Kaskara with Arabic "seal" stamp

Iain · 25th October 2011, 07:42 PM

Someone call me?

Honestly Stephen has a lot more experience with kaskara than I do, so if he says it's a European trade blade I believe him. The style of cross guard certainly matches with an old sword.

Wood is in surprisingly good shape.

About the stamp, I was half hoping the translation would give a place rather than a name. The name I assume has nothing to give a regional clue? As I understand it Dawud is the Arabic version of David, so probably quite common, Ali of course is a very common name as well in the Sudan.

So, I don't think it's an armoury stamp. I'm wondering if some enterprising merchant stamped a batch of blades he imported or bought up? Would be a decent marketing trick perhaps, as in "I have a Dawud Ali blade and it works great! You should go get one as well!".

That's about the only thing I can think of. As Norman points out, I really doubt this was a one off.

Cheers,

Iain

A.alnakkas · 25th October 2011, 08:36 PM

Oh haha, sorry I somehow thought you have made this topic!

Valid opinion, I'd wait for Stephen's assessment. A very interesting piece non the less!

stephen wood · 25th October 2011, 11:41 PM

...thank you for your interest in this one.

Did I post them upside down? I can't find a Sultan of Darfur or a King of Sennar with that name - the merchant idea is quite plausible. It does seem to be a first in that while engraved or etched inscriptions abound, I have never come across an Arabic stamp on one of these swords. Is it a tughra?

Iain · 25th October 2011, 11:54 PM

Not a tughra as far as I've seen them if you mean the classical definition of an Ottaman ruler's stamp...

I also think it's odd this is only a name, not a phrase, a verse or anything else.

Glad the merchant idea seems plausible, because beyond that I'm out of ideas.

Jim McDougall · 28th October 2011, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephen wood

...thank you for your interest in this one.

Did I post them upside down? I can't find a Sultan of Darfur or a King of Sennar with that name - the merchant idea is quite plausible. It does seem to be a first in that while engraved or etched inscriptions abound, I have never come across an Arabic stamp on one of these swords. Is it a tughra?

this is a tughra

25th October 2011, 07:42 PM	#1
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,717	Someone call me? Honestly Stephen has a lot more experience with kaskara than I do, so if he says it's a European trade blade I believe him. The style of cross guard certainly matches with an old sword. Wood is in surprisingly good shape. About the stamp, I was half hoping the translation would give a place rather than a name. The name I assume has nothing to give a regional clue? As I understand it Dawud is the Arabic version of David, so probably quite common, Ali of course is a very common name as well in the Sudan. So, I don't think it's an armoury stamp. I'm wondering if some enterprising merchant stamped a batch of blades he imported or bought up? Would be a decent marketing trick perhaps, as in "I have a Dawud Ali blade and it works great! You should go get one as well!". That's about the only thing I can think of. As Norman points out, I really doubt this was a one off. Cheers, Iain

25th October 2011, 08:36 PM	#2
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	Oh haha, sorry I somehow thought you have made this topic! Valid opinion, I'd wait for Stephen's assessment. A very interesting piece non the less!

25th October 2011, 11:41 PM	#3
stephen wood Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 227	...thank you for your interest in this one. Did I post them upside down? I can't find a Sultan of Darfur or a King of Sennar with that name - the merchant idea is quite plausible. It does seem to be a first in that while engraved or etched inscriptions abound, I have never come across an Arabic stamp on one of these swords. Is it a tughra?

25th October 2011, 11:54 PM	#4
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,717	Not a tughra as far as I've seen them if you mean the classical definition of an Ottaman ruler's stamp... I also think it's odd this is only a name, not a phrase, a verse or anything else. Glad the merchant idea seems plausible, because beyond that I'm out of ideas.