Sudanese kaskara - Arabic translation request

[AJ1356]

The writing on this is beautiful, and done masterfully. Some one took long, painfull hours to inscibe them on the blade.

[Michael Blalock]

It is beautiful writing. It must have been some sort of reverse or negative of the typical acid etching you see on the typical kaskara.

[Edster]

Colin,

Great sword!!! My knowledge is limited, but may add another ingredient to the stew. My guess is it isn't from Kassala based mainly on the handle wrap. The blade looks thick in the photograph. Hasn't been sharpened in years. Probably old. Grip it with the blade pointing up and snap your wrist. If the blade vibrates for a few seconds, it may be made from lorry spring stock. Likewise, does it bend / deflect maybe 15 degrees or more? Some of the modern Kassala blades could almost bend double for someone who was skilled at the demonstration.

The calligraphy is very stylistic. Not the style of a suq al haddad worker, maybe a silver smith. No doubt the translation may put into a context. Is it engraved or more likely etched? Modern (1986 is the limit of my personal experience with the sword smiths.) marks are often just scratches into the blade or made with a crude punch.

The lion is stylistically sophisticated, and may be the calligrapher's mark rather than that of the blade maker. No opinion on the orb and cross. Line width is more narrow that the calligraphy and that may have meaning. Is it the same depth?

I'll be eager to learn more about this outstanding item.

Regards,
Ed

[Edster]

Colin,

Another thought on your sword. The photo that Lew posted of the cross-guard. Could it be cast? The surface looks a little grainy, the ""blade catcher" looks more integral to the cross-guard than a forge welded piece, and the flats and edges look too sharp to be blacksmith work, unless of extraordinary skill. Its probably just the way the light shines on it. I've never seen a cast cross-guard on a kaskara. Are you aware of any?

Also, the grip wrap looks fairly recent and in the Nile Valley style. Likely a modernation of a high end traditional presentation sword.

Regards,
Ed

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Edster

Colin,

Another thought on your sword. The photo that Lew posted of the cross-guard. Could it be cast? The surface looks a little grainy, the ""blade catcher" looks more integral to the cross-guard than a forge welded piece, and the flats and edges look too sharp to be blacksmith work, unless of extraordinary skill. Its probably just the way the light shines on it. I've never seen a cast cross-guard on a kaskara. Are you aware of any?

Also, the grip wrap looks fairly recent and in the Nile Valley style. Likely a modernation of a high end traditional presentation sword.

Regards,
Ed

Ed, great observations, and I agree I cant think of any cast kaskara guards, however I have seen a good number with brass guards. Have you picked up any detail on the use of brass as opposed to the iron guards?

Also, it seems when we talked you mentioned certain smiths using certain stamps or marks and I wondered about this unusual form which is of course more like a lion..I was thinking perhaps like the Lion of Judah seen in Abyssinian blades as possible influence.

Its good to have you posting on these kaskara!!

All best regards,
Jim