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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Dorset
Posts: 38
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I recently bought a Bedja sword that was bought back from the battle field.
Can anyone help me translate the mark? Many thanks. |
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#2 | |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE
Posts: 4,408
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There is some conjecture deciding if the mark is European and then the sword being sold as a trade blade onto African markets or if in fact the strike was done locally. I suspect the latter. see http://www.vikingsword.com/ethsword/kaskara/index.html Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 14th February 2016 at 05:44 PM. |
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Dorset
Posts: 38
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Thank you so much for your help.
Its a really romantic notion but I think your probably right. |
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#4 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,896
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As Ibrahiim has well described, these crescent moons were characteristic pairings used primarily by Hausa smiths in many examples of their blades across Saharan and Sudanese regions. These triple fullered blades are referred to as 'masri' and were native produced in considerable volumes.
While most are of course tempted to presume the 'romantic' notion of these being brought back from the battlefields in the Sudan (a good number were), the truth is that 'producing' souveniers became a notable cottage industry bringing the volume of these 'bringbacks' to staggering proportions. These were actually produced in volume well into the 20th century and remained traditional accoutrements sought as souveniers in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. It must be remembered that ethnographic arms such as these remain distinct examples of the profound tradition behind them. In the Sudan the native people recall Omdurman and the Mahdist period clearly and hold these weapons in the same esteem as then. |
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Dorset
Posts: 38
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Thank you.
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#6 |
Member
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 48
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There were plenty recently made swords of that type when I visited the lake Nasser region near the Egyptian-Sudanese border a few years ago.
I am not expressing an opinion on yours. |
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