Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons
FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 14th August 2024, 07:12 AM   #1
Ian
Vikingsword Staff
 
Ian's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Aussie Bush
Posts: 4,194
Default Eventually ...

I posted this one a few years ago during COVID and promised more pictures. One of my sons grabbed it, and said "mine" before I could get some more pictures. I finally retrieved it from him.

Here are pictures of the sword, and of the NSW colonial force being farewelled before embarking on their ship transport at Circular Quay in Sydney. They wore red tunics and white helmets, which they quickly swapped for more appropriate attire on arriving in Sudan. This is the crowd watching the boys march along Circular Quay. The crowd was estimated at 100,000 (a huge number considering the population of Sydney at that time was about 700,000).

Name:  NSW Contingent.jpg
Views: 947
Size:  301.6 KB

And here are more pictures of the sword. I think this blade is of local manufacture rather than Persian. The silver decorations of vegetation and birds are tarnished and somewhat difficult to photograph against the very dark blade. I can provide more pictures at higher magnification if you wish. The gold inscriptions are not very well done, again suggesting local work rather than Persian. If someone can translate these, I would be very grateful.

Name:  NSW Kaskara-1.png
Views: 934
Size:  296.1 KB
Name:  NSW Kaskara-2.png
Views: 921
Size:  281.0 KB

Name:  NSW Kaskara-1a.png
Views: 929
Size:  349.7 KB
Name:  NSW Kaskara-1b.png
Views: 922
Size:  269.4 KB
Name:  NSW Kaskara-1c.png
Views: 933
Size:  240.8 KB

Name:  NSW Kaskara-2a.png
Views: 945
Size:  336.5 KB
Name:  NSW Kaskara-2b.png
Views: 949
Size:  281.1 KB
Name:  NSW Kaskara-2c.png
Views: 936
Size:  235.8 KB

Name:  NSW Kaskara tughra-1.png
Views: 934
Size:  700.1 KBName:  NSW Kaskara tughra-2.png
Views: 934
Size:  741.5 KB


And here are the tags attached to the sword when it came, giving some of the history.


Name:  NSW Kaskara Tags-Composite.png
Views: 943
Size:  1.47 MB

Last edited by Ian; 14th August 2024 at 08:09 AM. Reason: Added more pics and checked spelling
Ian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14th August 2024, 06:59 PM   #2
TVV
Member
 
TVV's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,620
Default

Ian, to me the blade looks like a 19th century German trade blade. There were two general patterns - one with three narrow fullers and one like yours, with a shorter, wider fuller. It is also possible that it was made in Sudan in imitation of the trade blades, but during the 19th century those were exported in huge quantities due to their combination of price and quality. Of course, the hilt and the decoration would have been applied locally.
TVV is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 14th August 2024, 08:01 PM   #3
Edster
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 408
Default

Ian,

The new pictures and the tags are informative. The tag that says the sword was found with chain mail, etc. suggests that the sword was owned by a Sudanese knight and a Baqqara tribal calvary emir or unit commander. This group and their armour kit were influenced by western Sudan/Chadic military culture and mostly stationed in Omdurman during the Mahdiya. The tag notes that the sword was brought back "after 1900". This suggests that it could have been collected after the Battle of Omdurman in 1898 rather than during the NSW Contingent service in early 1885. Their service was against the Bega who did not use padded armour, steel helmets, etc.

The attractive silver floral-type designs do not follow the style of Quranic texts common on Mahdiya swords. The gold cartouches are crudely made and translations could hold the keys to its origin. Cartouches are also not common, if applied at all, on Mahdiya era swords.

Best regards,
Ed
Edster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15th August 2024, 09:13 AM   #4
Tim Simmons
Member
 
Tim Simmons's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,806
Default

Nice.
Tim Simmons is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 08:46 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.