Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - North African Ithink but can anyone nail it down in more detail

RSWORD · 27th October 2005, 01:15 PM

I am not so sure that this Kaskara is Sudanese. When looking closely at this piece, there are many differences to a Sudanese Kaskara and I would propose this may be an Arabic example and a nice and rare example at that. A few observations. First, the scabbard chape ends in a V shape which is much more common in Middle Eastern and Arabic scabbards and not the very typical flared scabbard tip found on Sudanese examples. Second, the decoration on the scabbard mounts are the tendrils or vines motif that is again more common in Middle Eastern and Arabic decoration then Sudanese. Third, the grip is hexagonal with a hexagonal pommel that is domed or mushroom shape versus the typical round grip and round pommel found on even the most elaborate of Sudanese examples. Also, the use of bronze is most unusual for a Sudanese example. Also, the use of a tang button is not usually found on Sudanese examples. I am curious how the leather is stitched up. Does it have coil stitching? Perhaps we are looking at an Omani Kaskara? Zanzibar? In any case, there are many strong Arabic elements that make this example quite different from the elements found on Sudanese examples. Really a lovely sword!

27th October 2005, 01:15 PM	#4
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,086	I am not so sure that this Kaskara is Sudanese. When looking closely at this piece, there are many differences to a Sudanese Kaskara and I would propose this may be an Arabic example and a nice and rare example at that. A few observations. First, the scabbard chape ends in a V shape which is much more common in Middle Eastern and Arabic scabbards and not the very typical flared scabbard tip found on Sudanese examples. Second, the decoration on the scabbard mounts are the tendrils or vines motif that is again more common in Middle Eastern and Arabic decoration then Sudanese. Third, the grip is hexagonal with a hexagonal pommel that is domed or mushroom shape versus the typical round grip and round pommel found on even the most elaborate of Sudanese examples. Also, the use of bronze is most unusual for a Sudanese example. Also, the use of a tang button is not usually found on Sudanese examples. I am curious how the leather is stitched up. Does it have coil stitching? Perhaps we are looking at an Omani Kaskara? Zanzibar? In any case, there are many strong Arabic elements that make this example quite different from the elements found on Sudanese examples. Really a lovely sword!