Unusual markings on kaskara

Jack Fletcher · 28th December 2021, 10:59 AM

I've just bought a kaskara and in process of buying the other example in some of the pictures but it has a marking on the blade ive not seen before and cant find it in previous posts on the forum. Has anyone else seen this marking before or have any clues about the blade. I've not taken shipment of the item yet but once it arrives can take better pictures

Kind Regards

Jack

kronckew · 28th December 2021, 05:52 PM

Simplified half moons. Crescent moons & man-in-the-moons are common on kaskara and other blades. Your blade looks like it has a flat profile, any distal taper? some more 'munition' grade local blades were cut from sheet steel.

Mine, with local decor and a fuller (and distal taper), showing crescent moons - there are others on it as well...
lower one is on a short kaskara

Jack Fletcher · 28th December 2021, 06:11 PM

Yes very aware of crescent moons as I own a few Kaskaras but not seen one like this and also its top and bottom rather
than side by side like in your example.
Im not sure of the blade but looking at the fuller being all the way to the tip of say its more of a European blade feature but im sure those more knowledgeable could correct me if im wrong.

Jim McDougall · 28th December 2021, 06:30 PM

I agree with Wayne, this seems like some sort of interpretation of the 'dukari' (dual crescent moons) which of course typically were positioned next to each other. These were seen as a kind of temporal or talismanic device toward 'magic' in the local folk religions of North Africa, particularly Sudan and supposedly would still have effect even if not exactly the same.

Many of the 'dukari' moon stamps were so degenerated by later years in Kassala that they were distorted to almost indiscernible.
I have seen other kinds of marks applied in pairs in the same manner indicating 'duality' or such interpretation but the incongruent application of these is puzzling.

As Wayne notes, many blades of this more recent period were of sheet steel and lorry springs.
Looking forward to Ed's input on this. He knows these blades and especially the guards thoroughly.

Edster · 28th December 2021, 07:41 PM

Thanks Jim for the kind words. I'll try to live up to your expectations.

The blade with the deep full length channel/khur fuller may be Ethiopian. They seemed to do a lot of that style, but their channels were often highly decorated. The marks may have an Ethiopian flavor, but I would agree more with Wayne & Jim that they are the use of the big punch of the half-moon mark without the smaller one to finish off the effect.

The Hadendawah tassels on both swords appear as new and suggests the reptile skin on the grip and scabbard may be recent as well. It looks like the crossguard has been over-cleaned, but has nice details.

The other crossguard looks like the Sennar chisel style. Its blade has the classic early European short wide fuller, but may be able to tell more with better pics.

Regards,
Ed

28th December 2021, 10:59 AM	#1
Jack Fletcher Member Join Date: Jul 2021 Posts: 28	Unusual markings on kaskara I've just bought a kaskara and in process of buying the other example in some of the pictures but it has a marking on the blade ive not seen before and cant find it in previous posts on the forum. Has anyone else seen this marking before or have any clues about the blade. I've not taken shipment of the item yet but once it arrives can take better pictures Kind Regards Jack Attached Images

28th December 2021, 05:52 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	Simplified half moons. Crescent moons & man-in-the-moons are common on kaskara and other blades. Your blade looks like it has a flat profile, any distal taper? some more 'munition' grade local blades were cut from sheet steel. Mine, with local decor and a fuller (and distal taper), showing crescent moons - there are others on it as well... lower one is on a short kaskara Attached Images

28th December 2021, 06:11 PM	#3
Jack Fletcher Member Join Date: Jul 2021 Posts: 28	Yes very aware of crescent moons as I own a few Kaskaras but not seen one like this and also its top and bottom rather than side by side like in your example. Im not sure of the blade but looking at the fuller being all the way to the tip of say its more of a European blade feature but im sure those more knowledgeable could correct me if im wrong.

28th December 2021, 06:30 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,738	I agree with Wayne, this seems like some sort of interpretation of the 'dukari' (dual crescent moons) which of course typically were positioned next to each other. These were seen as a kind of temporal or talismanic device toward 'magic' in the local folk religions of North Africa, particularly Sudan and supposedly would still have effect even if not exactly the same. Many of the 'dukari' moon stamps were so degenerated by later years in Kassala that they were distorted to almost indiscernible. I have seen other kinds of marks applied in pairs in the same manner indicating 'duality' or such interpretation but the incongruent application of these is puzzling. As Wayne notes, many blades of this more recent period were of sheet steel and lorry springs. Looking forward to Ed's input on this. He knows these blades and especially the guards thoroughly.

28th December 2021, 07:41 PM	#5
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 389	Thanks Jim for the kind words. I'll try to live up to your expectations. The blade with the deep full length channel/khur fuller may be Ethiopian. They seemed to do a lot of that style, but their channels were often highly decorated. The marks may have an Ethiopian flavor, but I would agree more with Wayne & Jim that they are the use of the big punch of the half-moon mark without the smaller one to finish off the effect. The Hadendawah tassels on both swords appear as new and suggests the reptile skin on the grip and scabbard may be recent as well. It looks like the crossguard has been over-cleaned, but has nice details. The other crossguard looks like the Sennar chisel style. Its blade has the classic early European short wide fuller, but may be able to tell more with better pics. Regards, Ed