Sword (African?)

Joe1475 · 19th October 2023, 02:29 PM

I picked this up awhile back and it was unsure at the time and after reviewing some threads, it may possibly be African?

Edster · 19th October 2023, 02:55 PM

Joel,

To me it looks like a native-made Kaskara blade. Cross guard appears to be of kaskara style, but the bottom langet has been ground off. The wire grip and pommel were added to give additional style. Unfortunately, it appears to me to be a fairly recent made-up sword.

Regards,
Ed

Jim McDougall · 19th October 2023, 05:27 PM

Totally agree, actually a nice Sudanese blade with good 'dukari' moons, and the crossguard which unfortunately has lost the langet.

At the best, this could be one of the many kaskara 'bringbacks' from the Sudanese campaigns, which well through the century suffered being dismantled to create 'crusader' or medieval swords, whether for parlor display or theatrical purposes. At worst a more modern creation using authentic kaskara for either same or trying to 'restore' the hilt. With the absence of the langet, I am inclined to think the crusader sword notion most likely.

Oakeshott spoke of this in his books lamenting the number of good kaskara that were lost to this 'enterprise', to create faux crusader swords pursuant to the well published notion that the natives in North Africa were using actual crusader swords.

David R · 23rd October 2023, 12:41 AM

Saw a lot like this back in the "earlies" of reenactment, and still happening recently.

19th October 2023, 02:29 PM	#1
Joe1475 Member Join Date: Oct 2023 Posts: 7	Sword (African?) I picked this up awhile back and it was unsure at the time and after reviewing some threads, it may possibly be African? Attached Images

19th October 2023, 02:55 PM	#2
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 408	Joel, To me it looks like a native-made Kaskara blade. Cross guard appears to be of kaskara style, but the bottom langet has been ground off. The wire grip and pommel were added to give additional style. Unfortunately, it appears to me to be a fairly recent made-up sword. Regards, Ed

19th October 2023, 05:27 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,946	Totally agree, actually a nice Sudanese blade with good 'dukari' moons, and the crossguard which unfortunately has lost the langet. At the best, this could be one of the many kaskara 'bringbacks' from the Sudanese campaigns, which well through the century suffered being dismantled to create 'crusader' or medieval swords, whether for parlor display or theatrical purposes. At worst a more modern creation using authentic kaskara for either same or trying to 'restore' the hilt. With the absence of the langet, I am inclined to think the crusader sword notion most likely. Oakeshott spoke of this in his books lamenting the number of good kaskara that were lost to this 'enterprise', to create faux crusader swords pursuant to the well published notion that the natives in North Africa were using actual crusader swords.

23rd October 2023, 12:41 AM	#4
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,079	Saw a lot like this back in the "earlies" of reenactment, and still happening recently.