Kaskara in Silver Dress: an essay for comment and discussion by Ed Hunley

[Edster]

Oliver,

The 1762 Nasir sword was restored in the British Museum and returned to the Sudanese National Museum in Khartoum. See the "Ancient Treasures" reference in post #14. I'm not aware of the swords history prior to the restoration.

Regards,
Ed

[TVV]

On the subject of silver hilted kaskara in published works, it is true that there is a scarcity of images. In Tirri's "Islamic and Native Weapons of Colonial Africa" in fig. 1-13 there are a couple of kaskara swords with what looks like some metal on the hilt, but nothing worth including here. In Spring there is one silver hilted kaskara in a black and white photo. North of course has the famous Ali Dinar sword from the V&A Museum.

However, there is one publication that contains a couple of very interesting silver hilted kaskaras - "Islamic and Oriental Arms & Armor, A Lifetime Passion" by Robert Hales on p.360. This book also has an image of the Sotheby's sword.

Regards,
Teodor

[Edster]

Teodor,

Great catch. Thanks. I've found three other I'll post as soon as I can create good detailed images, hopefully today:
Victoria & Albert Museum M.47-1953 and Royal Armories Leeds XXVIS.165 & 166. #166 has a double pommel almost exactly like yours except for the very top and all three have star & comet covers as does yours. The more we dig the more family features we find.

Regards,
Ed

[Edster]

Here are three more Star & Comet covers. All in the same motif. They are not identical suggesting they were produced by different artisans.

1. Victoria and Albert Museum M.47-1953
2. Royal Armouries Collections, Leeds XXVIS.166. Note the double pommel. Its similar to the one posted above by Teodor.
3. Royal Armouries Collections, Leeds XXVIS.165. Wire wrapped at bottom just like #166.

[TVV]

Great images Ed, thank you for digging those up. I know the discussion is on the hilts, but the one you posted from the Victoria & Albert Museum has a really interesting blade, probably Persian and quite old.

Teodor

[Edster]

Here's the link to the V&A sword. The image will enlarge to give great detail. They say the blade is 17th Cent. and gives the maker's name. Its #M.47-1953 in case the link doesn't work.
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O71642/sword/

Best,
Ed

[Iain]

Originally Posted by TVV

On the subject of silver hilted kaskara in published works, it is true that there is a scarcity of images. In Tirri's "Islamic and Native Weapons of Colonial Africa" in fig. 1-13 there are a couple of kaskara swords with what looks like some metal on the hilt, but nothing worth including here. In Spring there is one silver hilted kaskara in a black and white photo. North of course has the famous Ali Dinar sword from the V&A Museum.

However, there is one publication that contains a couple of very interesting silver hilted kaskaras - "Islamic and Oriental Arms & Armor, A Lifetime Passion" by Robert Hales on p.360. This book also has an image of the Sotheby's sword.

Regards,
Teodor

I'm fascinated by the sword on the right in this image. Its almost takouba like in guard construction, including the scabbard fittings. Anyone know where it ended up or have more images?

[stephen wood]

A fascinating piece, thank you so much.

I used Pallme's "Travels..." extensively some years ago in one of my talks about the Kaskara to the Arms and Armour Society at the Tower of London.

"Knell" seems to be a typo. It should read "Kull" as on this Cavalry Sabre. Curiously, I have not yet found a Kaskara with a blade by this maker.

This thread from ten tears ago is worth a look.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?p=83072

[Edster]

Stephen,

Thanks for your comments. I'm now today revising/updating this essay in prep for it to be converted into a pdf, as already are the other two essays. I'll incorporate comments above, especially an enlarged pommels section and would appreciate any additional comments you may offer

Best regards,
Ed

[stephen wood]

Ed,

I don't know if you have seen this text published in 1910, there is a section about swords among the Tigre which describes fullers and markings. This text was the theme, along with Burckhardt, of my third talk at the Arms and Armour Society.

It names five types, the fuller arrangements and marks will be familiar.


"THE NAMES OF SWORDS.

The [swords] that were renowned and had a name and
were inherited as heirlooms always by the first born sons,



1) Cf. above p. 184, No. 844.

2) The man who divided and pointed at the different portions with his
staff put down his staff upon the remainder.



SPECIES OF SWORDS



are the following. They did not carry them, however; but
they kept them as precious heirlooms.

[Those that have a name among. the Bet-Abrehe are the
following].

i. Black [of Gabres]. 2. ^Eldy, and 3. Lebteb (probably
from lablaba "he hurt"), [belonging to Hasala son of Tas-
faconj. 4. Narrow [of Harsoy]. 5. Black-white [of Bula],

[Among the Habab is known:] 6. Narrow [of 6aweg].

[Among the c Ad Takles are known :]

7. ^Albenay [of Naseh]. 8. Handmaids-worth, [belonging to
the c Ad 6eme c ]. 9. Half-silver [belonging to the c Ad Derar].
10. Black, and n. KabUlay [belonging to the c Ad Nauraddln].
12. Cutter [belonging to the G Ad Tedros].

