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#1 | |
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Wirral
Posts: 1,204
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#2 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 10,375
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Redline, it appears our collecting and enthusiasm in these endeavors pretty much parallel chronologically!!! For me it was early 60s, and full bore by the 80s. I have been involved in North African swords for about the past 35 years but only loosely. In fact I think most I have learned has been here on these pages, as well as some independent research as recently as last summer.
Most of what I have discovered in the true history of these arms is quite different than what is generally held in the cursory attention of far too much literature. The truth is pretty much buried in obscure narratives and records which have been overlooked for far too long. Thank you for sharing these excellent examples!!! |
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#3 | |
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Location: Wirral
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#4 |
Arms Historian
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Location: Route 66
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You bet!
In my opinion most of these thuluth covered weapons were either produced or imported and decorated at Omdurman during the Khalifa's time (1885-98). These thuluth (script) etchings were essentially couplets which were repetitive into an almost Arabesque motif as an invocation/imbuement. There are accounts of the considerable weaponry retrieved at Omdurman, many with such decoration as well as crocodile and lizard skin (as on your hilt) mounts. In many cases these weapons were to the chiefs or key figures in the many slave oriented elements of these forces, conscripted in other regions and often using their favored weapon forms. The throwing knives and other unusual forms not indigenous to Sudan are often among these. The polearms with huge (almost ace of spades looking) blade covered in thuluth were often used by these key figures in units for formation of troops, much like a unit guidon, and termed 'alem'. |
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#5 | |
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Wirral
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#6 |
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE
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The Mahdi situation is extremely interesting not least in the big battle at Omdurman where the tribal infantry of the Mahdi forces ran into a wall of lead from the new British machine guns...and the massed gunfire of the Martini Henry. It was amazing that the flags they were waving were believed to protect them from harm as were the clothes they wore and probably the talisman effect of their
profusely decorated weapons. ![]() |
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#7 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 10,375
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Excellent illustrations Ibrahiim! and well noted about the talismanic properties of weapons as well as the flags. There are considerable details and intriguing descriptions of these properties which truly add dimension to the appreciation of these, however perhaps too much to add here.
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#8 | |
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Wirral
Posts: 1,204
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... and of course the 8,000 British troops were armed with the magazine fed Lee Metford rifle .. |
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