Mutilated Kaskara on Ebay

stephen wood · 30th October 2010, 12:05 AM

Just finished on ebay - textbook "kaskara fake". Langet sawn off. And with a classic "engmatic mark" too..

Jim McDougall · 30th October 2010, 12:29 AM

Interesting. Why go to all this trouble to fake a kaskara? Its not like they're that rare!
Never did discover why the 'comet' marking that was supposed to be linked to the Mahdi's appearance was found on Taureg swords.

Rumpel · 30th October 2010, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Interesting. Why go to all this trouble to fake a kaskara? Its not like they're that rare!
Never did discover why the 'comet' marking that was supposed to be linked to the Mahdi's appearance was found on Taureg swords.

East-west trade, across Darfur? It's the exact transverse of the salt/slave caravan route from Timbuktu->Khartoum, the sort of Sahelian Silk Road.

I vaguely recollect Mahdiism penetrating French Africa- I think in The Cross and The Sword...? I think even the utterly unreliable PC Wren creates a pseudo-Mahdiist scenario in Beau Sabreur, though he was writing for an Edwardian English audience.

Above sword was probably mutilated for a swords-n-snakes fantasy nerd, as if its actual history weren't interesting enough...

TVV · 30th October 2010, 12:54 AM

Jim,

I think Rumpel is right - whoever mutilated this sword was not doing it to imitate a kaskara, but rather to turn a kaskara into a medieval European sword and sell it for a premium. Or of course, it could have been a fantasy larp nerd looking for a fancy prop, but they are usually satsfied with plastic and wooden swords and the modifications here suggest insidious intent to me.

Oh well, thanks for postign Stephen, and I hope one day we get an answer to the origin and meaning of the comet mark.

Regards,
Teodor

stephen wood · 30th October 2010, 01:43 AM

...a very interesting mark - I had the opportunity to examine this kaskara from Anthony North's collection before it went to auction. As well as celestial marks, koranic inscription and a lion and o+ (very faint), there is, under the langet, a small "comet" mark. Unlooked-for and unnoticed.

Lee · 30th October 2010, 11:03 AM

Unfortunately, a lot of kaskaras met this fate over the last 50 years.

I had somehow missed the interpretation of this mark as a comet previously; very interesting!

stephen wood · 30th October 2010, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephen wood

Unlooked-for and unnoticed.

...not unnoticed by Anthony North I'm sure...

30th October 2010, 12:05 AM	#1
stephen wood Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 227	Mutilated Kaskara on Ebay Just finished on ebay - textbook "kaskara fake". Langet sawn off. And with a classic "engmatic mark" too.. Attached Images

30th October 2010, 01:43 AM	#5
stephen wood Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 227	...a very interesting mark - I had the opportunity to examine this kaskara from Anthony North's collection before it went to auction. As well as celestial marks, koranic inscription and a lion and o+ (very faint), there is, under the langet, a small "comet" mark. Unlooked-for and unnoticed. Attached Images

30th October 2010, 11:03 AM	#6
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 932	Sadly, not that uncommon Unfortunately, a lot of kaskaras met this fate over the last 50 years. I had somehow missed the interpretation of this mark as a comet previously; very interesting!

30th October 2010, 12:29 AM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,190	Interesting. Why go to all this trouble to fake a kaskara? Its not like they're that rare! Never did discover why the 'comet' marking that was supposed to be linked to the Mahdi's appearance was found on Taureg swords.

30th October 2010, 12:54 AM	#4
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,660	Jim, I think Rumpel is right - whoever mutilated this sword was not doing it to imitate a kaskara, but rather to turn a kaskara into a medieval European sword and sell it for a premium. Or of course, it could have been a fantasy larp nerd looking for a fancy prop, but they are usually satsfied with plastic and wooden swords and the modifications here suggest insidious intent to me. Oh well, thanks for postign Stephen, and I hope one day we get an answer to the origin and meaning of the comet mark. Regards, Teodor