old blade on takouba ?

francantolin · 25th October 2020, 09:27 AM

Hello everybody,

I saw all the recent interesting threads about takouba sword,
what do you think of this one ?

The scabbard is recent I think and maybe the hilt too ( silver ??)
the blade is interesting with the engravings but never saw a Passau Wolf like that.

A later add for make it antique ? ( idem the other engravings ?)
Just tourist stuff ?

Any comment is welcome

KInd regards

David R · 25th October 2020, 01:03 PM

I would ID it as a typical Kaskara rather than a Takouba, as for age..... They were still making them recently for their own market, carried at weddings by groom and male relatives. If a tourist wants one they will sell them one, but to the best of my knowledge they make no distinction between local and traveller purchasers they all get the same item. Metal fittings and blades can be any age, as with a lot of ethnic weapons good blades are not left to languish, and the same for anything else.

Lots of stuff on here about them. About the only thing I can add, is that reading a travellers tale from the 1970's they were still carried with serious intent. The late great original Richard Burton had stuff to say about their cutting power.

Edster · 25th October 2020, 01:47 PM

As David said, it is a Kaskara. Passau could have been added. Can you get better pics of the engraving texts and the full length of the blade. Its hard to tell if the blade is locally made or an import. Blade could be of Mahdi Era or even before and then likely an import. Blade engravings and religious texts seem to have declined after the fall of the Mahdiya in 1898. Others can offer a better blade analysis.

The cross guard and silver grip are middling and likely of a later date. Does the CG look like it was forge welded from four pieces or just folded? The silver on the grip is a variation of the stars and comet design but w/o much detail.. See my essays on the EAA Geographic Index for more info on the Kaskara CG and Silver Dress.

Best,
Ed

francantolin · 26th October 2020, 07:02 PM

Thanks a lot David and Ed for your precious help,

For the moment I can just post these other three pictures of the blade and engravings of the kaskara

Rust seems really recent on the blade but maybe it was cleaned too strongly few time before and not oiled,
Maybe that's why the arabic engravings are not deeply engraved...

What about the blade ? pretty long, 39,5 inches,
nothing fantastic except the ( recents ??) markings.

francantolin · 26th October 2020, 07:12 PM

Better ?

Philip · 26th October 2020, 11:44 PM

The Arabic inscriptions look to be etched, the penmanship being far neater than what is usually encountered on these blades. There is considerable wear to the lettering, "Mohammed" is the only thing I can make out. The wolf is of course chiseled and appears deeper and crisper than the etching. Given the condition of the inscriptions, wouldn't you expect more wear to wolfie if this was indeed an early Passau (or Solingen) blade recycled for use in a kaskara?

25th October 2020, 09:27 AM	#1
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 871	old blade on takouba ? Hello everybody, I saw all the recent interesting threads about takouba sword, what do you think of this one ? The scabbard is recent I think and maybe the hilt too ( silver ??) the blade is interesting with the engravings but never saw a Passau Wolf like that. A later add for make it antique ? ( idem the other engravings ?) Just tourist stuff ? Any comment is welcome KInd regards Attached Images

26th October 2020, 07:02 PM	#4
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 871	Thanks a lot David and Ed for your precious help, For the moment I can just post these other three pictures of the blade and engravings of the kaskara Rust seems really recent on the blade but maybe it was cleaned too strongly few time before and not oiled, Maybe that's why the arabic engravings are not deeply engraved... What about the blade ? pretty long, 39,5 inches, nothing fantastic except the ( recents ??) markings. Attached Images

26th October 2020, 07:12 PM	#5
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 871	Better ? Attached Images

25th October 2020, 01:03 PM	#2
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,079	I would ID it as a typical Kaskara rather than a Takouba, as for age..... They were still making them recently for their own market, carried at weddings by groom and male relatives. If a tourist wants one they will sell them one, but to the best of my knowledge they make no distinction between local and traveller purchasers they all get the same item. Metal fittings and blades can be any age, as with a lot of ethnic weapons good blades are not left to languish, and the same for anything else. Lots of stuff on here about them. About the only thing I can add, is that reading a travellers tale from the 1970's they were still carried with serious intent. The late great original Richard Burton had stuff to say about their cutting power.

25th October 2020, 01:47 PM	#3
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 408	As David said, it is a Kaskara. Passau could have been added. Can you get better pics of the engraving texts and the full length of the blade. Its hard to tell if the blade is locally made or an import. Blade could be of Mahdi Era or even before and then likely an import. Blade engravings and religious texts seem to have declined after the fall of the Mahdiya in 1898. Others can offer a better blade analysis. The cross guard and silver grip are middling and likely of a later date. Does the CG look like it was forge welded from four pieces or just folded? The silver on the grip is a variation of the stars and comet design but w/o much detail.. See my essays on the EAA Geographic Index for more info on the Kaskara CG and Silver Dress. Best, Ed

26th October 2020, 11:44 PM	#6
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	The Arabic inscriptions look to be etched, the penmanship being far neater than what is usually encountered on these blades. There is considerable wear to the lettering, "Mohammed" is the only thing I can make out. The wolf is of course chiseled and appears deeper and crisper than the etching. Given the condition of the inscriptions, wouldn't you expect more wear to wolfie if this was indeed an early Passau (or Solingen) blade recycled for use in a kaskara?