Kaskara Fuller Styles and Some Blade Marks--a third essay for discussion

TVV · 5th September 2018, 08:07 PM

Ed, thank you for the third installment of your research on kaskaras. You have done a great job summarizing and explaining the blade types and local terminology.

I completely agree with you that the most likely source of imported blades initially were surplus old blades from European armories, and that in the 19th century the earlier symbols were copied locally on Solingen produced blanks. I have a sword that illustrates a local copy of a running wolf:

http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7376

There is one more blade type with two or three parallel fullers of medium width and equal length, such as in the threads below:

http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=16092
http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21372
http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=23900

In previous discussions these have been described as Eritrean, but the one I have is in a Sudanese dress. What is your opinion on these?

Regards,
Teodor

ariel · 5th September 2018, 10:38 PM

European swordmakers flooded Ethiopia with their blades of various forms: from straight double-edged to copies of shotels.
From Ethiopia ( or directly?) some straight blades reached Sudan and were used for " kaskaras"

But the origin of those double-edged straight sword is not likely to be related to crusaders ( a theory discredited long ago) or to 19th century trade European blades.

Most likely, IMHO, Sudanese " kaskaras" are direct descendants of Mamluk swords the earliest of which date to 11-12 centuries.

There are multiple examples in Topkapi of such swords, with different fullering systems and with iron crossguards identical to the Sudanese ones. Mamluks invaded Sudan multiple times over centuries and even dominated it in the 19th century.
In turn, early Mamluk swords are virtually identical to the pre,- and early Islamic swords of Aravia.

Thus, Sudanese " kaskaras" may trace their identity straight to 7-8 (??) centuries, or even predating Muhammed.

5th September 2018, 08:07 PM	#1
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,666	Ed, thank you for the third installment of your research on kaskaras. You have done a great job summarizing and explaining the blade types and local terminology. I completely agree with you that the most likely source of imported blades initially were surplus old blades from European armories, and that in the 19th century the earlier symbols were copied locally on Solingen produced blanks. I have a sword that illustrates a local copy of a running wolf: http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7376 There is one more blade type with two or three parallel fullers of medium width and equal length, such as in the threads below: http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=16092 http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21372 http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=23900 In previous discussions these have been described as Eritrean, but the one I have is in a Sudanese dress. What is your opinion on these? Regards, Teodor

5th September 2018, 10:38 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	European swordmakers flooded Ethiopia with their blades of various forms: from straight double-edged to copies of shotels. From Ethiopia ( or directly?) some straight blades reached Sudan and were used for " kaskaras" But the origin of those double-edged straight sword is not likely to be related to crusaders ( a theory discredited long ago) or to 19th century trade European blades. Most likely, IMHO, Sudanese " kaskaras" are direct descendants of Mamluk swords the earliest of which date to 11-12 centuries. There are multiple examples in Topkapi of such swords, with different fullering systems and with iron crossguards identical to the Sudanese ones. Mamluks invaded Sudan multiple times over centuries and even dominated it in the 19th century. In turn, early Mamluk swords are virtually identical to the pre,- and early Islamic swords of Aravia. Thus, Sudanese " kaskaras" may trace their identity straight to 7-8 (??) centuries, or even predating Muhammed.