Takouba and Kaskara

TVV · 14th September 2020, 08:26 PM

Sabre takoubas tend to be rarer in my personal experience, and so this is a nice find. The leather wrap on the hilt has some similarity to a takouba shown in Waffen aus Zentral-Afrika by Johanna Agthe. The same page also shows a French sabre blade mounted with takouba fittings, though the hilt on it is all brass.

Teodor

Marc M. · 15th September 2020, 05:27 PM

Hi Teodor
I have that book: wafen aus zentral Afrika in my collection but it is the only picture i have from a takouba with that kind off handle.
No books on takouba's and kaskara's so, i've found the most info on this forum, and true the forum found Ian Norman's takouba research society.
He also mentions Wafen aus zentral Afrika along with a takouba (73) fulani, cameroon on his site. So i guess mine is also from that area, just as my example with the solid cast handle.
Every info on the swords is more than welcome.

Greetings
Marc

Jim McDougall · 15th September 2020, 07:35 PM

Welcome to the forum Marc, and its exciting to have another 'enthusiast'

on North African swords here!!! I say that because we are together 'enthusiasts' studying and learning together. The term 'expert' is an honorific usually overrated.

Nice kaskara! a good sound example. Keep in mind these are typically not extremely old as far as the mounts, but often the blades can date into the latter 19th century. There was no widespread use of 'kaskara' until the Mahdist period of the 1880s-90s, and from there a degree of use mostly traditional wear. From the early 1900s there was nominal use only but it was not until about 1940s that production began again notable and in the Kasalla region .

While 20th century sounds disappointing to many for 'antique weapons' remember ethnographic arms remained in actual use among tribal peoples well through the 20th c. and in some places, still are.

The takouba is still very much an 'active' weapon, though more of a men's accouterment than combative weapon. As you are well aware of Ian Norman's site, that is one of the most resounding reference sources on the various types and key identification details.

On the one with curved blade, apparantly a French saber blade, these are of course more common to regions of West Africa with that colonial presence.
As I have understood, the curved blade versions are termed 'aljuinar'.
The thing with takouba is, like the sa'if known as 'niimcha' in Algeria and Morocco, these tended to use trade blades often beyond the preferred broadswords of kaskara and takouba. With the nimcha, considered a saber, you would see them with straight broadsword blades as well, which illustrates the propensity to use whatever blade was available.

Thank you for posting these great examples! and hopefully we will have more input toward more detail on each one. It is sometimes hard to address matters on a particular sword in a grouping of photos as it becomes confused as to which one is being referred to.

Marc M. · 16th September 2020, 07:55 PM

Hi Teodor
Thanks for the tip on the wafen aus zentral Afrika book. That book is in my collection and is the only picture i've found in my books about this type of sword . Since there are no books as far as i known about takouba's and kaskara's, the forum my biggest sources on these swords.
Hello Jim
Thank you for the welcome and the additional info on the swords.
I shall post pictures of the swords one by one and some info.
Greetings
Marc

Yvain · 16th September 2020, 10:13 PM

Hi Marc ! Nice to see another takouba lover on the forum !

The one with the brass hilt has a nice blade, albeit sharpened alot, it could even be an European trade blade, considering the regularity of the fuller (don't quote me on that though !). The hilt is really unusuam and, as is often the case, most likely later, though it does show some wear. My guess would be second quarter of the 20th century or slightly later. Indeed, I don't think aluminium was widly available in Africa before WWI, and this style (heavy brass base, with copper and aluminum, and triangular shapes), although I can't precisely pinpoint it, is very reminiscent in my opinion of what can be seen on modern decorative daggers and short swords from Niger (see post 4 here : http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=agadez), the chape of the sheath is also very reminiscent of what can be seen on some small knives from Agadez (see mine for example : http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=26194). Niger could thus be an option for the mounts, in my opinion; in anyway, that's a nice "modern" twist on a traditional design and I like it !

Onto the Tuareg one (the design and ornamentation of the guard definitely look Tuareg, at least according to what Morel wrote on the subject), it is indeed a rather recent one (post ww2), mostly given the shape of the pommel (very flat), however the blade is definitely not one of the ugliest I've seen, with a clear and rather regular fuller (as opposed to the symbolic grooves you can see on some examples).

Finally, the single-edged, or Aljuinar as Jim rightfully pointed out, is indeed a textbook example of saber-like takouba that Iain Norman described as being from Nothern Cameroon. The blade on this one is really interesting, is the close-up you posted a repair ? Do you think it is forge welded ?

Anyway, thanks for posting those nice swords, and don't take anything I wrote at face value, as I am myself just a mere beginner in the study of those amazing weapons !

Marc M. · 19th September 2020, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yvain

Hi Marc ! Nice to see another takouba lover on the forum !

