Takouba form presentation

A.alnakkas · 11th March 2012, 03:53 PM

Well done mate, I enjoyed reading the PDF and knowing more about this part of the world. Sadly I dont have much to add as I dont have any knowledge about the region.

carlos · 11th March 2012, 04:09 PM

Thank you very much!! great job !!
best regards
carlos

Sajen · 11th March 2012, 04:23 PM

Also when this swords are not my area of collecting: Great page and very interesting!

Thank you very much for sharing!

Regards,

Detlef

Devadatta · 11th March 2012, 04:41 PM

Great work and very interesting, thank you very much

Iain · 11th March 2012, 07:29 PM

Thank you all for your kind comments. I am maybe a little bit too obsessed with this sword type, but I find myself continuously fascinated by how wide a range the form covers. I'm glad my little presentation made for a good read.

Any and all feedback gratefully accepted.

Cheers,

Iain

A.alnakkas · 11th March 2012, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iain

Thank you all for your kind comments. I am maybe a little bit too obsessed with this sword type, but I find myself continuously fascinated by how wide a range the form covers. I'm glad my little presentation made for a good read.

Any and all feedback gratefully accepted.

Cheers,

Iain

Is that how am going to be with the saif soon? xD

Your research is a treasure mate, no shame in being obsessed !

TVV · 11th March 2012, 07:55 PM

Iain,
Thank for summarising all the info on the takouba that you have been gathering. Your focus on this form is inspirational.
Teodor

Edster · 12th March 2012, 12:10 AM

Iain,

Excellent job of research and analysis!! I hadn't realized that the takouba was so wide spread and had such a long history. I'm impressed. A couple of observations/questions.

1. The takouba and kaskara have significantly different profiles. Would European trade blades have been made in the differing profiles to serve the individual markets of the Western Sahel and the Nile Valley? Those Sahelian kingdoms were much more sophisticated than those of the Sudan, and I would expect that more native blades would have been in the takouba form.

2. As you noted, the establishment of provenance is difficult based on a limited database of attribution and stylistic variability. Is there a place for "forensic metallurgy" in further identification? Native ore content and forging, quenching, processing techniques would different from say Solingen as well as native forging from imported steel stock like lorry springs. I wonder if this type of investigation could be done non-invasively? And if so, are enough examples are available to provide a suitable database?

An excellent contribution to the field.
Best regards,
Ed

11th March 2012, 03:53 PM	#1
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	Well done mate, I enjoyed reading the PDF and knowing more about this part of the world. Sadly I dont have much to add as I dont have any knowledge about the region.

11th March 2012, 04:09 PM	#2
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 748	Thank you very much!! great job !! best regards carlos

11th March 2012, 04:23 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,165	Also when this swords are not my area of collecting: Great page and very interesting! Thank you very much for sharing! Regards, Detlef

11th March 2012, 04:41 PM	#4
Devadatta Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 118	Great work and very interesting, thank you very much

11th March 2012, 07:29 PM	#5
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	Thank you all for your kind comments. I am maybe a little bit too obsessed with this sword type, but I find myself continuously fascinated by how wide a range the form covers. I'm glad my little presentation made for a good read. Any and all feedback gratefully accepted. Cheers, Iain

11th March 2012, 07:55 PM	#7
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,660	Iain, Thank for summarising all the info on the takouba that you have been gathering. Your focus on this form is inspirational. Teodor

12th March 2012, 12:10 AM	#8
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 411	Iain, Excellent job of research and analysis!! I hadn't realized that the takouba was so wide spread and had such a long history. I'm impressed. A couple of observations/questions. 1. The takouba and kaskara have significantly different profiles. Would European trade blades have been made in the differing profiles to serve the individual markets of the Western Sahel and the Nile Valley? Those Sahelian kingdoms were much more sophisticated than those of the Sudan, and I would expect that more native blades would have been in the takouba form. 2. As you noted, the establishment of provenance is difficult based on a limited database of attribution and stylistic variability. Is there a place for "forensic metallurgy" in further identification? Native ore content and forging, quenching, processing techniques would different from say Solingen as well as native forging from imported steel stock like lorry springs. I wonder if this type of investigation could be done non-invasively? And if so, are enough examples are available to provide a suitable database? An excellent contribution to the field. Best regards, Ed