Takouba/alguinar West Africa -marking conundrum

Jim McDougall · 22nd June 2025, 08:21 PM

Yuri thank you so much! and especially for these resources and the assembly of terms which many of which I am unfamiliar with , as well as these references. I know Bivar of course, but not the others.
Most of my study has been focused on "European Blades in Tuareg Swords and Daggers", Dr. Lloyd Cabot Briggs, JAAS, 1965.

As you note, as with most ethnographic swords, the blades used in them were inclined to follow local favor in types, but often availability became more the result in variations. Local hilts followed more closely in form, but even with these sometimes regional variation would occur, as Lee Jones illustrates in his paper held in the archives here.

The blade types are well discussed by Ed Hunley, also in his extremely thorough papers also held in the archives here.

It seems that the takouba collectively used the broadsword blade, and characteristically had a rebated/rounded tip. This was I believe for the slashing cut as Tuareg (and associated tribes) favored that over the thrust.

As I have understood the Hausa tribes were typically blacksmiths, and produced many blades which were distributed throughout the trade routes. According to Rodd (1928) these had either three or five channels (fullers) and often the familiar dual moons (called dukari) were ubiquitous near the fullers.
These were believed to imbue magic into the blades in the beliefs of the local folk religions.

While the familiar broadsword blades prevailed, it is the anomalies that occur in the constant refurbishing of these swords through generations that present fascinating possibiities. One I recall with Iain Norman was I believe a 14th c. European blade with potential Crusades association. These kinds of curious finds were what prompted Dr. Briggs to write his venerable work.

Thank you so much for answering, and especially for these resources and terms! which I was not aware of!

Best regards
Jim

22nd June 2025, 08:21 PM	#8
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,480	Yuri thank you so much! and especially for these resources and the assembly of terms which many of which I am unfamiliar with , as well as these references. I know Bivar of course, but not the others. Most of my study has been focused on "European Blades in Tuareg Swords and Daggers", Dr. Lloyd Cabot Briggs, JAAS, 1965. As you note, as with most ethnographic swords, the blades used in them were inclined to follow local favor in types, but often availability became more the result in variations. Local hilts followed more closely in form, but even with these sometimes regional variation would occur, as Lee Jones illustrates in his paper held in the archives here. The blade types are well discussed by Ed Hunley, also in his extremely thorough papers also held in the archives here. It seems that the takouba collectively used the broadsword blade, and characteristically had a rebated/rounded tip. This was I believe for the slashing cut as Tuareg (and associated tribes) favored that over the thrust. As I have understood the Hausa tribes were typically blacksmiths, and produced many blades which were distributed throughout the trade routes. According to Rodd (1928) these had either three or five channels (fullers) and often the familiar dual moons (called dukari) were ubiquitous near the fullers. These were believed to imbue magic into the blades in the beliefs of the local folk religions. While the familiar broadsword blades prevailed, it is the anomalies that occur in the constant refurbishing of these swords through generations that present fascinating possibiities. One I recall with Iain Norman was I believe a 14th c. European blade with potential Crusades association. These kinds of curious finds were what prompted Dr. Briggs to write his venerable work. Thank you so much for answering, and especially for these resources and terms! which I was not aware of! Best regards Jim