Actually David, Stephen and I were keyed to the fact that the fullers being on one side suggested this blade had been a backsword (single edged) blade of the type exported from Europe, and often found in India on the khanda (firangi). As David had noted, and you have observed, the centrally placed triple fullers are typical of African native blades of North Africa.
It seems we all agree this is likely a blade from India, with blade ground off back to correspond to the broadsword (DE) preference in kaskara country :)



Well done Charles !!!!:)

All the best,
Jim[/QUOTE]


Jim

I am in full agreement with you it was Ariel's statement that the blade was a crude village made piece that I disagreed with. The eyelash looked well struck but worn something just clicked in my head that said it could not be a village made blade to me. :) ;)

Lew

Thanks Lew, and in looking at this again, and again, the more I sense this is possibly European, and as always in most cases with blades of the period I am presuming for this one, end of the 18th to earlier 19th, probably Solingen. With the mark apparantly well struck, despite being somewhat worn, as to be expected, this blade seems anything but village work, despite the fact that the African blades were often quite good. As I had earlier mentioned, these 'sickle/eyelash/hogsback' etc. marks were uncommon in Africa as used here, as far as I know, and again, the single edge blade was not preferred in North African swords of this full length type. Broadswords were however, which is why this was ground down at the back, a dramatically unusual case which seems to correspond to the equally unusual characteristics on the guard.

It is not surprising to consider that a blade that perhaps arrived in North Africa in trade originating in India, and moved transcontinent westward, would suggest possible influence from artisans there in its mounts. Trade did not only exchange commodities, but all manner of socialization and influence.For a Sudanese artisan to adopt style seen on Indian sword examples or for an immigrant Indian worker to apply his own interpretation to a sword being refurbished for a Fur tribesman, does not seem at all far fetched, especially in the ever diversifying modern world.

Norman, thank you for the follow up on that tulwar hilt! I do remember that, and it really is helpful to have that detail for further reference. Since I do not have weapons to handle physically, it is great to have such great detail to examine closely.

All very best regards,
Jim

From these pictures I cannot see that the back edge has been ground. Surely that would still leave one side heavier than the other no matter how careful? It seems a very labourious way to fiddle with a perfectly good sword that in essence still only cuts on one edge? and make lots of temper altering heat? Also it is not as if supplies of forged double edged kaskara blades were in sort supply. The answers can only come from far more pictures. :shrug:

As for Indian weapons in North Africa - I recall seeing a tulwar in the National Army Museum which was picked up during the Egyptian campaign after an engagement with Mamelukes...[/FONT][/SIZE][/QUOTE]

Hi Stephen,
I found the reference in my notes concerning the tulwar hilted kaskara, which was the open hilt style, no knuckleguard and standard triple fuller, thuluth covered blade. It was in Andrew Bottomley's catalog #5 (#556) 1996.
I kept the reference because I was intrigued by the incongruent association, and wondered if this was the real deal or not. It does seem a number of unusual items were brought back from the Sudan after the campaigns, and apparantly the occurrence extends much further back.

All best regards,
Jim

Charles I sent you a PM.

I wanted to bring this outstanding example and discussion back to the top as I think the 'conundrum' remained unresolved concerning why this unusual kaskara had a backsword (SE) blade.
The unusual crossguard adds mystery to the dilemma.

While we had thought of this being a blade from India via probable Red Sea trade, recently the quite viable thought of schiavona blades from Italy was brought up by Ibrahiim in another thread. While I cannot make out the details on this blade re: dimensions etc. it does seem quite plausible that schiavona blades might have entered the Red Sea sphere with Italian colonial activity there in Eritrea, Abyssinia and parts of Sudan.

Though we think of schiavona as an earlier sword form, these actually saw use well into the 19th century.

It would be interesting to know if anyone out there can show other examples of either takouba or kaskara using single edged blades. Im sure it may have been a matter of catch as catch can with extant blades found in these regions, but seems most unusual.

Here's a takouba with a backsword blade we've discussed before. Modified to be sharp on both edges.
http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15322