new kaskara

Edster · 29th June 2021, 07:49 PM

I don't know anything about the meaning of the heavy tassel other than its the signature for the Beja swords. Although they may help with a more secure grip. They seem to look the same whether they are on simple or grips with silver. There must be tassel makers in the suk since the tassel is added after the grip treatment is complete. Colors are mainly black or sun faded to a greyish. Other kaskara sometimes sport a more stringy tassel, but they seem to be for higher end swords of the Nile Riverine tribes. You'll notice on other kaskara a maybe 1-inch section at the top of the grip, below the pommel that looks like its made for tassels regardless of style.

Take care,
Ed

francantolin · 29th June 2021, 08:32 PM

Congratulations for your kaskara,

A beautiful impressive sword !

as said, the blade is old and of really good quality !
It seems european , any stamp/engraving ?

Marc M. · 29th June 2021, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by francantolin

Congratulations for your kaskara,

A beautiful impressive sword !

as said, the blade is old and of really good quality !
It seems european , any stamp/engraving ?

Hi Francantolin

Thanks, the blade has no markings.

Best regards
Marc

G. Mansfield · 29th June 2021, 10:48 PM

Nice kaskara Marc! Glad to see some more Sudanese blades on the forum. While black tassels are most common, I believe the green braided tassels suggests that the owner has performed the hajj. Also, the color green is a symbol of jannah (heaven) and life, and is the color most associated with Islam. Below, I have attached photos of a silver hilted kaskara from my collection also bearing a green tassel.

Regards,
Geoff

Battara · 30th June 2021, 02:45 AM

What a great piece! Love these when they are in silver and in filigree. Belonged to a noble?

Edster · 30th June 2021, 02:03 PM

Marc,

This is off topic, but since you are a blacksmith you no doubt have experience in applying stamps to metal. Your experience could help in identifying dates & origins of imported and locally made blades. The question: would a maker's mark or other stamp be applied with the strike of a hammer to a relative soft sword blade just after forging or after the blade had been quenched and drawn? We see marks attributed to a retailer after a European blade was imported, or maybe as fake marks to impute quality, etc. Also, some marks are a identified as rack or inventory stamps applied in an amory, etc.

Would a sword blade be softer at forte area that may not have been quenched and accept a stamp better? This may be why makers marks are often seen under langets.

Best regards,
Ed

Iain · 30th June 2021, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edster

Marc,

This is off topic, but since you are a blacksmith you no doubt have experience in applying stamps to metal. Your experience could help in identifying dates & origins of imported and locally made blades. The question: would a maker's mark or other stamp be applied with the strike of a hammer to a relative soft sword blade just after forging or after the blade had been quenched and drawn? We see marks attributed to a retailer after a European blade was imported, or maybe as fake marks to impute quality, etc. Also, some marks are a identified as rack or inventory stamps applied in an amory, etc.

Would a sword blade be softer at forte area that may not have been quenched and accept a stamp better? This may be why makers marks are often seen under langets.

Best regards,
Ed

Ed, marks can be cold or hot stamped. Cold stamping can occur on a heat treated blade. Cold stamps will generally have thinner lines while hot stamps tend to be deeper and wider. I had a long conversation about this with an Italian smith who was also of the opinion cold stamps were often applied after the fact by resellers. A good example of this are cold stamped Ferara blades.

Marc M. · 30th June 2021, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edster

Marc,

This is off topic, but since you are a blacksmith you no doubt have experience in applying stamps to metal. Your experience could help in identifying dates & origins of imported and locally made blades. The question: would a maker's mark or other stamp be applied with the strike of a hammer to a relative soft sword blade just after forging or after the blade had been quenched and drawn? We see marks attributed to a retailer after a European blade was imported, or maybe as fake marks to impute quality, etc. Also, some marks are a identified as rack or inventory stamps applied in an amory, etc.

Would a sword blade be softer at forte area that may not have been quenched and accept a stamp better? This may be why makers marks are often seen under langets.