[Among the c Ad Temaryam:]

13. Quick [of Sekkar]. 14. Shed [of D Eshaq]. 15. All-killer ! )
[of C AH son of Gabres]. 16. Black [of Be 3 emnat]. 17. Black
[of 3 Ezaz son of Gerenat]. 18. Cutter [of Fekak].

[Among the (jemmegan, in Tigrina Dembezan, i. e. the
region between c Ad Taklezan and Wara:] 19. Piercer.
20. Soldier. 21. White. 2 )

The names of some other swords [not owned by a known
family or man] are the following:

22. Marrow-eater. 23. Shearing. 24. Hurting. 25. Goats-
worth. 26. Dark-speckled. 27. Handmaids-worth. 28. Cutter.
29. Erring.

93- p - 173-

SPECIES OF SWORDS.

The swords are judged by their marks, and are called
"valuable" or "of little value." And .each species has a name.



1) Literally: Father of it all.

2) Cf. also the "Black" of Hakin wad Madln, Vol. Ill and IV, No. 672, 1. 13.



2O6 CUSTOMS

A.'Afren/i; B. MaJiawt; C. Kdr ; D. ^Abutfes; E. Bonkay.
Their marks are the following.

A. The ^Afrengl species.

1. The ^^Afrtngi from Sennar" is valuable. Its marks are:
above the pommel ') four lines along side each other, a span
long. And this is called the " D AfrengI with four streams."

2. But if together with the four lines there is a drum or
a lion or a serpent or a fly [carvedj on it, it is called
"^Afrengl Selemanl;" and this is more valuable than the
foregoing.

3. The "Black DAfrengI" is from Kabasa. Its mark is: a
broad line, a span long, above the pommel, and there is a
fly on it. It is the "Black ^Afrengi" and is also valuable;
and they are all [three] costly.

B. The Mahawl species.

1. The "Rhinoceros-hoof Mahawl" is valuable. Its marks
are: three lines, a span long, above its pommel, and two
crescents with their openings facing each other, and also
the hoof of a rhinoceros. It is costly.

2. The "Running-stream Mahawl" however, has the lines
reaching to its point; it is cheap. Or, again, if one of the

P. 174. lines is a little longer, and the two others are shorter, and
if the crescents face outward, it is [also] called the "Running-
stream Mahawl, and it is of little value, too.

C. The Kar species.

i. The "Closed Kar" has the following marks: it is "closed"
(i. e. without carving) from the pommel upward for a span,
and after that there is a broad line on it; or, again, together
with the closed space below, it is "closed" also above, be-
ginning from the point; for a span, and the broad line is in



i) In these descriptions the sword is always imagined point up.


the middle, and half of it is ornamented with small irregular
lines: it is valuable. Its price is like [that of], the ^Afrengl.
And it is called the "Closed Kar" or the "Erring."

2. But if the Kar is carved with a broad line up to the
point, it is of little value; and it is the sword of the high-
waymen only.

D. The ^Abut/'es species.

The ^Abute^es has under its pommel ') a square ornamented
with little irregular lines; and above the pommel it has a
broad line, a span long. It is of little value. And when it
is used in striking, it has sometimes a "dark day."

E. The Bonkay species is also of little value. 2 )
"

[Edster]

Thanks, Stephen. I couldn't get access to an English version via Archive ,only German, nor from Libgen.

Interesting apparent parallels between kaskara and Ethiopian broad swords, but yet several major differences as I interpret the Ethiopian terminology. Any relevant images in the Princeton book?

The afrengi types must be with foreign (European) blades. The fly, lion, and half moon markings are German and must have been imported well before the 1905-10 period. I'm surprised that 4-line fullers were specified. German & local blades with line fullers on kaskara were three and none that I know of had 4. I few had five, but they were most likely locally made outliers as noted in the Fullers essay.

In the EAA forum, many examples of the full length Kar/Khor were thought to have been made in Ethiopia. Some with two fairly wide fullers with Amharic letters inside. Kassala makers apparently copied Ethiopian designs on this type.

Thanks for sharing,
Regards,
Ed

[Edster]

Hello All,

A revised and printable pdf version of the initial thread has been posted on the Ethnographic Arms & Armour Geographical Index, Africa along with similar enhanced versions of the Fullers and Cross-guards monographs. Here's the link:

http://www.vikingsword.com/ethsword/...lver_dress.pdf

The new version incorporates comments by Forum members and other materials including an enlarged Pommels section and a commentary on the "Dotted Cross" in relation to the Stars & Comets section.

Thanks to Forum members for their inputs, comments and the use of images from their collections.

Special thanks to Ian Greaves for editing and presenting my initial work suitable for Forum viewing.

Extra special thanks to Lee Jones for additional inputs and for editing and formatting the material into a printable pdf document.

Best regards,
Ed