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Originally Posted by Edster
Hello Miguel,
I think the mark on the top sword is a maker's mark. It's a take off from the Man in the Moon face on some German blades. Various sword smiths in Kassala, Sudan mark their blades with variations circles, curves lines and dots. Your mark might be a rendition of the Arabic number 40 or Arbane. A Kassala smith named Awad Adam had a similar mark but with a complete circle with the arbane inside. A similar close rendition was used by Hassan Shaykh Idris. I could hardly tell the difference, but the smith community was aware of subtle differences. Date would be mid to late 20th Cent.
The second blade is probably European trade blade. The mark looks like it might be a spider, but I can't identify it.
Regards,
Ed
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Hello Ed, Thank you very much for your prompt and very interesting reply I never attributed the mark on the top sword as a makers mark I always attributed these marks on Kaskara blades to be Talismanic and I would never have associated them with the number 40, not knowing Arabic, just shows my ignorance of this subject. Did you notice that the moon at the top was thinner than the moon at the bottom? I wonder if two different stamps were used or if the moon stamp comprises of one stamp with the outer ring and one with the face which would lead t the difference if the stamper was careless?
I could not see a spider in the stamp on the second sword until you mentioned it I just don't know what it is. I thought the blade may be a European trade blade as the steel looks to be better quality than the top sword. Thanks again for your reply you've given me something to think about.
Regards
Miguel