Tri fullered Kaskara, Tabouka and Kattara help

Jim McDougall · 27th May 2011, 09:13 PM

Hi David,
The dispersement of these blades, most commonly known on kaskara, would be difficult to track as far as diffusion in the vast trade networks, and in my opinion must be viewed largely on case by case basis. Simply trying to determine origins and movement in the areas most known in the Sudan and Saharan regions is difficult at best.
Blades of triple fuller type are known as far as West African coastal regions such as Sierra Leone where kaskara style blades are in rondel type cylindrical hilts; as mentioned they occur in many kattara which may be from the Omani sultanate in Zanzibar but that remains debatable; and I have even seen them in Indian pata.

With the pronounced commercialism in Solingen, and that they were supplying blades to Abyssinia, India, Sudan, and of course many regulation blades nilitarily to many nations by the latter 19th century, it would be extremely hard to say on this example. Whether it is reprofiled or not is gard to say from photos.....if it is double edged than it may be a kaskara type blade...but as Iain notes, it does not seem readily so. Perhaps a prototype for potential export to Sumatran regions ?

All the best,
Jim

katana · 27th May 2011, 10:01 PM

Thank you Jim

,
it was worth a try ......I just wondered whether large quantities of the same mass produced blades were traded across a large area, later customised to local tastes. It seems that this is not the case

Kind Regards David

Jim McDougall · 27th May 2011, 10:28 PM

It sure was David, and quite honestly I am among many who have honestly tried to figure this out for some time. It is clear that the most prevalent presence of these was undoubtedly in the North African regions, but as trade competition and diversification compounded, not to mention the complexities of geopolitical strife in colonial regions globally, as well as intertribal warfare causing considerable rerouting in many trade situations (as well known in North Africa) there are many possibilities.

Factor in the native makers accomplishing some pretty impressive blades as well, and there you have it..chaos!!

All the best,
Jim

27th May 2011, 09:13 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Hi David, The dispersement of these blades, most commonly known on kaskara, would be difficult to track as far as diffusion in the vast trade networks, and in my opinion must be viewed largely on case by case basis. Simply trying to determine origins and movement in the areas most known in the Sudan and Saharan regions is difficult at best. Blades of triple fuller type are known as far as West African coastal regions such as Sierra Leone where kaskara style blades are in rondel type cylindrical hilts; as mentioned they occur in many kattara which may be from the Omani sultanate in Zanzibar but that remains debatable; and I have even seen them in Indian pata. With the pronounced commercialism in Solingen, and that they were supplying blades to Abyssinia, India, Sudan, and of course many regulation blades nilitarily to many nations by the latter 19th century, it would be extremely hard to say on this example. Whether it is reprofiled or not is gard to say from photos.....if it is double edged than it may be a kaskara type blade...but as Iain notes, it does not seem readily so. Perhaps a prototype for potential export to Sumatran regions ? All the best, Jim Last edited by Jim McDougall; 27th May 2011 at 10:22 PM.

27th May 2011, 10:01 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Thank you Jim , it was worth a try ......I just wondered whether large quantities of the same mass produced blades were traded across a large area, later customised to local tastes. It seems that this is not the case Kind Regards David

27th May 2011, 10:28 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	It sure was David, and quite honestly I am among many who have honestly tried to figure this out for some time. It is clear that the most prevalent presence of these was undoubtedly in the North African regions, but as trade competition and diversification compounded, not to mention the complexities of geopolitical strife in colonial regions globally, as well as intertribal warfare causing considerable rerouting in many trade situations (as well known in North Africa) there are many possibilities. Factor in the native makers accomplishing some pretty impressive blades as well, and there you have it..chaos!! All the best, Jim