Unusual African Broadsword

stephen wood · 23rd October 2008, 11:00 PM

Hello

I recently came across this sword - just over 37" long, a kaskara type blade, no crossguard and leatherwork of the kind usually found on Manding swords.

Has anyone seen one like this before?

ariel · 23rd October 2008, 11:29 PM

Yup. They used trade blades and come in all shapes and sizes.

stephen wood · 23rd October 2008, 11:39 PM

...who used trade blades?

TVV · 24th October 2008, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephen wood

...who used trade blades?

More or less all of Northern Africa. If I recall correctly, in his book on African Arms, in the chapter dedicated to Sudanic Africa, Spring mentions that the city of Kano in Northern Nigeria (still ruled by an Emir today!) was a major trading center, where no less than 50,000 blades were imported from Europe annually. The blades were hilted there according to local preferences, and then sold all over Northern Africa, even as far as Khartoum.
In other words, it is not so unusual for a sword with a "kaskara" blade to be mounted in Manding fashion.
Nice sword, congratulations.
Teodor

stephen wood · 24th October 2008, 12:38 AM

Thanks...that explains the 1822 Cavalry Sabres rehilted takouba style, and so on...

Jim McDougall · 24th October 2008, 01:31 AM

As Teodor has well stated, these triple fuller trade blades, typically Solingen products, were indeed used profusely throughout North Africa, most prevalent in the Tuareg takoubas of the Sahara, and the Sudanese 'kaskara'. There were various points of entry into the trade caravan routes, but Kano was was of the key dispersal centers.

The cylindrical hilt mounted with this trade broadsword blade is very similar to examples seen as far west as Sierra Leone, but certainly is likely to occur in regions as far inland as Mali, the primary domain of the Manding. The leather work on this does appear Manding,but without the typical trappings seen on the usual guardless sabres. These Manding sabres usually are mounted with European cavalry blades, natually most often French.

The curved blade examples of takouba mentioned often also have the European cavalry blades, and according to research done by Lee Jones seem to be termed 'alguinjar'. The term seems to be generally applied to takoubas outside the general standard with regular broadsword blades. One place that comes to mind with provenanced example of one of these curved blade takoubas is Ougadougou, Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta). Another instance of 'alguinjar' was one from same general area mounted with a straight British infantry officers blade by Mole.

Best regards,
Jim

23rd October 2008, 11:00 PM	#1
stephen wood Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 227	Unusual African Broadsword Hello I recently came across this sword - just over 37" long, a *kaskara* type blade, no crossguard and leatherwork of the kind usually found on *Manding* swords. Has anyone seen one like this before? Attached Images

23rd October 2008, 11:29 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Yup. They used trade blades and come in all shapes and sizes.

23rd October 2008, 11:39 PM	#3
stephen wood Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 227	...who used trade blades?

24th October 2008, 12:38 AM	#5
stephen wood Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 227	Thanks...that explains the *1822 Cavalry Sabres* rehilted takouba style, and so on...

24th October 2008, 01:31 AM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,946	As Teodor has well stated, these triple fuller trade blades, typically Solingen products, were indeed used profusely throughout North Africa, most prevalent in the Tuareg takoubas of the Sahara, and the Sudanese 'kaskara'. There were various points of entry into the trade caravan routes, but Kano was was of the key dispersal centers. The cylindrical hilt mounted with this trade broadsword blade is very similar to examples seen as far west as Sierra Leone, but certainly is likely to occur in regions as far inland as Mali, the primary domain of the Manding. The leather work on this does appear Manding,but without the typical trappings seen on the usual guardless sabres. These Manding sabres usually are mounted with European cavalry blades, natually most often French. The curved blade examples of takouba mentioned often also have the European cavalry blades, and according to research done by Lee Jones seem to be termed 'alguinjar'. The term seems to be generally applied to takoubas outside the general standard with regular broadsword blades. One place that comes to mind with provenanced example of one of these curved blade takoubas is Ougadougou, Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta). Another instance of 'alguinjar' was one from same general area mounted with a straight British infantry officers blade by Mole. Best regards, Jim