Kaskara with gold and silver decoration

[RAMBA]

Originally Posted by Edster

VERY nice kaskara, Ian. I agree with Jim's assessment. I might add that it has similar elements to the famed Snake kaskara now in the MET. See attached link. The gold cartouche is striking and may have been inspired by the MET example. I'm eager to see better pics once you receive it.

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/27262

The Suakin-Berber railroad the NSW Contingent began through Bega country was ultimately abandoned in place and provided much of the high quality steel used to make weapons by Bega smiths.

Best,
Ed

Fascinating and there are clear common design elements in these examples. It may well be as it was when it arrived in Australia. It would seem a lot of work and quite difficult to execute after its move to Australia.

[Edster]

Ian,

Kaskaras are iconic swords worthy to grace any collection. You did well to snag such a mysterious piece.

The blade looks imported from the pic (deep central fuller and blade not sharpened in top 1/3). I doubt that many proper locally made blades were available at the time. It seems that most local blades then were wrought iron and hardly battle worthy. However, exceptions are always possible. The grip doesn't have the Beja signature tassel so I doubt it was a battlefield pick-up by the NSWC since the Osman Digna's Beja were their adversaries during their brief deployment out of Suakin. Ironically, other Beja were in charge of Suakin at the time and a NSWC officer could have purchased it in the market in 1885.

Best,
Ed