Honest Kaskara to share.

drac2k · 17th June 2019, 09:15 PM

Thanks for your input Jim, as I have noticed from previous threads, you appear to be very knowledgeable about these swords(as well as a great many other things), so I was hoping you would comment. Maybe I will leave it "as is," since I am more inclined to agree with this approach.

Jim McDougall · 17th June 2019, 09:32 PM

My pleasure Drac, and thanks for the kind words!
Even left as is, it would make a great display along with a framed pic of Sudanese scenes, even those of the campaigns there in 1890s. Those times and memories of the Mahdi are still very vivid there in Sudan, so carry even into present times.
I recall years ago talking with a young man from Darfur, who told me that sa'if (they do not call them kaskara) are still well known there, and that his father always had one hanging on their wall.

Kubur · 17th June 2019, 09:33 PM

Very nice European blade
I agree with Jim leave it as it is or just consolidate with wire around the languet
but don't put crocodile... or just brown leather as it was originaly...

TVV · 17th June 2019, 10:26 PM

It would be nice to get better pictures of the blade. If this was originally a single edged blade, that had its back ground and sharpened to modify it into a broadsword according to the traditional taste in Sudan, then to me that would indicate an imported blade, modified locally.

ariel · 17th June 2019, 11:38 PM

Drac,

Go to Classics and check the most recent entries ( the lowest): splendid topics on Kaskara .

Edster · 18th June 2019, 12:40 AM

Drac,

This could well be a Mahdi Era sword. In the early part the Sudanese were getting blades from whatever sources were available. This presumably European blade could have been dressed in the Kaskara style. After the British Reconquest these was a general disarmament period with mush lesser demand to cobble a sword from uncharastic blades. Plus, there was a vast "surplus" of Kaskara resulting from the Mahdist defeat.

Your blade has what could be a maker's mark just under the lower langet. Is the blade otherwise marked with Arabic/Islamic inscriptions? If not inscribed it could be of Italian origin as they were active in the Kassala area, and many of their Sudanese allies were against the Mahdi. Either way it could help in identifying its source.

Best,
Ed

drac2k · 18th June 2019, 01:04 AM

Thank you, gentlemen, for your comments and information; I will try to post some better pictures. I can't see any makers' marks, but I will look more closely with a magnifying glass.

drac2k · 20th June 2019, 06:57 PM

I hope these additional pictures help

20th June 2019, 06:57 PM	#8
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,258	I hope these additional pictures help Attached Images

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17th June 2019, 09:15 PM	#1
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,258	Thanks for your input Jim, as I have noticed from previous threads, you appear to be very knowledgeable about these swords(as well as a great many other things), so I was hoping you would comment. Maybe I will leave it "as is," since I am more inclined to agree with this approach.

17th June 2019, 09:32 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,284	My pleasure Drac, and thanks for the kind words! Even left as is, it would make a great display along with a framed pic of Sudanese scenes, even those of the campaigns there in 1890s. Those times and memories of the Mahdi are still very vivid there in Sudan, so carry even into present times. I recall years ago talking with a young man from Darfur, who told me that sa'if (they do not call them kaskara) are still well known there, and that his father always had one hanging on their wall.

17th June 2019, 09:33 PM	#3
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Very nice European blade I agree with Jim leave it as it is or just consolidate with wire around the languet but don't put crocodile... or just brown leather as it was originaly...

17th June 2019, 10:26 PM	#4
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,664	It would be nice to get better pictures of the blade. If this was originally a single edged blade, that had its back ground and sharpened to modify it into a broadsword according to the traditional taste in Sudan, then to me that would indicate an imported blade, modified locally.

17th June 2019, 11:38 PM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Drac, Go to Classics and check the most recent entries ( the lowest): splendid topics on Kaskara .

18th June 2019, 12:40 AM	#6
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 415	Drac, This could well be a Mahdi Era sword. In the early part the Sudanese were getting blades from whatever sources were available. This presumably European blade could have been dressed in the Kaskara style. After the British Reconquest these was a general disarmament period with mush lesser demand to cobble a sword from uncharastic blades. Plus, there was a vast "surplus" of Kaskara resulting from the Mahdist defeat. Your blade has what could be a maker's mark just under the lower langet. Is the blade otherwise marked with Arabic/Islamic inscriptions? If not inscribed it could be of Italian origin as they were active in the Kassala area, and many of their Sudanese allies were against the Mahdi. Either way it could help in identifying its source. Best, Ed

18th June 2019, 01:04 AM	#7
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,258	Thank you, gentlemen, for your comments and information; I will try to post some better pictures. I can't see any makers' marks, but I will look more closely with a magnifying glass.