Some more objects from the RDG - kaskara (?) and spears

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you so much RDGAC for posting this fascinating example, and as Stephen has noted, it is great to see examples that have been in museums for such a long time as provenance is such an important key in the study of weapons.
I am inclined to agree also with Stephen, that these kaskaras seem more likely to have been acquired in later campaigns against Mahdist forces, as the Egyptian forces had been largely striving for more modern European type militarization since the time of Muhammed Ali. With that being the case, it would not seem that medieval style broadswords would have been concurrent with modern type arms.

However, it is noted that at the time of Muhammed Ali's invasion of the Sudan in 1819, the Sudanese tribes had no central authority and tribal infighting was carried out with primitive weaponry. By the time of the Mahdist uprisings in the 1870s the Mahdists were described as poorly clothed, and armed only with sticks and stones. Despite this, they were apparantly able to overpower assembled Egyptian forces and acquire stores of arms and ammunition. It is not made clear what these captured arms were, but the inclusion of the ammunition term obviously suggests emphasis on guns.
It appears that much of the Mahdist supply was obtained in the same way, as captured materials from previous battles are mentioned as sources.

It is known that broadsword blades began to enter the trans Saharan cultural sphere sometime long before this period, as these weapons are described in some of the early narratives of c.1830s and 40s. It is also known that the native made blades with these type fullers, as well as the crescent moons in opposed pair, were said to be 'made in the north'. Exactly what 'north' is meant is unclear, but if it was as far north as Egyptian areas, it would certainly bring interesting perspective to the kaskara. It would certainly seem plausible that in the centuries of Mamluk domain in Egypt, an armourers tradition must have been extant, we know that it was for mail.

Therefore, the questions stand....would there have been use of the kaskara among infantry ranks in the Egyptian army of c.1882? Would captured weaponry taken from Egyptian forces by the Mahdi, and used to equip his 'Ansar' have included these broadswords? Would the description of 'primitive weapons' used by Sudanese tribes mean 'ancient broadswords'?

I'd sure like to hear opinions on these.

Meanwhile, this kaskara, excels in its history as it has remained in situ for such a long time, and that it came out of campaigns in these regions in these times seems secure, regardless of exact circumstances.

I hope we might see the others also, and know if there are similar details in provenance.

All best regards,
Jim

[RDGAC]

Hmm. Gentlemen, you may well have a point - and I call myself an historian by training! The 4th Dragoon Guards were, indeed, involved (albeit on a small scale) in the Mahdi uprising and its attempted suppression subsequent to the events of 1882. To quote Mr. Brereton once more:

In September 1884 the Government belatedly decided to despatch a relief force to rescue General Gordon, besieged in Khartoum by the rebellious Mahdi. Now Egypt and the Sudan were of course the lands of that "ship of the desert", the camel; ergo, the force must include a specially-raised Camel Corps of some 1,200 British officers and men, about half of whom were to be found by all the cavalry regiments at home. The cavalry contingent was divided into a "Heavy" and a "Light Regiment, the former comprising two officers and 43 other ranks from the Household Cavalry and each of the Dragoon Guards and Dragoon regiments in England, the "Light" being similarly found from the Hussars. The detachment from the 4th Dragoon Guards... sailed with the rest of the Heavies from Portsmouth on September 26th and disembarked at Alexandria on October 7th.

Having been introduced to their unaccustomed 22-hand mounts and gleaned some rudiments of "camelmanship" they learned, with some relief, that they were not actually expected to fight on the beasts as "cavalrymen", but were to be employed solely as mounted infantry. The force reached Korti, some 900 miles up the Nile on Christmas Day, and here General Sir Herbert Stewart was despatched with the Camel Corps and some infantry to establish a strongpoint at Abu Klea, near the Blue Nile. On January 17th (1889) the column of 1,800 men was attacked by a horde of 9,000 Mahdi fanatics, losing eleven officers and 77 men killed and 115 wounded, though they slew at least 1,100 of the "Fuzzy-Wuzzies" in their desperate seven-hour fight. This action cost the 4th Dragoon Guards detachment both officers - Darley and Law - and seven men killed and five others wounded. (Ibid., pp. 262-263.)

From this, it seems clear that the 4th DG were indeed sent into the Sudan, although given the small scale of the action at Abu Klea (for which they didn't receive a battle honour, incidentally, owing to being present only in detachment strength), I do wonder whether there would have been much opportunity for trophy-hunting; this is especially so in the light of comments regarding the poor state of arms in the Mahdist forces, and their subsequent augmentation with modern, captured Egyptian equipment, some 15 years earlier.

I will, naturally, remove the kaskara from its scabbard forthwith in order to avert the progress of further corrosion. With regard to the wire, I suppose that it might conceivably be fine leather, although it doesn't look, or feel, like it to my distinctly inexpert eye. If only I might send a sample.

Kaskara two en route!

