Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Interesting Kaskara from the Askeri Museum

Jim McDougall · 20th August 2025, 08:03 PM

I agree Teodor, it was the blades that were arriving in volume through the various centers at the ports, then into the trade networks. While there may have been incidental arrival of fully assembled swords from Europe, typically it was the blades which were in demand and for local hilting.

The fully assembled swords were those circulating among the Mamluks during their rule in Egypt, and the subsequent upheavals and relocation which were the strongest influence on the development of Sudanese kaskara hilts, as well described in Ed's excellent work.
As noted, only a VERY tenacious researcher in Egypt and other Ottoman resources would be able to find records of these matters.

Kinda wonder where Burckhardt got those statistical numbers.

WAY curiouser and curiouser!!

20th August 2025, 08:03 PM	#20
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,531	I agree Teodor, it was the blades that were arriving in volume through the various centers at the ports, then into the trade networks. While there may have been incidental arrival of fully assembled swords from Europe, typically it was the blades which were in demand and for local hilting. The fully assembled swords were those circulating among the Mamluks during their rule in Egypt, and the subsequent upheavals and relocation which were the strongest influence on the development of Sudanese kaskara hilts, as well described in Ed's excellent work. As noted, only a VERY tenacious researcher in Egypt and other Ottoman resources would be able to find records of these matters. Kinda wonder where Burckhardt got those statistical numbers. WAY curiouser and curiouser!!