Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Jim McDougall · 31st December 2011, 02:22 PM

You're quite welcome Mefidk, and I very much appreciate your detailed response. It is interesting to know more on the provenance on these and the assemblage of weapons which were included in this apparantly diverse lot.
I spent some time going through the outstanding paper written by Ed Hunley in 1984 and in the archives here, "Sword and Knife Makers of Kassala", which was interestingly actually a precursor to the 1987 work of Graham Reed ("Kaskara from Northern Darfur, Sudan", JAAS, Vol.XII #3).

Hunley wonderfully describes the edged weapon industry which was apparantly all but dormant largely in Sudanese regions until around the 1960s. The description of the use of automotive springs as material for blade making is well covered, and it would seem there were numerous sources for stock including the railroad yards in Atbara for example. It is fascinating that these productions of weapons, though modern, are very much in the old traditions from the times of the Mahdiyya and the Sudanese are understandably proud of thier heritage.

The curious marking of this geometric 'comet' shape remains a bit of a puzzle and despite the suggestions that it is some kind of interpretation of the fly or 'doll' markings is in my impression a bit far fetched. Even in the most Picasso-esque interpretation to me this shape does not allude to either.
I am not convinced that the shape is toward cosmological lore either, so it would seem another symbolism is the source. Whatever the case, it seems to be a relatively late development and not particularly indicative of a European source.

With my admittedly deficient understanding of metallurgy and relying on photos rather than actual handling of these weapons it is hard to make reliable judgement so I appreciate your accurate detail in describing these blades. As we agree, it seems one of these swords from similar period of production ended up in compromised situation and was exposed to conditions lending to its deterioration. It may have been among other miscellanea in one of the shed type buildings Ed Hunley describes in the suq area in Kassala, or similar situation, but apparantly static for some time in that place.

I have always understood that of course depending on the workman and perhaps various factors in production, many of these native blades can be quite flexible. As you note the spring steel can typically be pretty rigid. There seem to be a number of weapons produced as well from sheet steel and these have again different characteristics in the corrosion and effects in the blades.

Thank you again for posting these, and the excellent questions. Its great to return to the study on these North African swords and have the opportunity to learn more on them from these kinds of examples.

All the best,
Jim

31st December 2011, 02:22 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,100	You're quite welcome Mefidk, and I very much appreciate your detailed response. It is interesting to know more on the provenance on these and the assemblage of weapons which were included in this apparantly diverse lot. I spent some time going through the outstanding paper written by Ed Hunley in 1984 and in the archives here, "Sword and Knife Makers of Kassala", which was interestingly actually a precursor to the 1987 work of Graham Reed ("Kaskara from Northern Darfur, Sudan", JAAS, Vol.XII #3). Hunley wonderfully describes the edged weapon industry which was apparantly all but dormant largely in Sudanese regions until around the 1960s. The description of the use of automotive springs as material for blade making is well covered, and it would seem there were numerous sources for stock including the railroad yards in Atbara for example. It is fascinating that these productions of weapons, though modern, are very much in the old traditions from the times of the Mahdiyya and the Sudanese are understandably proud of thier heritage. The curious marking of this geometric 'comet' shape remains a bit of a puzzle and despite the suggestions that it is some kind of interpretation of the fly or 'doll' markings is in my impression a bit far fetched. Even in the most Picasso-esque interpretation to me this shape does not allude to either. I am not convinced that the shape is toward cosmological lore either, so it would seem another symbolism is the source. Whatever the case, it seems to be a relatively late development and not particularly indicative of a European source. With my admittedly deficient understanding of metallurgy and relying on photos rather than actual handling of these weapons it is hard to make reliable judgement so I appreciate your accurate detail in describing these blades. As we agree, it seems one of these swords from similar period of production ended up in compromised situation and was exposed to conditions lending to its deterioration. It may have been among other miscellanea in one of the shed type buildings Ed Hunley describes in the suq area in Kassala, or similar situation, but apparantly static for some time in that place. I have always understood that of course depending on the workman and perhaps various factors in production, many of these native blades can be quite flexible. As you note the spring steel can typically be pretty rigid. There seem to be a number of weapons produced as well from sheet steel and these have again different characteristics in the corrosion and effects in the blades. Thank you again for posting these, and the excellent questions. Its great to return to the study on these North African swords and have the opportunity to learn more on them from these kinds of examples. All the best, Jim