Best regards,
Ed

Hi Ed
Ian's answer is correct , the steel of a swords blade has to be able to parry a blow from a sword, cut, chop and stab the oposant, so it should not be to hard so it is soft enough to do the cold marking.
As Ian said hot markings are deeper, done with hammer or press.
If i had to choose a place to put the marking on the blade, it would be the ricasso/ forte if their is one or near the crossgard, that area should not be to hard, edge's shoult be harder, not the place to make a mark.
So both techniques where used. Hopefully this answers your question a little
bit.
Best regards
Marc

Marc M. · 1st July 2021, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G. Mansfield

Nice kaskara Marc! Glad to see some more Sudanese blades on the forum. While black tassels are most common, I believe the green braided tassels suggests that the owner has performed the hajj. Also, the color green is a symbol of jannah (heaven) and life, and is the color most associated with Islam. Below, I have attached photos of a silver hilted kaskara from my collection also bearing a green tassel.

Regards,
Geoff

Hi geoff
Thank you for the additional info on the tassel.
The last few years i got interested in takuba and kaskara swords , also got a few armdaggers, all this beside my Kongo arm collection.
That's a very beautiful kaskara you have there, a silver one is still on my wish list.
Best regards
Marc

Marc M. · 29th June 2021, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edster

I don't know anything about the meaning of the heavy tassel other than its the signature for the Beja swords. Although they may help with a more secure grip. They seem to look the same whether they are on simple or grips with silver. There must be tassel makers in the suk since the tassel is added after the grip treatment is complete. Colors are mainly black or sun faded to a greyish. Other kaskara sometimes sport a more stringy tassel, but they seem to be for higher end swords of the Nile Riverine tribes. You'll notice on other kaskara a maybe 1-inch section at the top of the grip, below the pommel that looks like its made for tassels regardless of style.

Take care,
Ed

Hi Ed
Thanks for the info, on one of my other kadkara the tassel and the pommel is missing but you still can see the print in the leather where the tassel was fixed on the handle. Indeed if i compair the grip between the two , the one with the tassel has a better grip, my hand has a firm grip between the crossgard and the tassel with no play.

Best regards
Marc

29th June 2021, 10:48 PM	#4
G. Mansfield Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Colorado Posts: 91	Nice kaskara Marc! Glad to see some more Sudanese blades on the forum. While black tassels are most common, I believe the green braided tassels suggests that the owner has performed the hajj. Also, the color green is a symbol of jannah (heaven) and life, and is the color most associated with Islam. Below, I have attached photos of a silver hilted kaskara from my collection also bearing a green tassel. Regards, Geoff Attached Images

30th June 2021, 02:03 PM	#6
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 418	Stamped Makers Marks Marc, This is off topic, but since you are a blacksmith you no doubt have experience in applying stamps to metal. Your experience could help in identifying dates & origins of imported and locally made blades. The question: would a maker's mark or other stamp be applied with the strike of a hammer to a relative soft sword blade just after forging or after the blade had been quenched and drawn? We see marks attributed to a retailer after a European blade was imported, or maybe as fake marks to impute quality, etc. Also, some marks are a identified as rack or inventory stamps applied in an amory, etc. Would a sword blade be softer at forte area that may not have been quenched and accept a stamp better? This may be why makers marks are often seen under langets. Best regards, Ed

29th June 2021, 07:49 PM	#1
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 418	I don't know anything about the meaning of the heavy tassel other than its the signature for the Beja swords. Although they may help with a more secure grip. They seem to look the same whether they are on simple or grips with silver. There must be tassel makers in the suk since the tassel is added after the grip treatment is complete. Colors are mainly black or sun faded to a greyish. Other kaskara sometimes sport a more stringy tassel, but they seem to be for higher end swords of the Nile Riverine tribes. You'll notice on other kaskara a maybe 1-inch section at the top of the grip, below the pommel that looks like its made for tassels regardless of style. Take care, Ed

29th June 2021, 08:32 PM	#2
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 906	Congratulations for your kaskara, A beautiful impressive sword ! as said, the blade is old and of really good quality ! It seems european , any stamp/engraving ?

30th June 2021, 02:45 AM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,308	What a great piece! Love these when they are in silver and in filigree. Belonged to a noble?