19c Sudanese Sabre?

[Jim McDougall]

Really interesting Wayne!!
It is not unusual to see western influences in latter 19th c. African swords, and this looks like a village blacksmith rendition of a stirrup hilt.
The scabbard looks remarkably Sudanese (the shoulder strap etc.) but I totally agree with Ed, the stamped markings on the blade are seen on some apparent Ethiopian examples of kaskara, and as noted the kaskara was found in Eritrea as well.

I have seen kaskara with this kind of centrally placed linear script which appears to be Amharic, and the lion placed in that configuration similar to Ethiopian blades which also have a human head. These are thought to be perhaps commemorating the death of the Ethiopian Emperor Yohannes IV who was killed at Battle of Gallabat Mar. 9-10, 1889.
This was end of conflict between Mahdist forces and Ethiopian, with Yohannis killed and beheaded, thus the supposition of the head on the blade with this type script and the lion. (pic attached of Yohannis IV in 1884).

The blade is rough but of course recalls the shotel blades of the well known gurade sabers which of course, as with the hilt style,were of European style.

Most likely a saber of Ethiopian border regions of this latter 19th c. period, and with a great deal of historical possibility with these points considered regardless if this must remain speculative.

Ariel, I took the liberty of posting this kaskara you posted in Aug. 2015 which had similar motif, and was regarded as likely an Ethiopian straight blade possibly commemorating this battle.

[kronckew]

Thanks, Jim. I would think it is of Historical value, if not 'Scientific'. Just knowing these were in use in the period is of historic importance. A titbit, not a full meal, but tasty in any case.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by kronckew

Thanks, Jim. I would think it is of Historical value, if not 'Scientific'. Just knowing these were in use in the period is of historic importance. A titbit, not a full meal, but tasty in any case.

Exactly! In studying weapons from the historic perspective, which is of course what is my own affliction, there is a lot of speculation and theory based on what is usually pretty circumstantial evidence. This is a thing that is highly verboten in the academic world, as there everything must be empirically proven.

The rugged and often crude nature of these kinds of ersatz weapons which often evolved in times of conflict, insurrection and outright war are often of course variations of known forms of the time and place. In many cases they are comprised of components of numbers of weapons and made in imitation of others. The goal is naturally to assemble weapons which are viable for combat use, which this example, as noted, seems to fit the bill. In the early stages of the Mahdiyya, tribesmen were carrying wooden swords until they were replaced with actual swords either captured or from the fallen.

The value of this kind of a weapon of course does not fit well in the categoric ajenda of arms collecting of specific forms by the number, but does deserve a place in the realm of potentially historic arms . These kinds of conundrums I personally find the most fascinating, and the possibilities exciting despite being outside the parameters of empirical analysis.

[kronckew]

'Ersatz', as in substitute' rather than 'phoney', frquently locally made when the government couldn't supply them fast enough. Much Like Bauernmesser, Dussaks, and long 'shepherds knives'/karakulak yataghans from the balkans. (and like ersatz coffee made from chickory when we couldn't impot any) I still like coffee with chickory.

[Jim McDougall]

The ERSATZ denominator for edged weapons is actually often quite broad in remote and frontier regions, especially in colonial situations. In the tribal areas of Africa in many cases it was actually prevalent as natives used the blades brought in with trade more often than using those locally produced. Also many foreign weapons were constantly repurposed.

In colonial New Spain, the 'machete', commonly termed the espada ancha, was a locally made cutlass type hanger made in imitation of those typically seen in maritime use. While these were indeed 'ersatz' in a sense, in the early days they were often fashioned from cut down Spanish dragoon broadsword blades until local blacksmiths began making heavier blades.

The first picture is a traditional style espada ancha; next is an 'ersatz' version which uses a 'briquet' hilt, a three bar cavalry guard, and the Spanish dragoon broadsword blade which is cut down.

Examples of these kinds of weapons are a genre of collecting virtually of its own, and the examples are intriguing elements of history in many if not most cases.

[David R]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

The ERSATZ denominator for edged weapons is actually often quite broad in remote and frontier regions, especially in colonial situations. In the tribal areas of Africa in many cases it was actually prevalent as natives used the blades brought in with trade more often than using those locally produced. Also many foreign weapons were constantly repurposed.

In colonial New Spain, the 'machete', commonly termed the espada ancha, was a locally made cutlass type hanger made in imitation of those typically seen in maritime use. While these were indeed 'ersatz' in a sense, in the early days they were often fashioned from cut down Spanish dragoon broadsword blades until local blacksmiths began making heavier blades.

The first picture is a traditional style espada ancha; next is an 'ersatz' version which uses a 'briquet' hilt, a three bar cavalry guard, and the Spanish dragoon broadsword blade which is cut down.

Examples of these kinds of weapons are a genre of collecting virtually of its own, and the examples are intriguing elements of history in many if not most cases.

Love these examples.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by David R

Love these examples.

Thank you so much David!
Ive been sort of crazy on espada anchas most of my life, growing up in Southern Calif. they were around and saw them long before I knew what they were. I've done research on them for more years than I can say, and there are still far more questions than answers