Takouba and copper
 

Quite helpful.

Excelent.
Thanks
Fernando

Outstanding Tim! Thank you for sharing that. It seems we have brought the use of copper on these swords up a number of times over the years, and this is very well placed information.
I recall having a kaskara with a brass crossguard, and wondered why this was used rather than the more commonly seen iron guards. I was told at one point that the brass (or presumably copper) meant 'life' while iron was associated with 'death', and while simplistic, it seems to correspond in some degree with this concept.
Perhaps that kaskara may have been furbished by a Hausa smith to the west where these concepts were more in place? It should be noted that the blade also had the dukari (twin crescent moons) which also suggest Saharan provenance to the west of the Anglo Egyptian Sudan.

All the best,
Jim

PS What book is this from...looks like one I'd like to read!!! :)

Thanks Fernando and Jim. The book is "Red Gold of Africa" copper in percolonial history and culture. It is not about weapons. It is rather academic with as always some lengthy discussion on unprouvable topics. However being relativley up to date 1984 there is a general acceptance that Africa and Africans are capable of independant technology, thought and achievement.

Thanks Tim! It is truly amazing how many books and references that have little to do specifically with weapons, contain important clues and perspective in our understanding of them. I have found important references for example in a book on the history of salt, in dealing with trans Saharan trade routes, which well illustrated the routes likely in weapon form diffusion. There is another great book on copper, called Miswabik (?) that you or someone referenced here, with great detail on copper development. Cant recall offhand the exact title.

All the best,
Jim

Hello,

This is very intersting. I have identical quotes in an older thread from "Aspects of the Use of Copper in Pre-Colonial West Africa" in The Journal of African History, Vol. 14, No. 2. (1973), pp. 179-194. Tim is the author Eugenia W. Herbert? I'll look fo the book.

Emanuel

Ah just found the book, same author. I was hoping your book might be corroboration from another source.