Kaskara for Comment.

[katana]

Hi Wolf,
very nice.... a fantastic 'Kaskuba' .......excellent photography .
The obvious possibility is a traded / captured blade ....very nice hilt.
I wondered about the 'balance' of the sword ....many seem to have a light-weight hilt/pommel (with thin light blades)....with the longer length of blade / weight this would be a problem ....has the hilt/pommel been weighted to overcome this ?
Wolf this sword deserves a seperate posting

Kind Regards David

[Rick]

Wolf, could I bother you for a close up of the mark on the fourth blade from the right ?

Could it be this mark ?

[Wodimi]

David, traded or captured blade would be a possibility, but I'm wondering that such traditional people like the Tuareg could have done so.
The 'balance' of the sword is okay, not perfect but okay. But I believe it was more used for ceremonial purpose, not for fighting, because the edges are not sharp. The third Kaskara from the right have a very very similar blade, same size, same calligraphy, no sharp edges, same half moons on the blade. Only the Clauberg stamp is missing, mayby under the crossguard. I think is not special weighted, but not sure. The balance point is nearly 1/3 to 2/3, sure near to the handle, so I think it's okay.

Rick, attached our two marks. As you can see a little bit different. Unfortunately I couldn't find any of them in all my books. Maybe someone from the forum can help....

Best
Wolf

www.spearcollector.com

[Wodimi]

ahhhh....I forgot to show another Kaskara with an unusual Pommel. You can find it in AMNH and I think collected in 1914/15 in Egypt.
So maybe a Sudanese Kaskara was taken by Mamluk warriors of Ottoman Egypt and convert with such a handle in a Mameluke weapon. Only a thought.
There you also find this special headdress.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali_of_Egypt

Wolf

[Rick]

Jim and I both thank you Wolf .

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Rick

Jim and I both thank you Wolf .

Absolutely, thank you so much Wolf, fantastic insight!!! Very good thoughts on the Ottoman and Mamluk application, worthy of further research.
Both Rick and I have been on the trail of this mystery mark for a while now, and I'll try to find a photo of mine which is virtually identical, and claimed to be of the Ali Dinar armoury.

Stephen, excellently observed, and I believe the illustration is from "Nigerian Panoply" (I cannot recall the author at the moment). The thuluth etching was indeed used on the regalia swords of this monarchy, and the presence of such a decorated blade on a takouba is of course not surprising. There are a number of interesting anomalies which demonstrate the significant contact between the Sudan, the Sahara and Tuaregs, and Nigeria.

Still looking for the photo, fantastic input on this topic, thank you so much guys!

All the best,
Jim

[stephen wood]

...I think that the book was a copy of ARMOURERS MARKS Being a Compilation of Known Marks of Armourers Swordsmiths and Gunsmiths by Dudley Gyngell. I saw it in a bookshop.

The picture is indeed from Nigerian Panoply but it was posted in this forum before. The book is from the mid 1960's. I think that most of the takoubas which turn up in the UK are from Nigeria.

[stephen wood]

...I saw a similar mark in a book of armourers' marks on Friday - it did not give a name only a place - Saxony. Also, regarding etched takoubas this image takes us back into legend - to the foundation of the worlds second-oldest monarchy....

[Wodimi]

Fantastic Stephen, North Nigeria, that makes sense. Where can I find the picture and did you know when the picture was made? Would be also great if you have the title of your armourers' marks book, or/and a scan from the mark.

Thanks
Wolf

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Wodimi

Fantastic Stephen, North Nigeria, that makes sense. Where can I find the picture and did you know when the picture was made? Would be also great if you have the title of your armourers' marks book, or/and a scan from the mark.

Thanks
Wolf

Please, let me add my request also .

This blade of mine seems quite finely made .
When I gently rest it against the side of a chair, point down, it quivers for 20 seconds or so.
The fuller is forged in .

It seems almost alive .

Rick

[katana]

Michael (Blalock) has just started a thread regarding Arabic swords....below is a picture he posted on that thread...it is taken in the Military Museum of Yemen..thank you Michael ...one of the pommels seems very familiar..


Regards David

[Rick]

The Piso Podang's pommel ??

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Rick

The Piso Podang's pommel ??

Good call Rick! Thats what I'm looking at dead center, a piso podang with that distinct turbanesque pommel. Interestingly, like the tulwar, whose pommels are believed to represent variations of stupa in degree, perhaps these type pommels are also architectural in origin.

Best regards,
Jim