Kaskara & Takouba "Enigmatic" Mark Revisited

Edster · 5th August 2022, 02:42 AM

The so-called "enigmatic mark" found on some 19th C. takouba and kaskara has been a persistent mystery among the EAA Forum's members, including its most informed, for many years. Who engraved it on blades, where and when have been debated extensively,(see links below) but no solution has been revealed? The mark was first recorded by L.C. Briggs in his "European Blades in Tuareg Swords and Daggers." The Journal of the Arms & Armour Society (June 1965), pp. 53–54.

The Forum has many new members who have exhibited excellent research and analytical skills, and I invite them to help dig into the mystery. Of course summations and new insights from previous contributors are most welcome. Also, have additional examples been encountered and not included in the inventory?

These threads contain examples of marked kaskara and the insightful discussions of previous contributors. Other threads on the forum may contain additional materials.
2009
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...danese+marking

2010
Search on EAA for"
"Mutilated Kaskara on Ebay" - Ethnographic Arms & Armour

2016
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...Enigmatic+mark

Some examples of the mark are attached.

Hopefully we can make some progress.
Best regards,
Ed

5th August 2022, 02:42 AM	#1
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 408	Kaskara & Takouba "Enigmatic" Mark Revisited The so-called "enigmatic mark" found on some 19th C. takouba and kaskara has been a persistent mystery among the EAA Forum's members, including its most informed, for many years. Who engraved it on blades, where and when have been debated extensively,(see links below) but no solution has been revealed? The mark was first recorded by L.C. Briggs in his "European Blades in Tuareg Swords and Daggers." The Journal of the Arms & Armour Society (June 1965), pp. 53–54. The Forum has many new members who have exhibited excellent research and analytical skills, and I invite them to help dig into the mystery. Of course summations and new insights from previous contributors are most welcome. Also, have additional examples been encountered and not included in the inventory? These threads contain examples of marked kaskara and the insightful discussions of previous contributors. Other threads on the forum may contain additional materials. 2009 http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...danese+marking 2010 Search on EAA for" "Mutilated Kaskara on Ebay" - Ethnographic Arms & Armour 2016 http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...Enigmatic+mark Some examples of the mark are attached. Hopefully we can make some progress. Best regards, Ed Attached Images