ID for Chadian/Tebu/Fulani/Tuareg swords?

xerg · 22nd November 2007, 09:16 PM

I listed so many ethnicities in the title since I'm not sure what these are.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2073/...350dcb.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2341/...230be7.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2366/...c668e4.jpg?v=0

To my (still admittedly very uneducated) eye, they look to be touristy Takoubas made by Tuaregs for the art market. The crossguards seem practically European as does the style. Forgive the pic quality, it was late at night and I was tired. I somehow didn't manage to get a snap of a naked blade, but as far as I recall they're in fairly good shape and have engraved patterns on them. Even if they're just schlock, they're kinda cool schlock and I might pick one up if the price is right in any case.

Maybe I'm wrong and these are something I haven't come across yet? Maybe Sudanese or Ethiopian? Chad is a total crossroads country so they could be from practically anywhere!

Your input would be most appreciated!

Tim Simmons · 22nd November 2007, 09:29 PM

Best keep your money for something real. Pottery might be a good buy. From the craftsman rather than a trader?

katana · 22nd November 2007, 10:02 PM

The swords in your pictures are Kaskara ....a common form of sword from North Africa. Check them out on the search facillity, AFAIK there are some sold by vendors that may have 'good' quality, older blades which have been re-hilted (to improve their appearance for tourists) but this is 'secondhand info'.

Regards David

Emanuel · 22nd November 2007, 10:04 PM

Xerg, these are known as "kaskara" - they are very similar to the takouba and are identified with the Sudan. Blade quality will vary as much as with takouba's, but the fittings can be very nice.
If you can pick up a nice one at low price, I say go for it.

Emanuel

xerg · 22nd November 2007, 11:36 PM

Wow thanks for the replies! I'm very excited to go back tomorrow and see them in the daylight when I'm not totally exhausted and burnt out on shopping.

I'm most attracted to the tall, dark one in the center of the group shot I sent out. It bears the characteristic "leaf shaped flaring" at the tip of the scabbard and looked like it had a very nice blade to boot.

Any idea of -ballparks- on cost?

Any good way to tell Kaskara made for the tourist market vs. real ones? In my photo I would assume that the two on the left (red and black) are tourist pieces and the rest may be real to one degree or another.

I noticed that some hilts were wrapped with leather, some were wrapped with rope and one was naked metal. The darker ones tended to be leather and the lighter ones had rope. What does this signify?

One of the blades was engraved with abstract, geometric symbols. Is this normal?

Also, another request for ID: I'm not sure if you can make it out in the smaller pic, but there's a sword hanging on the wall to the far left that is slightly curved and appears to be different from the Kaskaras pictured in the center. Any inkling as to what that might be?

Thanks for indulging my questions. Chad might be awesome for sword and dagger shopping, but its internet leaves much to be desired and I can't do the amount of research I'd like to do on my own!

Emanuel · 23rd November 2007, 12:06 AM

Xerg, I agree that the two red and black ones on the left are likely tourist toys. Either one of the long ones in the middle may be all right, but it all depends on the blades. In all likelyhood they will have thin, flexible blades made from truck leaf springs. The geometric motifs look like half-moons right? That's common and there's been loads of discussion about them. Like David said, use the search function.
Here are the two threads I mentioned in my PM
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ed=1#post38757
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ed=1#post41015

The hilt materials vary greatly but usually there is a combination of leather and wood...I would personally stay away from the white metal (aluminium?) one but others may disagree. There was one gorgeous example posted a while ago with very high quality hilt and guard.

The curved piece on the left side? It looks like many things and I can't tell from this pic. Take more pics next time you're there.

Regards,
Emanuel

22nd November 2007, 09:16 PM	#1
xerg Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 7	ID for Chadian/Tebu/Fulani/Tuareg swords? I listed so many ethnicities in the title since I'm not sure what these are. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2073/...350dcb.jpg?v=0 http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2341/...230be7.jpg?v=0 http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2366/...c668e4.jpg?v=0 To my (still admittedly very uneducated) eye, they look to be touristy Takoubas made by Tuaregs for the art market. The crossguards seem practically European as does the style. Forgive the pic quality, it was late at night and I was tired. I somehow didn't manage to get a snap of a naked blade, but as far as I recall they're in fairly good shape and have engraved patterns on them. Even if they're just schlock, they're kinda cool schlock and I might pick one up if the price is right in any case. Maybe I'm wrong and these are something I haven't come across yet? Maybe Sudanese or Ethiopian? Chad is a total crossroads country so they could be from practically anywhere! Your input would be most appreciated!

22nd November 2007, 09:29 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Best keep your money for something real. Pottery might be a good buy. From the craftsman rather than a trader?

22nd November 2007, 10:02 PM	#3
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	The swords in your pictures are Kaskara ....a common form of sword from North Africa. Check them out on the search facillity, AFAIK there are some sold by vendors that may have 'good' quality, older blades which have been re-hilted (to improve their appearance for tourists) but this is 'secondhand info'. Regards David

22nd November 2007, 10:04 PM	#4
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Xerg, these are known as "kaskara" - they are very similar to the takouba and are identified with the Sudan. Blade quality will vary as much as with takouba's, but the fittings can be very nice. If you can pick up a nice one at low price, I say go for it. Emanuel

22nd November 2007, 11:36 PM	#5
xerg Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 7	Wow thanks for the replies! I'm very excited to go back tomorrow and see them in the daylight when I'm not totally exhausted and burnt out on shopping. I'm most attracted to the tall, dark one in the center of the group shot I sent out. It bears the characteristic "leaf shaped flaring" at the tip of the scabbard and looked like it had a very nice blade to boot. Any idea of -ballparks- on cost? Any good way to tell Kaskara made for the tourist market vs. real ones? In my photo I would assume that the two on the left (red and black) are tourist pieces and the rest may be real to one degree or another. I noticed that some hilts were wrapped with leather, some were wrapped with rope and one was naked metal. The darker ones tended to be leather and the lighter ones had rope. What does this signify? One of the blades was engraved with abstract, geometric symbols. Is this normal? Also, another request for ID: I'm not sure if you can make it out in the smaller pic, but there's a sword hanging on the wall to the far left that is slightly curved and appears to be different from the Kaskaras pictured in the center. Any inkling as to what that might be? Thanks for indulging my questions. Chad might be awesome for sword and dagger shopping, but its internet leaves much to be desired and I can't do the amount of research I'd like to do on my own!

23rd November 2007, 12:06 AM	#6
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Xerg, I agree that the two red and black ones on the left are likely tourist toys. Either one of the long ones in the middle may be all right, but it all depends on the blades. In all likelyhood they will have thin, flexible blades made from truck leaf springs. The geometric motifs look like half-moons right? That's common and there's been loads of discussion about them. Like David said, use the search function. Here are the two threads I mentioned in my PM http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ed=1#post38757 http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ed=1#post41015 The hilt materials vary greatly but usually there is a combination of leather and wood...I would personally stay away from the white metal (aluminium?) one but others may disagree. There was one gorgeous example posted a while ago with very high quality hilt and guard. The curved piece on the left side? It looks like many things and I can't tell from this pic. Take more pics next time you're there. Regards, Emanuel