Kaskara for Comment.

VANDOO · 12th November 2010, 05:45 AM

HERE ARE A COUPLE MORE TO THROW INTO THE POST PERHAPS SOMETHING CAN BE LEARNED FROM THE DESIGNS OR MARKS.
UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE THE PICTURES BUT NO FURTHER INFO. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH TAKEING PICTURES FROM THE INTERNET OFTEN THERE IS LITTLE INFO OR NOT ENOUGH ROOM TO WRITE IT AND ITS DATE AND SOURCE IN THE DESCRIPTION.

katana · 12th November 2010, 01:46 PM

Hi Vandoo,
very nice examples.....the lower Kaskara has ....well certainly looks like, the mark of the 'Lion of Judah'. Never seen this marking on a Kaskara before.... Ethiopian ??

Regards David

stephen wood · 12th November 2010, 02:54 PM

...yes it does look like the Moa Anbessa - Conquering Lion.

Have a look at this thread: one blade obviously Ethiopian, the other strongly possible.

An account of Addis Ababa in the late 19th century mentions:

"In the crowded corner devoted to the sword-sellers you may see a petty chief, with one or two trusty followers, testing the blade of the big, straight sword taken from the Dervishes, which will fetch as much as ten to fifteen dollars. Close by, other purchasers are examining the curve of an Ethiopian sword in its bright red scabbard, or perhaps choosing one from a pile of French blades made for the Ethiopian market. . . ."

The Ethiopian wall painting shows an Archangel with an interesting sword with the moon marking and a brass(?) hilt rather like the one posted.

The use of captured blades evidently worked both ways during the struggle between The Caliphate and Ethiopia.

Edster · 12th November 2010, 06:57 PM

Hi Vandoo,

That's a fine Kaskara. I have photographs of three swords in Shengiti Collection at the Univ. of Khartoum that have identical haft designs with the four diamonds. Field notes say they were made in the village of Wager on the Gash River that flows out of Ethiopia. Shengiti was a Sudanese scholar, statesman and jurist and the swords were gifts to him. I haven't been able to date his activity. Probably around Sudanese independence.

Another note says that Ehiopian swords have no lines or fullers in them, but have a (makers?) mark on them. Your photo has no lines, but those in the Shengiti have a scooped out fuller. I'm not convinced that Ethiopian swords havd no fullers or scoops. Some blades in Ethiopian were made in Europe and brought into Ethiopia by Italian troops during the colonial period.

Another note says that the man who etched moon faces and reclining lions on blades died in 1960. Unfortunately, my notes didn't focus on dating and origin of blades except in passing. Would have a different if I were there today.

A web site describes iron smelting in 2004 in a village in SE Ethiopia. No doubt the practice is very old. Perhaps Ethiopian swordsmiths used this iron to make steel and make proper sword blades. So much field work to do and so little time.

Best regards,
Edster

katana · 15th November 2010, 12:57 PM

Durham University have kindly given me permission to post Ali Dinar's Kaskara. This sword first mentioned by Aris (Rumpel). As you can see the diamond patterning is similar, but not so well executed,so perhaps suggests that my Kaskara might have links with Dinar's reign.

"...........This particular photo comes from our Treasures of Durham University Library book and the sword itself will form part of a Treasures exhibition in the library’s new Wolfson Hall which is due to open in January..."

Regards David

.

stephen wood · 15th November 2010, 07:45 PM

...quite possibly, after all, he is said to have owned one thousand swords

katana · 16th November 2010, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephen wood

...quite possibly, after all, he is said to have owned one thousand swords

Hi Stephen,
thanks for that....he also is alleged to have had around 120 sons

....obviously a very busy man

With such a large family...perhaps Dinar's kaskara...or more likely one of his son's

"...........Palace records had been scrupulously maintained and one book, using a page for each lady who bore them, listed the names of about 120 of the Sultan’s sons. MacMichael forgot what the number of daughters was......"

http://www.kaiserscross.com/188001/224322.html

Regards David

12th November 2010, 05:45 AM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	HERE ARE A COUPLE MORE TO THROW INTO THE POST PERHAPS SOMETHING CAN BE LEARNED FROM THE DESIGNS OR MARKS. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE THE PICTURES BUT NO FURTHER INFO. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH TAKEING PICTURES FROM THE INTERNET OFTEN THERE IS LITTLE INFO OR NOT ENOUGH ROOM TO WRITE IT AND ITS DATE AND SOURCE IN THE DESCRIPTION. Attached Images Last edited by VANDOO; 12th November 2010 at 08:25 PM.

12th November 2010, 02:54 PM	#3
stephen wood Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 227	...yes it does look like the Moa Anbessa - Conquering Lion. Have a look at this thread: one blade obviously Ethiopian, the other strongly possible. An account of Addis Ababa in the late 19th century mentions: "In the crowded corner devoted to the sword-sellers you may see a petty chief, with one or two trusty followers, testing the blade of the big, straight sword taken from the Dervishes, which will fetch as much as ten to fifteen dollars. Close by, other purchasers are examining the curve of an Ethiopian sword in its bright red scabbard, or perhaps choosing one from a pile of French blades made for the Ethiopian market. . . ." The Ethiopian wall painting shows an Archangel with an interesting sword with the moon marking and a brass(?) hilt rather like the one posted. The use of captured blades evidently worked both ways during the struggle between The Caliphate and Ethiopia. Attached Images

15th November 2010, 12:57 PM	#5
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Durham University have kindly given me permission to post Ali Dinar's Kaskara. This sword first mentioned by Aris (Rumpel). As you can see the diamond patterning is similar, but not so well executed,so perhaps suggests that my Kaskara might have links with Dinar's reign. "...........This particular photo comes from our Treasures of Durham University Library book and the sword itself will form part of a Treasures exhibition in the library’s new Wolfson Hall which is due to open in January..." Regards David . Attached Images Last edited by katana; 15th November 2010 at 01:08 PM.

15th November 2010, 07:45 PM	#6
stephen wood Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 227	...quite possibly, after all, he is said to have owned one thousand swords Last edited by stephen wood; 15th November 2010 at 08:12 PM.

12th November 2010, 01:46 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Vandoo, very nice examples.....the lower Kaskara has ....well certainly looks like, the mark of the 'Lion of Judah'. Never seen this marking on a Kaskara before.... Ethiopian ?? Regards David

12th November 2010, 06:57 PM	#4
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 415	Hi Vandoo, That's a fine Kaskara. I have photographs of three swords in Shengiti Collection at the Univ. of Khartoum that have identical haft designs with the four diamonds. Field notes say they were made in the village of Wager on the Gash River that flows out of Ethiopia. Shengiti was a Sudanese scholar, statesman and jurist and the swords were gifts to him. I haven't been able to date his activity. Probably around Sudanese independence. Another note says that Ehiopian swords have no lines or fullers in them, but have a (makers?) mark on them. Your photo has no lines, but those in the Shengiti have a scooped out fuller. I'm not convinced that Ethiopian swords havd no fullers or scoops. Some blades in Ethiopian were made in Europe and brought into Ethiopia by Italian troops during the colonial period. Another note says that the man who etched moon faces and reclining lions on blades died in 1960. Unfortunately, my notes didn't focus on dating and origin of blades except in passing. Would have a different if I were there today. A web site describes iron smelting in 2004 in a village in SE Ethiopia. No doubt the practice is very old. Perhaps Ethiopian swordsmiths used this iron to make steel and make proper sword blades. So much field work to do and so little time. Best regards, Edster