15th, 16th Century blade.....REALLY ????
 

Hi everyone and a Happy New Year :)

This just finished on Ebay.......quoted as 15th - 16th Century....I have my own thoughts.....wondered about others thought..... or opinions, thank you

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA:IT&ih=016

Regards David

Export Takouba ... ? :confused:

Hmmmm.....
Moons or Bats!


Hmmmmmmmm.......
15th/16thC?
:rolleyes:

Seriously though, I wouldn't have said it was an old one. I think the £100 offer was a 'rip their hand off' moment.

Bats You Say ?
 

Bacardi !!!!!!! :D

LMAO!!

Bacardi sponsored blade :D ....those advertisers get everywhere ;)

Has anyone noticed the tang ? The 'grooves' suggest to me that the tang may originally been 'fixed' with resin. The grooves would provide a good 'key' to prevent movement.

I too think likely a Takouba blade ....possibly, even 'locally made'. It is possible the dark patination was caused by the blade being quenched in cocconut oil....I read 'somewhere' that this oil gives a dark layer ...which also helps prevent rust...so again it may be more recent than it looks.

Fortunately no-one was suckered in and bought this.

Regards David

Hi Gene,
it seems the seller probably regrets his decision .....re-listed...starting at £100, but no takers

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA:IT&ih=016

Regards David

According to Dr. Lloyd Cabot Briggs, "European Blades in Tuareg Swords and Daggers", Vol.V, #2, 1965, p.58, these parallel crescent moon marks are termed locally 'dukari' and copied from similar marks used on earlier blades from Europe. These local versions of the blades are I believe termed 'masri', and I am still trying to find the original reference on that.
As noted, a native version of one of these blades, and probably 20th c.

All best regards,
Jim

Hi Jim,
thank you for the info, its good to hear from you ;)

I am still wondering about the tang on this blade. Takouba tangs are usually 'rat tailed' and are secured by being 'peened over' at the pommel. The ribbed effect on this tang still suggests to me that it was or would have been fixed to the hilt using resin. I have never seen a Kaskara 'in pieces' but, nearly all the pommels are wood (leather or plate metal covered) so a 'peened' tang would not be secure for long. Does anyone know whether Kaskara are blades 'fixed' with a form of resin ??

Regards David

Relisted with a £100 start.

"Masri" means "Egyptian" in Arabic.

Thanks Alex, that makes perfect sense as they are noted in the reference as 'made in the north'. It is curious to know what sword making center in Egyptian areas might be producing these takouba blades.

All the best,
Jim