Help required to identify a strange stamp on a Kaskara blade

Edster · 30th May 2017, 05:01 PM

Hello Miguel,

I think the mark on the top sword is a maker's mark. It's a take off from the Man in the Moon face on some German blades. Various sword smiths in Kassala, Sudan mark their blades with variations circles, curves lines and dots. Your mark might be a rendition of the Arabic number 40 or Arbane. A Kassala smith named Awad Adam had a similar mark but with a complete circle with the arbane inside. A similar close rendition was used by Hassan Shaykh Idris. I could hardly tell the difference, but the smith community was aware of subtle differences. Date would be mid to late 20th Cent.

The second blade is probably European trade blade. The mark looks like it might be a spider, but I can't identify it.

Regards,
Ed

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30th May 2017, 05:01 PM	#2
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 411	Hello Miguel, I think the mark on the top sword is a maker's mark. It's a take off from the Man in the Moon face on some German blades. Various sword smiths in Kassala, Sudan mark their blades with variations circles, curves lines and dots. Your mark might be a rendition of the Arabic number 40 or Arbane. A Kassala smith named Awad Adam had a similar mark but with a complete circle with the arbane inside. A similar close rendition was used by Hassan Shaykh Idris. I could hardly tell the difference, but the smith community was aware of subtle differences. Date would be mid to late 20th Cent. The second blade is probably European trade blade. The mark looks like it might be a spider, but I can't identify it. Regards, Ed