How to id a European kaskara blade?

Jim McDougall · 20th January 2012, 11:08 PM

I've been going through all the standard references, Cronau, Gyngell, Lenciewicz, Boccia & Coelho etc. and no sign of a wasp anywhere. Since Italu once used the scorpion it was tempting to associate, and we have the fly from c.1847 Solingen. My take at this point is that it is a native marking tending toward some of the concepts connected to warrior attributes, i.e. cross and orb=drum for courage; the fly= jumping agility etc. It is in this case placed near the blade root under the langet much as some of the other marks, thus extending this imbued power to the blade. Obviously this is a speculative suggestion, but seems to correspond in a sense to other use of these 'talismanic' markings on these blades.

I am wondering if this now seemingly well represented type of blade with elliptical fuller upper third of blade might be of a type produced by the smiths in the Sudanese regions near Kasalla influenced by Solingen prototypes entering those regions c.1890s. The stamp may have been from one used by industrial manufacturers active in commerce there during the condominium and related to stamping of products handled there? Possibly the stamp is outside the arms perview, but well applied in the parlance of the other similar type markings?

20th January 2012, 11:08 PM	#27
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	I've been going through all the standard references, Cronau, Gyngell, Lenciewicz, Boccia & Coelho etc. and no sign of a wasp anywhere. Since Italu once used the scorpion it was tempting to associate, and we have the fly from c.1847 Solingen. My take at this point is that it is a native marking tending toward some of the concepts connected to warrior attributes, i.e. cross and orb=drum for courage; the fly= jumping agility etc. It is in this case placed near the blade root under the langet much as some of the other marks, thus extending this imbued power to the blade. Obviously this is a speculative suggestion, but seems to correspond in a sense to other use of these 'talismanic' markings on these blades. I am wondering if this now seemingly well represented type of blade with elliptical fuller upper third of blade might be of a type produced by the smiths in the Sudanese regions near Kasalla influenced by Solingen prototypes entering those regions c.1890s. The stamp may have been from one used by industrial manufacturers active in commerce there during the condominium and related to stamping of products handled there? Possibly the stamp is outside the arms perview, but well applied in the parlance of the other similar type markings?