip, is of earlier form. The example with the pommel cap missing, has the crossguard with the central 'X' and flared quilllons typical of the swords coming from the eastern Sudan in Darfur, and while in some degree present at Omdurman, were more unique as trophies from that battle. This is primarily because Darfur tribes were mostly resistant in joining with the Mahdist movement, perhaps due to thier prevalent associations with the Senussi factions to the west.

With regard to the collection of trophies from Omdurman in 1898, and during the ensuing occupation. A very good essay on this subject by Michael Stevenson in 2002, cites as follows:

"...the British admiration for an enemy intensified thier desire to collect war trophies".
Maj. Gen. Sir Alexander Bruce Tulloch

"...our men were perfect, but the Dervishes were superb beyond perfection. It was the largest, best and bravest army that ever fought against us for Mahdism and it died worthy of the huge empire that Mahdism won and kept so long".
G.W.Stevens War Correspondent ,after Omdurman 1898

It seems ironic that Omdurman was considered a punitive expedition in vengeance for the death of Sir Gen. Charles Gordon at Khartoum 1885,
while the Mahdi himself, had the deepest respect for him, and was deeply angered and saddened at his death.

The volume of war trophies collected from the Sudan after Omdurman seems almost unimaginable, not to mention the literal industry that evolved selling these items to tourists in subsequent years.

All best regards,
Jim

17th April 2009, 03:05 PM	#1
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 940	Nice! All four appear to have 'trade blades' of European origin and this is indeed a very nice assortment of the sorts of blades which may be encountered. The top one with the engraved decoration appears to have a blade of the same type as may be seen in the takouba in the logo graphic at the top of this page. The Briggs monograph also shows a kaskara with this style of blade (and dates it relatively early) and I have also seen one other kaskara having one of these blades with this engraving and a fuller starting with a squared off origin well beyond the forte.

17th April 2009, 07:53 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,467	Hi Colin, I completely agree with Lee, whose expertise and writing on these simple but outstanding Sudanese broadswords is well established here. These are very nice and sound examples of these battle trophies from a profoundly important period in British colonial history. These are as noted ,characteristically mounted with European trade blades, and the top one with the central fuller extending fully to the blade tip, is of earlier form. The example with the pommel cap missing, has the crossguard with the central 'X' and flared quilllons typical of the swords coming from the eastern Sudan in Darfur, and while in some degree present at Omdurman, were more unique as trophies from that battle. This is primarily because Darfur tribes were mostly resistant in joining with the Mahdist movement, perhaps due to thier prevalent associations with the Senussi factions to the west. With regard to the collection of trophies from Omdurman in 1898, and during the ensuing occupation. A very good essay on this subject by Michael Stevenson in 2002, cites as follows: "...the British admiration for an enemy intensified thier desire to collect war trophies". Maj. Gen. Sir Alexander Bruce Tulloch "...our men were perfect, but the Dervishes were superb beyond perfection. It was the largest, best and bravest army that ever fought against us for Mahdism and it died worthy of the huge empire that Mahdism won and kept so long". G.W.Stevens War Correspondent ,after Omdurman 1898 It seems ironic that Omdurman was considered a punitive expedition in vengeance for the death of Sir Gen. Charles Gordon at Khartoum 1885, while the Mahdi himself, had the deepest respect for him, and was deeply angered and saddened at his death. The volume of war trophies collected from the Sudan after Omdurman seems almost unimaginable, not to mention the literal industry that evolved selling these items to tourists in subsequent years. All best regards, Jim