Takouba sabres

Tim Simmons · 21st June 2010, 07:42 PM

No the club was expensive the sword was exactly half the price.

The sword blade is 61cm long so really a short infantry weapon. It is written that the bulk of pre 1906 Sudanic forces were infantry. I think the handle has a wood core as opposed to fabric or metal. This lends a slight weight forward nature to the weapon. The club has a metal core.

Iain · 22nd June 2010, 08:36 AM

The club is certainly impressive. I imagine the full leather covering was partly for superstitious reasons (not touching iron or steel) and partly for preservation of the metal itself.

Did they come from the same collection? They seem very well matched. Did you ever arrive at a tribal attribution?

Tim Simmons · 22nd June 2010, 05:59 PM

I got them years apart but they are so well matched. The club is a wood stick with a metal knob then covered in leather.

21st June 2010, 07:42 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,875	No the club was expensive the sword was exactly half the price. The sword blade is 61cm long so really a short infantry weapon. It is written that the bulk of pre 1906 Sudanic forces were infantry. I think the handle has a wood core as opposed to fabric or metal. This lends a slight weight forward nature to the weapon. The club has a metal core.

22nd June 2010, 08:36 AM	#2
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,719	The club is certainly impressive. I imagine the full leather covering was partly for superstitious reasons (not touching iron or steel) and partly for preservation of the metal itself. Did they come from the same collection? They seem very well matched. Did you ever arrive at a tribal attribution?

22nd June 2010, 05:59 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,875	I got them years apart but they are so well matched. The club is a wood stick with a metal knob then covered in leather.