[Marc]

Originally Posted by RDGAC

With regard to the wire, I suppose that it might conceivably be fine leather, although it doesn't look, or feel, like it to my distinctly inexpert eye. If only I might send a sample.

In the pics it LOOKS like iron wire, but pictures can be so misleading... But, if metallic, it should be cold at thouch, although that may take a bit of experience to tell. Anyway, if it's iron, it's going to be magnetic, even if corroded. If copper or brass, it shouldn't be desintegrating without some degree of an annoying green residue lying around and staining things. And, in any event, if not metallic, it should... react... to a candle's flame that would... happen... to be lying near by...

[RDGAC]

Kaskara #2, similar in proportions to #1 but with a single fuller running for approximately 10in (25cm) from cross-guard to its termination, and an unusual change in the depth of the edge, for want of a better phrase, some 13in (32cm) from the blade's tip. Seemed to be sharper than the previous blade, and indeed the sharpest of all, albeit with several chips and nicks in the blade.

In moderate to good condition, at least compared to the others, with a minimum of damage to the blade and its grip intact. Little pitting and only small levels of rust, once again treated with oil and G0000 wire wool, have been found on this blade. There seem to be no markings, at least that I can make out. The grip appears to be of cowhide or something similar, and its stitching is happily intact. The two langets, however, are both bent, in the same direction, presumably indicative of poor care or possibly battle damage; perhaps in the case of the langet that has bent outwards, an enemy blade slipped down and forced it out? Overall the most complete of the four, scabbard notwithstanding.

Length overall: 39.5in (100cm),
Length blade (cross-guard to tip): 37.6in (88cm),
Width at widest point (ricasso): 1.6in (4.2cm),

Overall views:
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/2909/img0400de.jpg
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/828/img0408uj.jpg

Blade, tip to base, obverse (some images may require rotation):
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/392/img0402uk.jpg
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/5691/img0403fy.jpg
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/5562/img0404co.jpg

Cross-guard, grip and pommel, obverse and reverse respectively:
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/64/img0405j.jpg
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/7903/img0407e.jpg

(The stitching holding the cowhide - or whatever it is - together is visible in the first picture.)

View of distorted langets:
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/2551/img0411l.jpg

Two views showing the alteration experienced by the edge in depth, ~13in short of the tip:
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/5701/img0412ol.jpg
http://img532.imageshack.us/img532/2069/img0413m.jpg

A fairly flexible blade, though by no means as bendy as the last I shall put up. On with the show, and our next example is what I believe to be a somewhat unusual specimen that has me a little intrigued.

[RDGAC]

Kaskara #3, which is by far the... er... shiniest of the lot, for some reason. My inspection has failed to locate any active corrosion on its surface, though very numerous areas of black, inactive rust, along with some pitting, can be seen. It's as if the blade has been galvanised, a process which, I understand, has been in use for some 150 years and might thus have been employed by European swordsmiths exporting their wares to the Sudan and nearby areas for use in kaskara manufacture. On the other hand, if galvanised, why has the blade seen such corrosion and pitting, visible on the attached photographs? I'm leaning to the hypothesis that this blade was treated after it entered the United Kingdom but have no doubt that the members here will have come across similar weapons before, and have an explanation more in line with Occam's Razor. As well as pitting and rust, the blade has the usual chips and nicks in its edge, and its tip has been flattened considerably, suggesting perhaps that it was dropped; given the lack of body armour on European (and especially British) troops at this time, I think it unlikely that the point met impenetrable plate.

This blade has proportions, unsurprisingly, broadly similar to those of our other kaskara, but is unique in having no fewer than five fullers, all of the same narrow type as on our first example, which run for (on average, accounting for minor variations in individual fuller length) 8.25in (21cm) from the base of the blade. At said base are a pair of large tabs, seemingly forge-welded or similar to the flats of the blade, and presumably intended to broaden it a little and allow the cross-guard and grip a firmer attachment to the base and tang, though that's probably an erroneous presumption. A curious aspect is the small piece of what looks like copper or perhaps gold (depending upon the light in which one views it), which can be found 10.25in (11cm) from the tip.

Moving downward, the cross-guard is loose and can be moved relatively easily, although it does not come off entirely. This I would ascribe to the partially absent wrapping of the grip, for about half of the leather strips which should bind it are missing. The grip's wood, however, appears sound, as does the remaining leather and its disc pommel. The nail passing through the grip remains in place and secure. Overall one of the more interesting kaskara we have, quite sharp and relatively flexible, if somewhat rough. For a weapon at least 126 years old, I don't think she's doing badly!

Length overall: 39.4in (100cm)
Length blade (from horizontal of cross-guard): 34in (86.4cm)
Length grip: 4.5in (11.5cm),
Width cross-guard horizontal: 5.5in (14cm)
Length of fullers (average): 8.25in (21cm) from tabs at base of blade.

