Couple of new takouba for those that enjoy them...

Iain · 6th October 2012, 11:19 AM

Just a couple new additions. Both with nice pommels and one with unusual leather work on the grip.

A.alnakkas · 6th October 2012, 12:00 PM

Congrats Iain, I really like the crossguard on the first one!

Mefidk · 6th October 2012, 04:50 PM

Nice pick-ups Iain, congratulations

Both with nice old style pommels and I think both are fairly old as takoubas go. I'm guessing Hausa with some age for the top one? The bottom one is interesting, looks like Hausa work on the scabbard and the flat profile of the blade with no markings fits, but the leather wrapped hilt is a bit unusual isn't it?

colin henshaw · 7th October 2012, 09:56 AM

An interesting pair of older swords... What do you think about the blades, in terms of being trade or native-made ? The second one seems to be of sheet iron ?

Regards.

Iain · 7th October 2012, 12:38 PM

Thanks for the comments guys.

In terms of assigning these to an ethnic group Hausa would be my first response. However stylistically that seems to extend quite a ways including Northern Cameroon where I am more familiar with the leather work seen on the second example.

Generally speaking the more I get into these rather than classification becoming easier its getting harder! Unfortunately there is a lot of overlap in the motifs used by different ethnic groups and the dominance of the Hausa across the region, later the Fulani, I think makes the styles somewhat homogenous. I might start going with the label "Hausaland" I think since its more of a geographical and cultural thing that way.

Colin - Both are native blades I think. The triple fullered blade is a bit on the soft side, certainly not like marked European blades of this style I've seen. The second one seems to fit into a category of takouba with wide flat blades that are, as far as I can tell native forged, this one looks the same with some of the usual pitting and surface that I have seen on others - could be wrong but doesn't seem like the sheet steel I've seen on newer takouba.

6th October 2012, 11:19 AM	#1
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,680	Couple of new takouba for those that enjoy them... Just a couple new additions. Both with nice pommels and one with unusual leather work on the grip. Attached Images

6th October 2012, 12:00 PM	#2
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,338	Congrats Iain, I really like the crossguard on the first one!

6th October 2012, 04:50 PM	#3
Mefidk Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Denmark Posts: 157	Nice pick-ups Iain, congratulations Both with nice old style pommels and I think both are fairly old as takoubas go. I'm guessing Hausa with some age for the top one? The bottom one is interesting, looks like Hausa work on the scabbard and the flat profile of the blade with no markings fits, but the leather wrapped hilt is a bit unusual isn't it?

7th October 2012, 09:56 AM	#4
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	An interesting pair of older swords... What do you think about the blades, in terms of being trade or native-made ? The second one seems to be of sheet iron ? Regards.

7th October 2012, 12:38 PM	#5
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,680	Thanks for the comments guys. In terms of assigning these to an ethnic group Hausa would be my first response. However stylistically that seems to extend quite a ways including Northern Cameroon where I am more familiar with the leather work seen on the second example. Generally speaking the more I get into these rather than classification becoming easier its getting harder! Unfortunately there is a lot of overlap in the motifs used by different ethnic groups and the dominance of the Hausa across the region, later the Fulani, I think makes the styles somewhat homogenous. I might start going with the label "Hausaland" I think since its more of a geographical and cultural thing that way. Colin - Both are native blades I think. The triple fullered blade is a bit on the soft side, certainly not like marked European blades of this style I've seen. The second one seems to fit into a category of takouba with wide flat blades that are, as far as I can tell native forged, this one looks the same with some of the usual pitting and surface that I have seen on others - could be wrong but doesn't seem like the sheet steel I've seen on newer takouba.