Damascus Kaskara

DaveS · 15th December 2013, 10:11 PM

Here is a damascus kaskara for viewing. The blade is layered damascus
with what is left of three fullers, 34 inches long, 40 inches overall with a
silver handle. Some of the inscription on the blade is in Latin. I tried my best
to photograph these and the figures, but i don't think they came out too
clearly. The scabbard is in absolutely pristine condition with all the goodies.
Any ideas as to age or origin. I also have another damascus kaskara
with a single wide fuller down the entire length of the blade. These kaskara
blades must be rare, as these are the only two that i've ever seen......Dave.

A.alnakkas · 15th December 2013, 10:30 PM

a fine piece! though I have a feeling that this was not meant to be etched.

DaveS · 16th December 2013, 01:25 AM

A.alnakkas: This is the way it was when i accquired it, already etched.
I would think that the smith would want the blade etched to show
his skill. Just a thought.........Dave.

kino · 16th December 2013, 01:38 AM

That's nice Dave!
Is it a European blade?
I have seen pattern welded European swords, one being a German Naval sword.

DaveS · 16th December 2013, 04:15 AM

Hi Albert: Yes, there is no doubt in my mind that it is a european blade. I
think it is a much older blade also, because i would think that the
mass produced ones made later for export would not be layered. It
would be too time consuming. You can see that the three narrow
fullers are almost washed out due to many years of cleaning and
maintainence............Dave.
P.S......Say hi to Bonny

Jim McDougall · 16th December 2013, 05:20 AM

Now here is an anomaly! The blade profile is very much as seen in many native produced blades for kaskara, but I cannot think of ever seeing any which were 'Damascus'. I'm sure those here with metallurgical expertise might give better account of this case, but I do not believe this is a European blade. While as noted there may have been instances of pattern welded blades in European context they are not among the 'trade blades' which entered the North African sphere.

The mounts appear to be of modern 'Kasallawi' style which are produced in this area of Sudan from around 1960s as I understand (Reed, 1987) and often associated with Darfur. These blades were of course remounted many times over generations so using them to assess the blade age is often counterproductive.

What is most curious are the engraved intaglio and angelic figure devices on the blade which are typically regarded as in the "Caissagnard' style and usually found on French blades on court swords, smallswords and hangers of mid to end of 18th century. As this type blade, and certainly not pattern welded or damascened was not in use in European swords at this time nor later it would seem that perhaps these engravings were copied on this blade by a quite skilled artisan in native trade entrepots.

Just my thoughts and as always very much look forward to other views.

DaveS · 16th December 2013, 06:57 AM

Jim: I have some kaskaras with native made blades and none are of the
same quality as this one. Has anyone on the forum seen a damascus
blade that was done by a North-African smith? The North-African swords
swords i have seen and the ones i own don't exhibit any damascus at all.
It's hard to tell in the pictures, but the layer-welded pattern is of
very high quality, almost similar to a couple of straight bladed Indian
swords that i have. Could this blade be a trade blade from the Indian
market, and the markings be put on locally?.........Dave.

15th December 2013, 10:11 PM	#1
DaveS Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 327	Damascus Kaskara Here is a damascus kaskara for viewing. The blade is layered damascus with what is left of three fullers, 34 inches long, 40 inches overall with a silver handle. Some of the inscription on the blade is in Latin. I tried my best to photograph these and the figures, but i don't think they came out too clearly. The scabbard is in absolutely pristine condition with all the goodies. Any ideas as to age or origin. I also have another damascus kaskara with a single wide fuller down the entire length of the blade. These kaskara blades must be rare, as these are the only two that i've ever seen......Dave. Attached Images

16th December 2013, 01:25 AM	#3
DaveS Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 327	Damascus Kaskara A.alnakkas: This is the way it was when i accquired it, already etched. I would think that the smith would want the blade etched to show his skill. Just a thought.........Dave.

16th December 2013, 04:15 AM	#5
DaveS Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 327	Damascus Kaskara Hi Albert: Yes, there is no doubt in my mind that it is a european blade. I think it is a much older blade also, because i would think that the mass produced ones made later for export would not be layered. It would be too time consuming. You can see that the three narrow fullers are almost washed out due to many years of cleaning and maintainence............Dave. P.S......Say hi to Bonny

16th December 2013, 06:57 AM	#7
DaveS Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 327	Damascus Kaskara Jim: I have some kaskaras with native made blades and none are of the same quality as this one. Has anyone on the forum seen a damascus blade that was done by a North-African smith? The North-African swords swords i have seen and the ones i own don't exhibit any damascus at all. It's hard to tell in the pictures, but the layer-welded pattern is of very high quality, almost similar to a couple of straight bladed Indian swords that i have. Could this blade be a trade blade from the Indian market, and the markings be put on locally?.........Dave.

15th December 2013, 10:30 PM	#2
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	a fine piece! though I have a feeling that this was not meant to be etched.

16th December 2013, 01:38 AM	#4
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,002	That's nice Dave! Is it a European blade? I have seen pattern welded European swords, one being a German Naval sword.

16th December 2013, 05:20 AM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,948	Now here is an anomaly! The blade profile is very much as seen in many native produced blades for kaskara, but I cannot think of ever seeing any which were 'Damascus'. I'm sure those here with metallurgical expertise might give better account of this case, but I do not believe this is a European blade. While as noted there may have been instances of pattern welded blades in European context they are not among the 'trade blades' which entered the North African sphere. The mounts appear to be of modern 'Kasallawi' style which are produced in this area of Sudan from around 1960s as I understand (Reed, 1987) and often associated with Darfur. These blades were of course remounted many times over generations so using them to assess the blade age is often counterproductive. What is most curious are the engraved intaglio and angelic figure devices on the blade which are typically regarded as in the "Caissagnard' style and usually found on French blades on court swords, smallswords and hangers of mid to end of 18th century. As this type blade, and certainly not pattern welded or damascened was not in use in European swords at this time nor later it would seem that perhaps these engravings were copied on this blade by a quite skilled artisan in native trade entrepots. Just my thoughts and as always very much look forward to other views.