Overall of sword, obverse:
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2575/img0414y.jpg
http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/3254/img0415h.jpg

Overall, reverse:
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/2328/img0416sz.jpg

Grip and cross-guard, obverse
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/1274/img0419c.jpg

Grip and cross-guard, reverse:
http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/1834/img0417s.jpg
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/4604/img0420h.jpg

(Note small tab in lower picture between lower vertical portion of cross-guard and grip - any ideas?)

Cross-guard and langets:
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/2351/img0423y.jpg
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/3184/img0422fz.jpg

Cross-guard and tab, reverse:
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/7728/img0424n.jpg

Cross-guard and tab, obverse:
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/1575/img0425n.jpg

Pommel:
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/8194/img0426tr.jpg

Grip, cross-guard, langets and upper portion of blade, reverse, perspective:
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/3640/img0427g.jpg

Details of copper/gold on blade:
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/7266/img0453l.jpg
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/3430/img0452bm.jpg
http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/3227/img0421r.jpg

[katana]

Hi RDGAC,
with regards the pitting on the blade that is devoid of active rust...IMHO the blade has probably been subjected to electrolytic rust removal or the use of a weak acid.

Kind Regards David


PS With regards galvanised blades ....I believe Mole patented a galvanised blade or the process of galvanising a blade, in 1860 ......"galvanized,that is to say, coated them with zinc, whereby the said machetes and cutlasses are preserved from oxidisation" . However I think this was mainly for Maritime swords ...which were often painted (black) to help preserve them in the 'sea air'.

[Jim McDougall]

Nicely done David! Thank you for the note on Mole and galvanizing, and it would be interesting to learn more on the use of this process in England in these times.

I have been rather determined to discover more on these kaskaras, and how they might have been captured at Tel el Kebir in 1882, as this conflict was between nationalist Egyptian forces rebelling against the Khedive, and the British forces protecting thier interests in Egypt and the Suez Canal.

The key problem, as previously noted, being that the Egyptian Army was essentially a modernized army, now equipped with Remington carbines and revolvers, and wearing military uniforms. That having been said, I think it is important to note that the rebel forces were not technically the forces of the Khedive, in the militarily outfitted sense, though it would be likely that a large part of them had this equipment.

It is known that the Khedives forces, by 1876, had been receiving these modern firearms ("Khedive Ismail's Army" , John P.Dunn, 2005, p.38). It is also worthy of note that these forces also included the regiments known as the Khedives 'Iron Men'. Certainly the Turko-Circassian aristocracy as well as the well established Mamluk traditions had firmly emplaced the use of medieval style armour, and these elite regiments were carrying forth those traditions.

The reason I bring this up is that in these times, apparantly the British industrial engine in Birmingham was supplying helmets of traditional style to these Khedival troops, as well as producing chain mail for them. While it is unclear about swords and blades that might have been produced along with these, it does seem quite possible that medieval type broadsword blades, well known in the kaskaras, could well have been produced in some number
as well.
The comments and observations on galvanizing were what triggered this thought, as well as the fact that these blades seem somewhat more 'industrial' and without the typical characteristics of many of these swords of the Mahdist trophy groups.

In trying to establish who then, in the Egyptian forces, might have been using kaskaras, we must consider that within the Khedives forces were also irregular troops of Bedouin in sizeable contingents, along with small squadrons of Shayqiyya. These units who functioned much as the Bedouin, in duties such as raiders, scouts, border guards etc. and thier home areas were actually in generally the same regions as that which encompassed the campaign at Tel el Kebir in 1882. Incorporated in these groups were elements of the Beni Amer tribe, actually a component of the large Beja group more familiar in Sudanese areas, but certainly present in these parts of Egypt and Northern Sudan.

Here is what is important, I have seen illustrations of the Beni Amer, mounted, wearing chain mail, and kaskaras! It would seem entirely possible, if not likely, that many of these tribesmen would have joined Ahmed Urabi in revolt, along with the profound ties to the Shayqiyya Brotherhood, and Bedouin.

Here may be where these clearly Sudanese broadswords may have found thier way into the hands of the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards, just as has been included in RDG's description. It is also worthy of note that , "...the British admiration for an enemy intensified thier desire to collect war trophies".
(Maj. Gen. Sir Alexander Bruce Tulloch).

Also, noted by war correspondent G.W. Stevens after Omdurman in 1898, the respect the British had for these adversaries remained as he noted, "..our men were perfect, but the Dervishes were superb beyond perfection".

The instructions not to wantonly destroy the combatants at Tel el Kebir was certainly to try to defray as much damage as possible in this unfortunate situation, and certainly reflected much of this same perspective. It seems likely of course that many of these forces may have become part of the Khedives forces in the later campaigns.

While often times museum attributions and provenances can certainly become clouded over many years, but in this I very much commend RDG for his efforts to find support for that with these kaskaras. It is an example that should be followed by the staff and constituents of all museums, and I hope the discussion here will prove helpful in the further display of these historic swords.

All best regards,
Jim