Kaskara for Comment.

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by katana

I may get the hilt/pommel checked for silver content. Is there a non-destructive test for silver ?

Kind Regards David

Well, its not very scientific, but I tend to go on the 'look' and the colour of the oxidisation/patina.
A good silver will oxidise almost black, and seeing as the common mix seems to often be high in copper, the oxidisation will have a more brown colour. Less black less silver as a rule.
But like I say, not exactly scientific

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Well, its not very scientific, but I tend to go on the 'look' and the colour of the oxidisation/patina.
A good silver will oxidise almost black, and seeing as the common mix seems to often be high in copper, the oxidisation will have a more brown colour. Less black less silver as a rule.
But like I say, not exactly scientific

Gene, thats a lot more scientific than my good ole magnet method!

Thanks so much Watson!! David,
The pommel has me puzzled as well, but seems very familiar, and cant figure from where I have seen this shape. It seems I have seen such pommels of either striated or gadrooned flattened oval shape possibly on swords hilted in Yemen in about the turn of the century, if I recall some with Amharic inscribed trade blades. These Ethiopian blades I understand found thier way to Arabia along with the rhino horn hilts, much in demand there, and transported there where they were dismantled.

All best regards,
Jim

[katana]

Hi Jim ,
Regards the pommel....AFAIK the Fur Sultans wore turbans, could the pommel be a representation of the Sultans headgear ?? (It is likely that his turban would be 'different' to the masses and therefore 'symbolic' to him)) I have tried to find images of various Fur Sultans without success.

Hi Emanuel ,
very lucky indeed with two of my latest additions But, hopefully my recent good fortune will encourage others.... there are still hidden treasures out there .....'waiting'

I think that it is unlikely that the pommel is SEA ... but you never know

Hi Gene,
the 'silver' furniture is overly polished, but wiping paper tissue over the various parts did give blackish marks on the tissue.....so could be promising.

All the best
David

[Rumpel]

Hi all- I'm a long-time lurker, but actually registered specifically to post on this thread...

As Jim McDougall said, the Fur sultans, and particularly Ali Dinar, spring to mind.

At university, I was fortunate enough to handle (longingly!) Ali Dinar's ceremonial kaskara, which an alumnus had taken back as loot in 1916. An exceptionally poor image of it can be found on p37 of this brochure: http://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/unive...tyBrochure.pdf

You can just make out the interlinking-diamond-shaped pattern beaten into the silver/silver alloy of the handle. While there are differences- cross guards and pommel especially- a tentative attribution of Katana's kaskara to Ali Dinar's court and era seems reasonable.

The Solingen blade is interesting, as Ali Dinar’s effects also included an Austrian (that is, K&K stamped) pistol, reworked by, presumably, a local silversmith. Evidently, there was a working trade route for high-status weapons between the WW1 Triple Alliance and Ali Dinar’s court.

It might be worth contacting the Sudan Archive at Durham, by the way. They sell photo reproductions of many of the images in the collection, and of photos taken in 1916. Imagine if one of them showed a grinning squaddie brandishing a familiar-looking souvenir...

[katana]

Hi Rumpel ,
Welcome to the forum ... and thank you for taking the trouble to join the forum, to add your helpful and informative comments.

I will try and contact the Sudan Archive at Durham to see if they can provide further information.

The pommel design really has me stumped .......but I do enjoy the occasional 'mystery'

Kind regards David

[stephen wood]

...the pommel ends in something very similar to what we would expect to see on an arm dagger.

[katana]

Interesting article on Sultan Ali Dinar battle with the British in 1916 ...

http://www.kaiserscross.com/188001/224322.html

Hi Stephen ,
yes, I too have noticed the similarities to the finials ....the faceted type especially. Nice daggers ..... not in competition with Lew are we ....I think he has the monopoly on arm daggers

Regards David


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[Wodimi]

the last weekend I promised to show another W.Clauberg blade, but mounted with a southern Takuba handle. It is definitily an old mounting. For me it is very curious because first the Tuareg never have such Arabic calligraphy on their blades (or have somebody one?), second the tip is always round and at least normal shorter then Kaskaras. My longest Takuba is 98 cm. This Kaskara/Takuba - I call it "Kaskuba" - measure 1,12 m, a little bit longer, than my longest Kaskara.
Also one addition to the Clauberg mark. I was wrong when I said I believe before 1850. I found a book with all marks from Solingen sword producers.
The book say this standing knight was used the first time in 1850, not before.

Regards Wolf

www.spearcollector.com