Kaskara for Comment.

[katana]

Valjhun,Teodor and Wolf,
thank you for your kind words and informative posts Was 'very pleased'..... but now, after the extra information you have provided, I am now 'extremely pleased' to have this sword in my collection.

I may get the hilt/pommel checked for silver content. Is there a non-destructive test for silver ?

Kind Regards David

[Jim McDougall]

David, the more I look at this beauty, the more I realize what a significant piece it is, and profoundly a Darfur example, clearly for someone of position and means. The silverwork on this is very characteristic of such swords, and I have seen swords attributed to Ali Dinar, one of the last Sultans of Darfur and his court and associated weapons with similar. Some of these can be seen in Anthony North's "Introduction to Islamic Swords", a nicely done monograph with some great photos.

I did not find the sword I had hoped for in the documents I mentioned, however despite the unique striated cushion type disc pommel (which is contrary to the usual discoid) , the domed pommel cap also characteristic to Darfur examples is present. The faceted capstan is especially nice.
It is important to note the profound Islamic styling in the Darfur hilts, which reflect the influences that keenly reflect Arabian influences, probably from the Maghreb and possibly the Senussi. I would defer more on that detail to those more versed in religious aspects of Darfur, but it seems I recall that Ali Dinar was associated with the Senussi following of the Muslim Faith.

While this sword, and the kaskara in general, have little to do with takoubas, I believe there may be some influence in that symbol from Tuareg regions.
The takouba, though often using European broadsword trade blades, remains distinctly its own form, from the elements and design of the hilt, its components and materials..to the broadsword blades with consistantly rounded tips, in my opinion quite possibly from Omani blades on kattaras seen in westward Saharan trade routes. The feature may have derived from early European blades as well, which also often had these type tips, and perhaps effected the Oman kattaras in the same way.

Wolf, thank you so much for adding the detail on Clauberg, outstanding information!


All best regards,
Jim

[katana]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

David, the more I look at this beauty, the more I realize what a significant piece it is, and profoundly a Darfur example, clearly for someone of position and means. The silverwork on this is very characteristic of such swords, and I have seen swords attributed to Ali Dinar, one of the last Sultans of Darfur and his court and associated weapons with similar. Some of these can be seen in Anthony North's "Introduction to Islamic Swords", a nicely done monograph with some great photos.

I did not find the sword I had hoped for in the documents I mentioned, however despite the unique striated cushion type disc pommel (which is contrary to the usual discoid) , the domed pommel cap also characteristic to Darfur examples is present. The faceted capstan is especially nice.
It is important to note the profound Islamic styling in the Darfur hilts, which reflect the influences that keenly reflect Arabian influences, probably from the Maghreb and possibly the Senussi. I would defer more on that detail to those more versed in religious aspects of Darfur, but it seems I recall that Ali Dinar was associated with the Senussi following of the Muslim Faith.


All best regards,
Jim

"Bravo Holmes" ( ) ,
excellent information Jim, thank you. The pommel is indeed an enigma, ALL the examples I can find have the usual 'discoid' shape. I now have some avenues of research to follow, hopefully I can discover further information.

Kind Regards David

[Emanuel]

Nice one, David. You're on a roll what with rhino clubs and fancy kaskaras

Any chance of the pommel being a later marriage from some other piece, like say...a dha?

I've seen this type of handle on kaskara but not the domed/onion pommel. Almost all of the kaskara I've seen have the drum pommel. Any other examples of this onion variety?

Cheers,
Emanuel

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by katana

I may get the hilt/pommel checked for silver content. Is there a non-destructive test for silver ?

Kind Regards David

Well, its not very scientific, but I tend to go on the 'look' and the colour of the oxidisation/patina.
A good silver will oxidise almost black, and seeing as the common mix seems to often be high in copper, the oxidisation will have a more brown colour. Less black less silver as a rule.
But like I say, not exactly scientific

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Well, its not very scientific, but I tend to go on the 'look' and the colour of the oxidisation/patina.
A good silver will oxidise almost black, and seeing as the common mix seems to often be high in copper, the oxidisation will have a more brown colour. Less black less silver as a rule.
But like I say, not exactly scientific

Gene, thats a lot more scientific than my good ole magnet method!

Thanks so much Watson!! David,
The pommel has me puzzled as well, but seems very familiar, and cant figure from where I have seen this shape. It seems I have seen such pommels of either striated or gadrooned flattened oval shape possibly on swords hilted in Yemen in about the turn of the century, if I recall some with Amharic inscribed trade blades. These Ethiopian blades I understand found thier way to Arabia along with the rhino horn hilts, much in demand there, and transported there where they were dismantled.

All best regards,
Jim

[katana]

Hi Jim ,
Regards the pommel....AFAIK the Fur Sultans wore turbans, could the pommel be a representation of the Sultans headgear ?? (It is likely that his turban would be 'different' to the masses and therefore 'symbolic' to him)) I have tried to find images of various Fur Sultans without success.

Hi Emanuel ,
very lucky indeed with two of my latest additions But, hopefully my recent good fortune will encourage others.... there are still hidden treasures out there .....'waiting'

I think that it is unlikely that the pommel is SEA ... but you never know

Hi Gene,
the 'silver' furniture is overly polished, but wiping paper tissue over the various parts did give blackish marks on the tissue.....so could be promising.

All the best
David

[Rumpel]

Hi all- I'm a long-time lurker, but actually registered specifically to post on this thread...

As Jim McDougall said, the Fur sultans, and particularly Ali Dinar, spring to mind.

At university, I was fortunate enough to handle (longingly!) Ali Dinar's ceremonial kaskara, which an alumnus had taken back as loot in 1916. An exceptionally poor image of it can be found on p37 of this brochure: http://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/unive...tyBrochure.pdf

You can just make out the interlinking-diamond-shaped pattern beaten into the silver/silver alloy of the handle. While there are differences- cross guards and pommel especially- a tentative attribution of Katana's kaskara to Ali Dinar's court and era seems reasonable.

The Solingen blade is interesting, as Ali Dinar’s effects also included an Austrian (that is, K&K stamped) pistol, reworked by, presumably, a local silversmith. Evidently, there was a working trade route for high-status weapons between the WW1 Triple Alliance and Ali Dinar’s court.

It might be worth contacting the Sudan Archive at Durham, by the way. They sell photo reproductions of many of the images in the collection, and of photos taken in 1916. Imagine if one of them showed a grinning squaddie brandishing a familiar-looking souvenir...

[katana]

Hi Rumpel ,
Welcome to the forum ... and thank you for taking the trouble to join the forum, to add your helpful and informative comments.

I will try and contact the Sudan Archive at Durham to see if they can provide further information.

The pommel design really has me stumped .......but I do enjoy the occasional 'mystery'

Kind regards David

[stephen wood]

...the pommel ends in something very similar to what we would expect to see on an arm dagger.