Kipinga50/Dom,
Dom's analysis appears to discredit an ancient date, but I have a feeling that there is more to this sword than a cobbled modern fake. If we discount the Louie, Avalon, etc, the piece looks rather old. It could be an assemblage of earlier pieces. The cross guard appears to be cast bronze and of a shape earlier than the forged steel ones common of most kaskara. The rigid blade could be cast as was common in Mahdist or even Funj times. The blade also is tapered more than the forged kaskara blades we usually see. Neither has it been sharpened. Its strange that the Crescent Moon, often a maker's mark, was added after the etched text. Also, its has eyes, uncommon to me for the moon. The text seems too elaborate to be just made up.
The piece remains an enigma, but an interesting one.
Best regards,
Ed
Ed
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