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26th December 2020, 01:58 PM
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#1 |
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Belgium
Posts: 105
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Latest kaskara for comment
Greetings all
Merry christmas and a better and hopefull year for 2021. I've just got my second kaskara. the sword is 94,5 cm long, blade 83 cm, wide 3,8 cm, thickness at the ricasso 5,5 mm. A well made blade with 2 fullers. Inside the fullers a floral decoration, blade has some flex. On the ricasso markings on each side. On one side two markings, A lion and a cartouch, 6 gm 126, both deep and clear. On the other side two hands. The handle is cast on the sword, problaby aluminium or zinc. The lion i've seen before, but the cartouche and the hands not. According the seller it is a local made blade and the markings and the floral decoration resembling european blades. Comments are verry welcome. Marc |
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26th December 2020, 02:07 PM
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#2 |
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Belgium
Posts: 105
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latest karara
Sorry, title had to be latest kaskara for comment.
Marc |
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26th December 2020, 02:30 PM
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#3 |
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Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,639
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Corrected
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26th December 2020, 06:47 PM
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#4 |
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 390
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Marc,
Nice old "kaskara". I have a single edge sword from Kassaka with a similar cast grip, c.1986. The blade looks to me like those from Ethiopia, especially with the lion. Double fullers are common from there, but not from Sudan. Also, the tapered blade profile more like its imported also considering the gloved hand maker's marks. My guess it's an imported Abyssinian/Ethiopian gurade blade with a 4-piece welded kaskara cross-guard updated with the cast grip. Best regards, Ed |
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27th December 2020, 01:51 AM
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#5 |
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EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,139
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How heavy is the silver hilt?
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27th December 2020, 03:58 AM
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#6 |
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Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,738
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This blade reminds me of the kinds of Solingen blades that indeed came through Ethiopia in latter 19th c. and often after being mounted with rhino horn hilts were sent to San'aa in Yemen. The rhino from the hilts was of course highly sought for use on janbiyya daggers. The blades were then remounted
with various silver hilts and resulted in unusual combinations, often there would be Amharic inscriptions . The kaskara was of course well known in Ethiopia as well as Eritrea, and these blades recirculating over generations were likely remounted many times. I think Ed has the best perception of these remounts by the character of the guards etc. as described in the work he has done from outstanding field work in the Sudan and presented here. |
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27th December 2020, 09:25 AM
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#7 | |
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Belgium
Posts: 105
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Quote:
I don't think its silver but aluminium or zinc, it feels light. I don't have anything to test silver. Silver on kaskara handles is mostly wire or thin plates. Solid cast silver handle would be nice allthough. Greetings marc |
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27th December 2020, 09:10 AM
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#8 | |
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Belgium
Posts: 105
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Quote:
Thanks for the reaction. The Abyssinian connection crossed my mind also. In older posts on Ethiopian swords, i've found an identical stamp off the lion, also the shape off the blade and the double fullers pointed in that direction. Glad that you confirmed my thoughts. best regards Marc |
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