Wierd Aluminium Hilted Sabre. Any Info?

[spiral]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

DOES THE HANDLE APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN CAST OR JUST PIECED TOGETHER FROM BITS OF SOMETHING ELSE? VERY INTERESTING

The grip is definaly cast....

Whether Aluminium, zinc or pot metal is hard to say, without bieng in hand or weighing the balance....

Spiral

[Jim McDougall]

Ar first glance this seemed Bedouin, but then I recalled images of these kinds of hilts, typically cast brass, on sabres in use in West Africa. If I recall correctly one was held by a warrior in I believe Sierra Leone involved in insurgence in those regions in 1980s (somewhere there is a photo from a magazine cover).
Unsure of what this metal is but looks aluminum alloy, the blade is probably surplus military from colonial sources in French regions.

[Edster]

I have a single edge Rashayda sword with a cast one-piece grip that looks to be aluminum. Has a similar guard, but isn't of any "ethnic" design. Blade is sort of thick and not a fine steel. Similar scabbard. Got in Kassala.

[A.alnakkas]

Originally Posted by Edster

I have a single edge Rashayda sword with a cast one-piece grip that looks to be aluminum. Has a similar guard, but isn't of any "ethnic" design. Blade is sort of thick and not a fine steel. Similar scabbard. Got in Kassala.

Edster, Thanks! Do you mind showing photos of the "Rashayda" sword? my guess is that by Rashayda, you speak of the Arab tribe in Sudan, correct?

Jim and Vandoo, thanks! I dont think the hilt is cast all together in one piece, it seems that it is made of different pieces of the same alloy, I can see some welding and will get some zooms tommorow morning if possible.

Thanks everyone for the info!