Takouba sabres

Jim McDougall · 21st June 2010, 05:22 PM

Interesting examples which according to Dr. Lee Jones field research are termed 'alguinjar' in local parlances in Tuareg cases, however uncertain if the Fula people or others who used takoubas have corresponding terms of thier own. The term seems to specify curved bladed.

This example interestingly has a pommel element which corresponds to certain Cameroon weapons, and it should be noted that the Fulbe (Anglicized term for Fulani) are the predominant ethnic group in the Adamawa regions of Cameroon. The blade on this example appears to be a 19th century cavalry sabre blade which has had the point rebated much in the standard style for takoubas of regular straight blade form.

The second example seems to have a modern sheet steel type blade, with the characteristic corrosion in patches where the protective galvanization has worn away I believe. This is relatively common in modern Saharan and Sudanese edged weapons with these kinds of blades. The inscribed symbol is the cross with orbed terminals, which typically signifies the four cardinal directions, and may have any number of meanings either talismanically or traditionally. It is not perceived as a makers mark or in the significance of the other markings described on these weapons.

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21st June 2010, 05:22 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,282	Interesting examples which according to Dr. Lee Jones field research are termed 'alguinjar' in local parlances in Tuareg cases, however uncertain if the Fula people or others who used takoubas have corresponding terms of thier own. The term seems to specify curved bladed. This example interestingly has a pommel element which corresponds to certain Cameroon weapons, and it should be noted that the Fulbe (Anglicized term for Fulani) are the predominant ethnic group in the Adamawa regions of Cameroon. The blade on this example appears to be a 19th century cavalry sabre blade which has had the point rebated much in the standard style for takoubas of regular straight blade form. The second example seems to have a modern sheet steel type blade, with the characteristic corrosion in patches where the protective galvanization has worn away I believe. This is relatively common in modern Saharan and Sudanese edged weapons with these kinds of blades. The inscribed symbol is the cross with orbed terminals, which typically signifies the four cardinal directions, and may have any number of meanings either talismanically or traditionally. It is not perceived as a makers mark or in the significance of the other markings described on these weapons.