Odd takouba for comment

Dom · 2nd April 2010, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ispn

Has anyone seen a similar piece before? Any comments? Part of me was afraid it was some bizarre tourist piece.

similar yes ... nearly excepted that the hilt is wrapped with leather, but may be under it's brass as well as your's
beautiful "épée"

I bought it in Sahara in a place from where it's may be not her origine (In Amenas)
very smart the one tell me without doubt it's provenance (tribe)
as far as Tuaregs are nomads, moving since centuries between; Libya, Algeria, Mali, Niger
I do not have the knowledge to say more

one thing is sure, it's not a item for tourist ...

here some pictures for my takouba - XIX century

à +

Dom

Iain · 2nd April 2010, 08:22 PM

Hi Dom,

I have several like yours as well. Which I would term typical of what most people think of as takouba. (But yours is very nice

I like the pommel in particular).

Here's a couple of mine (on the left an older blade, with a nice, forged fuller, on the right a newer piece but still with a forged blade)

What was notable about the one I started the thread with was that it obviously wasn't intended to have the usual leather covering on the hilt and guard, or the plates of decorated brass which are also found on some takouba.

You also find on the ones like yours, or the couple I posted above, that the hilts are constructed in several pieces, round tube for the handle, several pieces for the guard and the pommel in at least two pieces. Often soldered together.

What was new to me about the one at the start of the thread was that it was solid cast as one piece.

I have another slightly strange takouba coming in the mail next week... Quite an ugly duckling in some ways.

But I have a weakness for the weird ones.

2nd April 2010, 08:22 PM	#2
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,719	Hi Dom, I have several like yours as well. Which I would term typical of what most people think of as takouba. (But yours is very nice I like the pommel in particular). Here's a couple of mine (on the left an older blade, with a nice, forged fuller, on the right a newer piece but still with a forged blade) What was notable about the one I started the thread with was that it obviously wasn't intended to have the usual leather covering on the hilt and guard, or the plates of decorated brass which are also found on some takouba. You also find on the ones like yours, or the couple I posted above, that the hilts are constructed in several pieces, round tube for the handle, several pieces for the guard and the pommel in at least two pieces. Often soldered together. What was new to me about the one at the start of the thread was that it was solid cast as one piece. I have another slightly strange takouba coming in the mail next week... Quite an ugly duckling in some ways. But I have a weakness for the weird ones.