The one with the brass hilt has a nice blade, albeit sharpened alot, it could even be an European trade blade, considering the regularity of the fuller (don't quote me on that though !). The hilt is really unusuam and, as is often the case, most likely later, though it does show some wear. My guess would be second quarter of the 20th century or slightly later. Indeed, I don't think aluminium was widly available in Africa before WWI, and this style (heavy brass base, with copper and aluminum, and triangular shapes), although I can't precisely pinpoint it, is very reminiscent in my opinion of what can be seen on modern decorative daggers and short swords from Niger (see post 4 here : http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=agadez), the chape of the sheath is also very reminiscent of what can be seen on some small knives from Agadez (see mine for example : http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=26194). Niger could thus be an option for the mounts, in my opinion; in anyway, that's a nice "modern" twist on a traditional design and I like it !

Onto the Tuareg one (the design and ornamentation of the guard definitely look Tuareg, at least according to what Morel wrote on the subject), it is indeed a rather recent one (post ww2), mostly given the shape of the pommel (very flat), however the blade is definitely not one of the ugliest I've seen, with a clear and rather regular fuller (as opposed to the symbolic grooves you can see on some examples).

Finally, the single-edged, or Aljuinar as Jim rightfully pointed out, is indeed a textbook example of saber-like takouba that Iain Norman described as being from Nothern Cameroon. The blade on this one is really interesting, is the close-up you posted a repair ? Do you think it is forge welded ?

Anyway, thanks for posting those nice swords, and don't take anything I wrote at face value, as I am myself just a mere beginner in the study of those amazing weapons !

Hi Yvain
Glad to be on this forum, the combined knowledge from the members is a great source of information to me, so verry pleased with your info.
On the takouba saber its not a repair but its a damaged part of the blade, a piece is missing.I shall post some extra pictures of the swords one by one.

Greetings
Marc

Yvain · 20th September 2020, 11:20 PM

Hi Marc,

You're right, learning from each other is one of the great strength of this forum ! Though as I am but a student on the subject, do not take for granted what I said, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of your swords !

Marc M. · 29th September 2020, 07:05 PM

Greetings
At last i've found some time to take more pictures of the swords,its going slow but one by one.
First is the takouba saber (aljuinar) probably from the Nigerian/Cameroon border (Fulani?) its a single edge, double fuller blade, military grade blade (French). No markings on the blade.
Flexible, light but strong blade. Only the last 20 cm near the tip is sharp, there is a damage on the blade, a piece is missing probably during the forging/ hardening proces.
The handle is wrapped with leather strings,brass pommel.The crossgard is in leather with simple decorations on both sides. The scabbard is simple in decorations but well made at the tip same style of leather wrapping as on the grip, mounts are missing.
Measurements: oal 95 cm; blade lenght 77cm; blade at the handle 3,2 cm; thick 7 mm at the handle.
Looking forwards on your comments/ feedback.

Marc

Marc M. · 4th October 2020, 03:08 PM

Hi
More pictures and info off the takouba with the brass handle.
Solid brass handle, on the cross gard are two small copper plates, in the center a triangular shape in what appears a lead covering. The pommel is ovoid rather small with one copper plate on top. Similar examples on the net indicates its from the Cameroon/Nigerean area.
Its a single fuller blade, the fuller is well made,not grinded. The blade has a good flex, sharp and looks like it has been sharpend a lot, with the typical ruff markings on the edges.The scabard is in a good condition with some decorations on the leather but fairly simple, round brass rings on the mounts.
I have no idea off age and origin of the blade so comments are verry welcome.
Oal; 96.3 cm, sword lenght; 95.7 cm, blade lenght; 82 cm, blade wide; 4.5 cm,
blade thickness at the handle; 4.3mm, at the tip; 2.2 mm.

Greetings
Marc

15th September 2020, 05:27 PM	#2
Marc M. Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Belgium Posts: 115	takouba and kaskara Hi Teodor I have that book: wafen aus zentral Afrika in my collection but it is the only picture i have from a takouba with that kind off handle. No books on takouba's and kaskara's so, i've found the most info on this forum, and true the forum found Ian Norman's takouba research society. He also mentions Wafen aus zentral Afrika along with a takouba (73) fulani, cameroon on his site. So i guess mine is also from that area, just as my example with the solid cast handle. Every info on the swords is more than welcome. Greetings Marc

16th September 2020, 07:55 PM	#4
Marc M. Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Belgium Posts: 115	takuba and kaskara Hi Teodor Thanks for the tip on the wafen aus zentral Afrika book. That book is in my collection and is the only picture i've found in my books about this type of sword . Since there are no books as far as i known about takouba's and kaskara's, the forum my biggest sources on these swords. Hello Jim Thank you for the welcome and the additional info on the swords. I shall post pictures of the swords one by one and some info. Greetings Marc

29th September 2020, 07:05 PM	#8
Marc M. Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Belgium Posts: 115	Greetings At last i've found some time to take more pictures of the swords,its going slow but one by one. First is the takouba saber (aljuinar) probably from the Nigerian/Cameroon border (Fulani?) its a single edge, double fuller blade, military grade blade (French). No markings on the blade. Flexible, light but strong blade. Only the last 20 cm near the tip is sharp, there is a damage on the blade, a piece is missing probably during the forging/ hardening proces. The handle is wrapped with leather strings,brass pommel.The crossgard is in leather with simple decorations on both sides. The scabbard is simple in decorations but well made at the tip same style of leather wrapping as on the grip, mounts are missing. Measurements: oal 95 cm; blade lenght 77cm; blade at the handle 3,2 cm; thick 7 mm at the handle. Looking forwards on your comments/ feedback. Marc Attached Images

