Kaskara for comments

[katana]

Hi Teodor ,
interesting sword, the first I have seen with a 'fur' handle. The 'X' detail on the crossguard where it meets the langets is another thing I have not seen before....a nice 'touch'.
I also noticed that one of the markings seems to be the 'half moon' often associated with these and Takouba.

Well done....good ones (older) are not so common....it seems.

Kind Regards David

.

[TVV]

Jim and David,

Thank you very much for you comments.
I did not know about the raised cross at the crossguard junction. It is really nice to be able to narrow the origin down to a specific geographic area, in this case Darfur.
There are actually two wrappings, with another layer of leather underneath the goat hide. Most of the fur from the goat hide is gone, aand it mostly remains towards the crossguard. It feels comfortable in the hand. Personally, if it has to be wrapped in some sort of hide/leather, I'd rather have goat hide than lizard or crocodile skin. I find the hilts, mounted with crocodile legs a bit repulsive.
David's observation on one of the markings with cemi-circular shape is interesting, and I was wondering the same thing. However, are there any other instances, in which laf-moon symbols co-exist with "running wolf" symbols on the same blade?

Again, thank you for your replies,

Teodor

[katana]

Hi Teodor,
Kaskara blades were often locally marked / etched .... copying earlier markings seen on European blades. I have seen blades etched/chiselled with sun,star and the half moon symbols (which seemed to be original to the blade) with a snake (added later) design running down the fuller with Arabic script.
In essence the locals viewed the markings on the 'imported' blades as talismatic, a sign of quality......or both. So differing combinations of these symbols 'co-exist' on the same blade.

Interestingly, it seems that some late 19th C 'trade' blades have no markings at all Whether this was due to the Madhist uprising or not...who knows ?? (perhaps, the demand for swords required quickly gave little time to 'embellish' the blades with symbols)

Regards David

[Lew]

I see that one of the marks resembles the running wolf mark seen on German blades and the cross guard seems 19th century to me. I would remove the goat skin to see what condition the hilt is in. As for the pommel one can easily create a new one they are attached to the hilt by a cross pin ans can be recovered in some old leather.


Lew

[Rick]

Another X guard .
Thanks for pinning down the area Jim .

[TVV]

David,
Initially I thought this is a locally made blade, but what you and Jim suggest is very likely - a trade blade, marked locally. The markings as shown are very crude.

Lew,
I also thought about removing the goat skin, but I am afraid I would not be able to put it back on if I do that, and there is another layer underneath. Where the wooden hilt is exposed, it appears to be in decent shape. Patinated as old wood should be, but dry and not rotting, and it is quite sound. I think I will leave the hilt as is . I might add a pommel, which should be pretty easy to make at one point, but everything else I would rather keep in as original condition as possible. I am thinking of applying some Peckard in the parts, where the fur is off the skin.

Regards,
Teodor

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by TVV

David,
Initially I thought this is a locally made blade, but what you and Jim suggest is very likely - a trade blade, marked locally. The markings as shown are very crude.

Lew,
I also thought about removing the goat skin, but I am afraid I would not be able to put it back on if I do that, and there is another layer underneath. Where the wooden hilt is exposed, it appears to be in decent shape. Patinated as old wood should be, but dry and not rotting, and it is quite sound. I think I will leave the hilt as is . I might add a pommel, which should be pretty easy to make at one point, but everything else I would rather keep in as original condition as possible. I am thinking of applying some Peckard in the parts, where the fur is off the skin.

Regards,
Teodor

I'm glad you choose to keep the hilt as much intact as possible, and agree that a replacement pommel would be good, just for aesthetic balance.

As noted, these markings do seem to have been locally added in imitation of the German markings. I believe that the original running wolf on German blades would have been stamped and appeared on earlier blades c.18th c. but on the reverse of the blade in similar location was the cross and orb in many of these cases.

As David has noted, many Solingen blades of the 19th century were 'blank' particularly toward the latter part. During the Mahdist period, these blades, which were typically the central triple fuller form were sent to the primary armoury at Khartoum for furbishing. There huge volumes of these and the other weapons being prepared for issue to the Ansar forces, were often profusely decorated with the acid etched 'Thuluth' calligraphy, imitating devotional passages cited from the Koran. The huge volumes of these weapons reached what must have been a production machine that seems to echo that of Solingen.

Interestingly from what I understand, Darfur was resistant to participate in the Mahdist movement, so most of the kaskara there I presume remained in somewhat separate entity.

One of the best books I have read concerning these events is titled "Prisoners of the Mahdi" (1989) by the late Byron Farwell, who was a maginficent writer on these subjects, and also wrote on his favorite topic "The Gurkhas". The detail in his writing was fantastic, and he was a kind and helpful gentleman always helpful with queries.

Rick, we have indeed been down that road, and many others!! I am thinking that the mark I see may be close to one with circle and horns which I have been working on for a reeeallllyyy, long time! What is interesting is that these marks are stamped, near the forte, and they may be armoury marks...not makers marks.

All best regards,
Jim



Rick...we crossed posts, thank you for posting this. Yup....thats the mark OK. On the example I was researching, which was a very high quality kaskara, silver mounted with typical crocodile hide grip (similar to examples seen on the article by Reed) , it was suggested this sword was possibly from a very important armoury.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Rick

Another X guard .
Thanks for pinning down the area Jim .

You bet Rick!
On this one it looks like there is a stamped mark under the langet, can you get a shot of it? If its what I think it is I mad have more info.

All the best,
Jim

[Rick]

I think we may have traveled this road Jim, but if you've got some new ideas I am definitely all ears !

Teodor, could the markings be talismanic in nature ?
There seems to be a similarity to some I have seen elsewhere .