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#1 |
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Kent
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A very nice bladed Takouba (apparently European...but I'm not so sure) and scabbard just finished on eBay. Had a really good feeling about this one......Bid slightly too little too late
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#2 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 91
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#3 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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Katana
That looks like a locally made blade to me. What makes you think it's European? Lew |
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#4 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,287
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<shrug> Meh ..., looks local to me too .
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#5 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
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The blade looks local to me. I think you were right not to go any further. The handle was very scruffy. These are common, save your money and get a better one, maybe pay a little more. In my opinion some of these are far to highly priced.
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#6 | |
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Kent
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![]() Quote:
Thanks Mmontoro yes it is ......It was rather late when I posted this thread...got a bit forgetful.... ![]() I was sceptical about the blade being European.... no maker's marks for instance....but still thought it nice. I agree the hilt was disappointing, I am sure that if it was a 'valued' Euro blade the hilt would also reflect this. The seller states that it is European.......there does seem to be a culture of the 'lost crusader' swords rehilted as Kaskara (more so) and Takouba, I think the seller may have 'enticed' interest by placing Kaskara in the title....oh....and the arabic script would have helped too ![]() |
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#7 |
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Location: Kent
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Images added for future searches
![]() http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3358 I dont want to appear to be a hypocrite ![]() |
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#8 |
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: GA USA
Posts: 76
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Can anybody tell me with a real argument why this blade is not European?
Can they tell me which part of the Africa was ever capable to produce a thick blade with 2 real fullers, maybe the Tuareg blacksmiths ![]() Has anybody seen a Tuareg sword with European blade that had the maker mark still on it? I have not seen on any of the 30-40 swords that passed my hand such blade or in any book. The Tuareg made blades are flat and very elastic usually with 3 scratched decorative fullers in the way Kaskara blades are but much lighter or with no fuller at all, the ones made in Northern Nigeria in the 20th century. This blade is 1/8 inches thick and very heavy. Gentlemen please open your books and let me know, not only what you feel it might be but what you KNOW it is ![]() artotec |
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#9 |
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Location: What is still UK
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I am curious as to why you doubt the smiths ability. Just look at the Massai spear, produced by smiths many hundreds of miles from any permanent building. These swords may well have been produced from any of the many sahal towns that included such things as universities and the like. making a sword cannot be that hard
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#10 |
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Hi Arotec,
I hope you dont mind me posting the pictures. I said that I wasn't certain about the blade.....but I agree that if it is local manufacture it is a very good one. When I researched Takouba's ...my information was that Euro blades were rare....less so with the Kaskara. Generally (according to the articles I read) , Euro blades carried makers marks and commonly blades of 'local' manufacture 'imitated' these marks as a sign of quality.On that basis there was a real POSSIBILITY that this was not European. I agree with your comments about Takouba blades usually being thin and springy. I actually 'stayed up' to bid on this sword, which I did, just under the selling price and was unable to increase my offer in time. I posted this because I was uncertain about the blade and was surprised that the price was not higher.......which started me thinking that others disagreed with the European provenance for the blade, (bearing in mind they are rarer). Also the hilt decoration seemed average.....many of the hilts on Euro blades seem to have more adornment.... I hope you have not taken personal offence as no offence was meant...this was a genuine question to further mine (and others reading these threads) knowledge. |
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#11 | |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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![]() Quote:
Thickness of the blade is not an indication that a particular blade is European. There are a few things to look for such as overall appearance Euro blades have a diiferent look to them they have a cleaner look to them with well defined fullers be they one wide one or three thinner ones and they have a stiff springiness to them. The smiths in that area of Africa can make blades from old machetes, sheet steel, rebar or truck leaf springs which would be the best choice to me. It really does not take that much effort for a good local smith to bang out and spring temper these sword blades I am sure that this is a cottage industry in many parts of West Africa. BTW I have a very nice takouba with a thick blade but it's no Euro blade. The blades pictured below are late 17th century or earl 18th German trade blades that were used on many kaskara and takouba. Lew Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 19th October 2006 at 09:18 PM. |
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