Short Kaskara

kronckew · 11th May 2016, 10:30 PM

when it rains, it pours kaskaras...

being short & camel-less, this one is more my size compared to my other one with the 35 in. blade in the other thread. on it's way from france, no scabbard. looks like a local blade, billed as early 20thc. (maybe later?) crude moons both sides of the blade. fibrous string wrapped grip.

Length 77cm (30" 1/4 in)

Blade length 64cm (25" 1/4 in)

Weight 634gr (22,36 oz)

Edster · 12th May 2016, 01:30 AM

Another good, honest Kaskara. Congrats! The grip wrap suggests Nile Valley or Butana Plain areas. The cross-guard is of the Sennar style.

I think the half moon marks are maker's marks. Many smiths used similar but individual designs depending on what punches were handy. They are probably a take-off of much earlier import blade marks. Blade appears not to have been sharpened much so it could been used as a wedding sword. As to age, your guess is as good as mine.

Best,
Ed

kronckew · 19th May 2016, 10:18 AM

thanks ed, sword arrived today, essentially as described earlier, the third of the blade nearest the grip is not sharpened, has about a 1mm rounded edge.

the forward 2/3 are field sharp, middle third could be better, the tip and about two inches or so back are very sharp & stabby. balance about 5 in. in front of the guard.

hand grip area is slightly shorter than my longer kaskara, by about a quarter inch.

blade cross section is essentially lenticular/hexagonal - flat sides with a convex edge sharpening with no noticable transition.

feels light & agile. blade is slightly springy but not overly so. not sure how thick - i need to buy a micrometer

.

no active rust anywhere, some dark patination tho. i'm off to give it a drink of ballistol...

Jim McDougall · 19th May 2016, 07:37 PM

Ed, thank you so much for the good notes on this, and for how much great detail and insight I have been able to add to my notes over the years on kaskara and Sudanese weapons thanks to you!

Nicely done Kronckew, keep em comin'!!

Edster · 20th May 2016, 01:21 AM

Jim, thanks for the kind words. In terms of ethnographic weapons I fear I'm only a one trick pony. Mostly I lurk, learn and marvel at the depth AND breadth of your knowledge and that of other members of the forum.

Best,
Ed

kronckew · 20th May 2016, 08:37 AM

yes, thanks, jim. your good will means a lot.

anyway, while oiling the blade, i of course held it by the grip. the cord wrap started to crumble & powder, broke in a number of places and fell off. the resin/varnish that held it all was powdered. cord was not salvageable.

the wood underneath was a it rough and there is a honking great flat iron staple more like a headed cotter pin that had been hammered in one side & out the other, then the 'legs' bent over the wood. looks like it was to hold it all together as there is a large split in the wood. been there i guess since the beginning. looks like the wood split when they rammed the handle onto the tang & peened it. or might have been a field repair. maybe why the grip is a tad short. that staple has been there a while.

some of the tang was showing thru the split tho there are no gaps or hollows. the tang showing was patinated but no red rust.

as it's not a major piece, i've further stabilized the split with HV acrylic superglue and re-wrapped the hilt with some brown cotton cord approx. the same dia. as the stuff that came off. i'll see what i have to re-varnish it with later today or so. applied some leather dressing to the leather over the pommel, it was pretty dry.

David R · 20th May 2016, 09:22 AM

Traditionally these do tend to have short pierced tangs held in place by a pin or nail..... so all is as should be there.

kronckew · 20th May 2016, 10:17 AM

thanks for the info. i feel better for it.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 26th May 2016, 09:14 PM

For the complete package see http://iainnorman.com/

Edster · 28th May 2016, 03:10 AM

I think the grip was originally wrapped with wet twisted goat skin lacing. Maybe 1/4 inch wide. Died a British Tan before you begin. Sort of the local/period take on a para-cord wrap.

11th May 2016, 10:30 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	Short Kaskara when it rains, it pours kaskaras... being short & camel-less, this one is more my size compared to my other one with the 35 in. blade in the other thread. on it's way from france, no scabbard. looks like a local blade, billed as early 20thc. (maybe later?) crude moons both sides of the blade. fibrous string wrapped grip. Length 77cm (30" 1/4 in) Blade length 64cm (25" 1/4 in) Weight 634gr (22,36 oz) Attached Images

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12th May 2016, 01:30 AM	#2
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 389	Another good, honest Kaskara. Congrats! The grip wrap suggests Nile Valley or Butana Plain areas. The cross-guard is of the Sennar style. I think the half moon marks are maker's marks. Many smiths used similar but individual designs depending on what punches were handy. They are probably a take-off of much earlier import blade marks. Blade appears not to have been sharpened much so it could been used as a wedding sword. As to age, your guess is as good as mine. Best, Ed

19th May 2016, 10:18 AM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	thanks ed, sword arrived today, essentially as described earlier, the third of the blade nearest the grip is not sharpened, has about a 1mm rounded edge. the forward 2/3 are field sharp, middle third could be better, the tip and about two inches or so back are very sharp & stabby. balance about 5 in. in front of the guard. hand grip area is slightly shorter than my longer kaskara, by about a quarter inch. blade cross section is essentially lenticular/hexagonal - flat sides with a convex edge sharpening with no noticable transition. feels light & agile. blade is slightly springy but not overly so. not sure how thick - i need to buy a micrometer . no active rust anywhere, some dark patination tho. i'm off to give it a drink of ballistol...

19th May 2016, 07:37 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,735	Ed, thank you so much for the good notes on this, and for how much great detail and insight I have been able to add to my notes over the years on kaskara and Sudanese weapons thanks to you! Nicely done Kronckew, keep em comin'!!

20th May 2016, 01:21 AM	#5
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 389	Jim, thanks for the kind words. In terms of ethnographic weapons I fear I'm only a one trick pony. Mostly I lurk, learn and marvel at the depth AND breadth of your knowledge and that of other members of the forum. Best, Ed

20th May 2016, 08:37 AM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	yes, thanks, jim. your good will means a lot. anyway, while oiling the blade, i of course held it by the grip. the cord wrap started to crumble & powder, broke in a number of places and fell off. the resin/varnish that held it all was powdered. cord was not salvageable. the wood underneath was a it rough and there is a honking great flat iron staple more like a headed cotter pin that had been hammered in one side & out the other, then the 'legs' bent over the wood. looks like it was to hold it all together as there is a large split in the wood. been there i guess since the beginning. looks like the wood split when they rammed the handle onto the tang & peened it. or might have been a field repair. maybe why the grip is a tad short. that staple has been there a while. some of the tang was showing thru the split tho there are no gaps or hollows. the tang showing was patinated but no red rust. as it's not a major piece, i've further stabilized the split with HV acrylic superglue and re-wrapped the hilt with some brown cotton cord approx. the same dia. as the stuff that came off. i'll see what i have to re-varnish it with later today or so. applied some leather dressing to the leather over the pommel, it was pretty dry.

20th May 2016, 09:22 AM	#7
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,051	Traditionally these do tend to have short pierced tangs held in place by a pin or nail..... so all is as should be there.

20th May 2016, 10:17 AM	#8
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	thanks for the info. i feel better for it.

26th May 2016, 09:14 PM	#9
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	For the complete package see http://iainnorman.com/

28th May 2016, 03:10 AM	#10
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 389	I think the grip was originally wrapped with wet twisted goat skin lacing. Maybe 1/4 inch wide. Died a British Tan before you begin. Sort of the local/period take on a para-cord wrap.