Latest kaskara for comment

[Edster]

Marc,

Nice old "kaskara". I have a single edge sword from Kassaka with a similar cast grip, c.1986. The blade looks to me like those from Ethiopia, especially with the lion. Double fullers are common from there, but not from Sudan. Also, the tapered blade profile more like its imported also considering the gloved hand maker's marks. My guess it's an imported Abyssinian/Ethiopian gurade blade with a 4-piece welded kaskara cross-guard updated with the cast grip.

Best regards,
Ed

[Battara]

How heavy is the silver hilt?

[Jim McDougall]

This blade reminds me of the kinds of Solingen blades that indeed came through Ethiopia in latter 19th c. and often after being mounted with rhino horn hilts were sent to San'aa in Yemen. The rhino from the hilts was of course highly sought for use on janbiyya daggers. The blades were then remounted
with various silver hilts and resulted in unusual combinations, often there would be Amharic inscriptions .

The kaskara was of course well known in Ethiopia as well as Eritrea, and these blades recirculating over generations were likely remounted many times. I think Ed has the best perception of these remounts by the character of the guards etc. as described in the work he has done from outstanding field work in the Sudan and presented here.

[Marc M.]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

This blade reminds me of the kinds of Solingen blades that indeed came through Ethiopia in latter 19th c. and often after being mounted with rhino horn hilts were sent to San'aa in Yemen. The rhino from the hilts was of course highly sought for use on janbiyya daggers. The blades were then remounted
with various silver hilts and resulted in unusual combinations, often there would be Amharic inscriptions .

The kaskara was of course well known in Ethiopia as well as Eritrea, and these blades recirculating over generations were likely remounted many times. I think Ed has the best perception of these remounts by the character of the guards etc. as described in the work he has done from outstanding field work in the Sudan and presented here.

Hi Jim
So problaby an Ethiopian/ Eritean kaskara with an european trade blad, which suits me fine. Seller thought it was local made.
Do you have some more info on the markings?
Greetings
Marc

[Kubur]

I think your seller was right.
It's not an Ethiopian lion for sure, maybe a copy...
As Jim said the fullers look like the Solingen ones.
No one mentioned the numbers... Strange for an African copy.
I'ts not a silver hilt.
I'm sure a forum member will give you a better and precise answer.

[Marc M.]

Originally Posted by Kubur

I think your seller was right.
It's not an Ethiopian lion for sure, maybe a copy...
As Jim said the fullers look like the Solingen ones.
No one mentioned the numbers... Strange for an African copy.
I'ts not a silver hilt.
I'm sure a forum member will give you a better and precise answer.

Hi kubur
Europian or native made blade, don't make much difference to me so, long the blade is well made. Its sometime hard to define where its from.
A few things made me doubt on the native origin.
First: the double fullers with the decoration, not that common on native blades. The decoration in the fullers is problaby acid etched, done verry well.
Second: a ricasso is found mostly on import blades.
Third : the markings in particular the cartouche and the hands.
Hopefully someone can shed some light on these matters.
Greetings
Marc

[Kubur]

Hi Marc,

Yes, your blade is a mystery.

Have a look at these two threads with your lion...

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ethiopian+lion

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ethiopian+lion

No one was able to say where they are coming from...

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Marc M.

Hi kubur
Europian or native made blade, don't make much difference to me so, long the blade is well made. Its sometime hard to define where its from.
A few things made me doubt on the native origin.
First: the double fullers with the decoration, not that common on native blades. The decoration in the fullers is problaby acid etched, done verry well.
Second: a ricasso is found mostly on import blades.
Third : the markings in particular the cartouche and the hands.
Hopefully someone can shed some light on these matters.
Greetings
Marc

These deeply channeled blades are distinctly European, and actually they were made in both Solingen and in England (Mole & Sons) for Ethiopian markets in the reign of Menelik II (r. 1868-1915). These blades were of varied types, many curved for shotels but there were numbers of these straight, channeled blades (as shown in post by Kubur with 2005 threads).

From what I recall, and image from the shambles of my notes, these blades came into Ethiopia, typically to Armenian merchants in Harar mostly, for the Abyssinian armorers (Sarlis Terzian c. 1890 was one of the many and Keverkoff another commonly seen).

The Mole versions often had the Amharic script etched in, while the German examples seem to have had the floral etching. Typically the Lion of Judah is seen at the forte, but this one is different being a couchant lion without the regalia on the Lion of Judah (the Royal Abyssinian mark).

Also, the gloves are typical of German makers marks of latter 19th c. period as yet undetermined. The numbers are it seems commercial administrative associated, and I have seen these types of numbers on various German blades to colonial clientele.

The lion has distinct symbolic value across North Africa from Sahara to Sudan, and several forms of lion exist on Tuareg sword blades (from Kaocen Rebellion, 1916-18) to Hadendoa in Sudan where this may have been 'totemic' (the Hadendoa name assoc. with lion ?).
There was a German firm (C. Lutters & Co.) using a circled couchant lion c. 1840-99(Bezdek, p. 147) and imported blades from there may have influenced native blade producers.

In "People of the Veil" (Rodd, 1928. p.233) it is noted referring to 'Masri' blades, "...another cheap variety has a small couchant lion". These marks were believed to imbue the blade with magical powers.

This convention of 'magical imbuement' was not lost to commercial production of blades, especially in Solingen, where the use of spurious markings for specific clientele had been practiced for many centuries.

As noted, these straight blades, whether intended for Sudan or Ethiopia, carried a couchant lion which may have appealed to either recipient.
Many of these ended up in Yemen (as shown in attached photo) but the blades in any case remained in circulation for generations.

I would say this was rehilted in the traditional kaskara manner, but using solid metal as had become conventional by early to mid 20th c. as noted by Battara. This may well be 'German silver' which is of course an alloy of copper, brass and nickel (I believe) but has similar effect as silver.

With ethnographic weapons, whether it is a weapon modified, remounted, etc and perhaps in modern context with components is not as relevant as the fact it is as representation of the culture and traditions of its users. While many weapons so altered are seen as 'composite' and less worthy collectibles, I see them as iconic historic journals of their often long working lives.

[Marc M.]

Originally Posted by Battara

How heavy is the silver hilt?

Hi Battara
I don't think its silver but aluminium or zinc, it feels light.
I don't have anything to test silver.
Silver on kaskara handles is mostly wire or thin plates.
Solid cast silver handle would be nice allthough.
Greetings
marc

[Battara]

Originally Posted by Marc M.

Hi Battara
I don't think its silver but aluminium or zinc, it feels light.
I don't have anything to test silver.
Silver on kaskara handles is mostly wire or thin plates.
Solid cast silver handle would be nice allthough.
Greetings
marc

I agree, lighter probably means aluminum, which might indicate a later (early 1900s) dating for the hilt. And yes most I see with silver are wrapped and decorated, not cast.

[Marc M.]

Originally Posted by Edster

Marc,

Nice old "kaskara". I have a single edge sword from Kassaka with a similar cast grip, c.1986. The blade looks to me like those from Ethiopia, especially with the lion. Double fullers are common from there, but not from Sudan. Also, the tapered blade profile more like its imported also considering the gloved hand maker's marks. My guess it's an imported Abyssinian/Ethiopian gurade blade with a 4-piece welded kaskara cross-guard updated with the cast grip.

Best regards,
Ed

Hi Ed
Thanks for the reaction. The Abyssinian connection crossed my mind also.
In older posts on Ethiopian swords, i've found an identical stamp off the lion, also the shape off the blade and the double fullers pointed in that direction.
Glad that you confirmed my thoughts.
best regards
Marc