[ham]

Gentlemen,

In the foregoing discussion of Sudanese swords, one wonders whether the geographical proximity to Egypt and all that implies is being considered sufficiently, at least by others than Jim McD. Several of the Sudanese coats in the Met Museum, New York are altered Mamluk examples from the 16th century and earlier. At least one kaskara there is mounted with a fine Arab blade dated in the late medieval period in gold, if I recall correctly.
Clearly, early medieval Arab swords were quite similar in form to those used by Europeans-- the blades were long, straight (if not always single-edged) and the hilts bore a large cross and distinct pommel-- as a brief look through Yucel's ISLAMIC SWORDS AND SWORDSMITHS will attest. Equally importantly, as noted above, the double langets on the cross descend from those found on Mamluk, Ottoman and Persian swords. Finally, if one considers the enduring relationships, to say nothing of the religious connexions, the Sudanese shared with various Islamic dynasties of the Near East and Africa, the origin of the kaskara becomes clear.
The (much) later influx of European trade blades to the Sudan simply served to supply a form which was retained in culturally conservative areas, yet was no longer available from more mainstream producers in the Near East; such at least appears also to be the case with the kaskara, as well as the Omani kattara.
As for disk pommels, it seems likely they are the result of necessity, as is that of the tulwar-- the sword is used in a drawcut, hence the hand required backing.

Sincerely,

Ham