Kaskara with 2 crescent moons

Jim McDougall · 13th June 2013, 06:51 PM

G.W. thank you so much for posting this! and especially for the crisp clear photos. Please never underestimate the worth of an item in considering whether to post it or not. There are no standards as far as I know in whether an item is worthy of posting, the only 'restrictions' are certain items that exceed the scope of the theme here.
Actually many ethnographic weapons are indeed reasonably modern, but of course traditionally observed in style, much as this kaskara.

This sound example certainly has had better days, but is genuinely a tribesmans weapon probably from Kassala days (around 60 or more years ago) and the 'dukari' (moons) are remarkably crisp. These are well described in Briggs, and particularly in work done by Ed Hunley here (his 1984 paper, posted in archives here).

The blade type is well known in regions in Sudan with the triple fullers and is typically of native make.

Interesting example of these well used tribal weapons! This could be even older as it seems the dark discoloration might be varnish? or other preservative used in early collections. If so, could even extend into the campaigns of 1898 and into pre WWI period.

13th June 2013, 06:51 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	G.W. thank you so much for posting this! and especially for the crisp clear photos. Please never underestimate the worth of an item in considering whether to post it or not. There are no standards as far as I know in whether an item is worthy of posting, the only 'restrictions' are certain items that exceed the scope of the theme here. Actually many ethnographic weapons are indeed reasonably modern, but of course traditionally observed in style, much as this kaskara. This sound example certainly has had better days, but is genuinely a tribesmans weapon probably from Kassala days (around 60 or more years ago) and the 'dukari' (moons) are remarkably crisp. These are well described in Briggs, and particularly in work done by Ed Hunley here (his 1984 paper, posted in archives here). The blade type is well known in regions in Sudan with the triple fullers and is typically of native make. Interesting example of these well used tribal weapons! This could be even older as it seems the dark discoloration might be varnish? or other preservative used in early collections. If so, could even extend into the campaigns of 1898 and into pre WWI period.