stamp near point of kaskara blade?

stephen wood · 13th October 2009, 02:03 AM

Quite an ordinary kaskara really...
...except for a partially legible stamp near the point - what appears to be "CLMD". Roman numerals? 1650. So not a date then. And why in such an odd place on the blade? The scabbard has Arabic characters. As always, your theories and opinions welcome...

colin henshaw · 13th October 2009, 10:18 AM

Hi

Unusual - I've never seen a mark near the tip of a kaskara blade like that. The only thing I can think of is that the blade is made from a piece of scrap European iron that was originally from a different, much larger object. CLMD is probably just a European manufacturer's or factory mark.

Regards.

Dom · 13th October 2009, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephen wood

Quite an ordinary kaskara really...
The scabbard has Arabic characters.

may I correct a little;
- the scabbard has African characteristics; Sudanese or near by
- Arab is an origin for peoples and their goods coming from or from Arabic peninsula
for instance, Sudanese's are African, Muslims for a very large majority, as well as Abyssinia's, and Somalians

à +

Dom

stephen wood · 13th October 2009, 08:01 PM

...sorry Dom, by "characters" I meant "letters". Between the suspension rings there are two embossed Arabic letters. They look like the number "2".

Lee · 14th October 2009, 02:59 PM

Prof. Briggs (plate XXI b) illustrates (from the literature) a blade with markings that I suspect originated as stampings on European sheet steel later cut and shaped to be a blade. Does your blade appear to be fully forged, or is it, like some kaskara I have, likely due to stock removal.

I believe I have a takouba with similar markings and I shall begin to work through the pile and see if I can find and photograph it.

Dom · 15th October 2009, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephen wood

...sorry Dom, by "characters" I meant "letters". Between the suspension rings there are two embossed Arabic letters. They look like the number "2".

Hi Stefen
if ... IF they are "letters" they aren't from arabic alphabet

à +

Dom

stephen wood · 15th October 2009, 01:52 AM

...oh dear! What could they be? I assumed they were letters as I'd seen similar scabbard decorations posted here...
...I don't have it yet Lee but I expect it to be sheet steel - the particular binding used at the lower end of the grip to secure the crossguard usually goes with thin blades (often quite corroded) and "cut" fullers. When they do have moons they are abstract. Interesting illustration - I don't have Briggs - does anyone have a scan?

Dom · 15th October 2009, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephen wood

...oh dear! What could they be? I assumed they were letters as I'd seen similar scabbard decorations posted here...

but here is wrote "ALLAH" ﺍﷲ

on the other ... nothing .. unreadable

à +

Dom

13th October 2009, 02:03 AM	#1
stephen wood Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 227	stamp near point of kaskara blade? Quite an ordinary kaskara really... ...except for a partially legible stamp near the point - what appears to be "CLMD". Roman numerals? 1650. So not a date then. And why in such an odd place on the blade? The scabbard has Arabic characters. As always, your theories and opinions welcome... Attached Images

13th October 2009, 08:01 PM	#4
stephen wood Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 227	...sorry Dom, by "characters" I meant "letters". Between the suspension rings there are two embossed Arabic letters. They look like the number "2". Attached Images

14th October 2009, 02:59 PM	#5
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 970	Residual markings from steel stock? Prof. Briggs (plate XXI b) illustrates (from the literature) a blade with markings that I suspect originated as stampings on European sheet steel later cut and shaped to be a blade. Does your blade appear to be fully forged, or is it, like some kaskara I have, likely due to stock removal. I believe I have a takouba with similar markings and I shall begin to work through the pile and see if I can find and photograph it. Attached Images

15th October 2009, 01:52 AM	#7
stephen wood Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 227	...oh dear! What could they be? I assumed they were letters as I'd seen similar scabbard decorations posted here... ...I don't have it yet Lee but I expect it to be sheet steel - the particular binding used at the lower end of the grip to secure the crossguard usually goes with thin blades (often quite corroded) and "cut" fullers. When they do have moons they are abstract. Interesting illustration - I don't have Briggs - does anyone have a scan? Attached Images

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13th October 2009, 10:18 AM	#2
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	Hi Unusual - I've never seen a mark near the tip of a kaskara blade like that. The only thing I can think of is that the blade is made from a piece of scrap European iron that was originally from a different, much larger object. CLMD is probably just a European manufacturer's or factory mark. Regards.