4th October 2020, 03:08 PM	#9
Marc M. Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Belgium Posts: 115	Hi More pictures and info off the takouba with the brass handle. Solid brass handle, on the cross gard are two small copper plates, in the center a triangular shape in what appears a lead covering. The pommel is ovoid rather small with one copper plate on top. Similar examples on the net indicates its from the Cameroon/Nigerean area. Its a single fuller blade, the fuller is well made,not grinded. The blade has a good flex, sharp and looks like it has been sharpend a lot, with the typical ruff markings on the edges.The scabard is in a good condition with some decorations on the leather but fairly simple, round brass rings on the mounts. I have no idea off age and origin of the blade so comments are verry welcome. Oal; 96.3 cm, sword lenght; 95.7 cm, blade lenght; 82 cm, blade wide; 4.5 cm, blade thickness at the handle; 4.3mm, at the tip; 2.2 mm. Greetings Marc Attached Images

14th September 2020, 08:26 PM	#1
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,600	Sabre takoubas tend to be rarer in my personal experience, and so this is a nice find. The leather wrap on the hilt has some similarity to a takouba shown in Waffen aus Zentral-Afrika by Johanna Agthe. The same page also shows a French sabre blade mounted with takouba fittings, though the hilt on it is all brass. Teodor

15th September 2020, 07:35 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,778	Welcome to the forum Marc, and its exciting to have another 'enthusiast' on North African swords here!!! I say that because we are together 'enthusiasts' studying and learning together. The term 'expert' is an honorific usually overrated. Nice kaskara! a good sound example. Keep in mind these are typically not extremely old as far as the mounts, but often the blades can date into the latter 19th century. There was no widespread use of 'kaskara' until the Mahdist period of the 1880s-90s, and from there a degree of use mostly traditional wear. From the early 1900s there was nominal use only but it was not until about 1940s that production began again notable and in the Kasalla region . While 20th century sounds disappointing to many for 'antique weapons' remember ethnographic arms remained in actual use among tribal peoples well through the 20th c. and in some places, still are. The takouba is still very much an 'active' weapon, though more of a men's accouterment than combative weapon. As you are well aware of Ian Norman's site, that is one of the most resounding reference sources on the various types and key identification details. On the one with curved blade, apparantly a French saber blade, these are of course more common to regions of West Africa with that colonial presence. As I have understood, the curved blade versions are termed 'aljuinar'. The thing with takouba is, like the sa'if known as 'niimcha' in Algeria and Morocco, these tended to use trade blades often beyond the preferred broadswords of kaskara and takouba. With the nimcha, considered a saber, you would see them with straight broadsword blades as well, which illustrates the propensity to use whatever blade was available. Thank you for posting these great examples! and hopefully we will have more input toward more detail on each one. It is sometimes hard to address matters on a particular sword in a grouping of photos as it becomes confused as to which one is being referred to.

16th September 2020, 10:13 PM	#5
Yvain Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: France Posts: 173	Hi Marc ! Nice to see another takouba lover on the forum ! The one with the brass hilt has a nice blade, albeit sharpened alot, it could even be an European trade blade, considering the regularity of the fuller (don't quote me on that though !). The hilt is really unusuam and, as is often the case, most likely later, though it does show some wear. My guess would be second quarter of the 20th century or slightly later. Indeed, I don't think aluminium was widly available in Africa before WWI, and this style (heavy brass base, with copper and aluminum, and triangular shapes), although I can't precisely pinpoint it, is very reminiscent in my opinion of what can be seen on modern decorative daggers and short swords from Niger (see post 4 here : http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=agadez), the chape of the sheath is also very reminiscent of what can be seen on some small knives from Agadez (see mine for example : http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=26194). Niger could thus be an option for the mounts, in my opinion; in anyway, that's a nice "modern" twist on a traditional design and I like it ! Onto the Tuareg one (the design and ornamentation of the guard definitely look Tuareg, at least according to what Morel wrote on the subject), it is indeed a rather recent one (post ww2), mostly given the shape of the pommel (very flat), however the blade is definitely not one of the ugliest I've seen, with a clear and rather regular fuller (as opposed to the symbolic grooves you can see on some examples). Finally, the single-edged, or Aljuinar as Jim rightfully pointed out, is indeed a textbook example of saber-like takouba that Iain Norman described as being from Nothern Cameroon. The blade on this one is really interesting, is the close-up you posted a repair ? Do you think it is forge welded ? Anyway, thanks for posting those nice swords, and don't take anything I wrote at face value, as I am myself just a mere beginner in the study of those amazing weapons !

20th September 2020, 11:20 PM	#7
Yvain Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: France Posts: 173	Hi Marc, You're right, learning from each other is one of the great strength of this forum ! Though as I am but a student on the subject, do not take for granted what I said, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of your swords !