Identifying/Conserving a Kaskara from the late 60s or earlier

dbpro · 20th April 2024, 06:29 PM

I'm posting regarding a family heirloom that I would like some additional information on. From 1969 through early 1971 my father was posted in Asmara, Ethiopia. We went as a family, I was 4 years old at the time so I have some memory of our time there, but all of the information I'm sharing in this post is second hand. My father was responsible for maintaining electronic equipment in Asmara and in the surrounding region. His travels occasionally put him in contact with some local Masai tribes. During one of those trips, my father traded some goods--clothes that would no longer pass inspection, for example--for a number of native items, one example of this is the Kaskara pictured below. I'm providing all these details to underscore that the provenance of this item is fairly certain, i.e. it at least 50 years old and sourced in Ethiopia.

I've lurked here for a little while and read Ed Hunley's work on the Kaskara. Based on what I understand from this, my father brought back a Sulimani Daud. It appears to have a leather handle, with a plain pommel, and the scabbard is also fairly plain. As it passed into our hands, there is no metal tip protector to the scabbard. There's a lot of overall wear. When my father retired from the military, this sword went up on the wall in his bedroom and has received no TLC for over 40 years. The blade itself has a number of graphic etchings, most prominently the "man in the crescent moon" and the "fly". There is also an etching of a person's head in profile and what I believe is a lion of Judah. Happy to post any additional images, if needed.

Since I'm now the official custodian of this sword, I'd like to know more about it and conserve it better. The blade has some staining and what appears to be a little rust. The scabbard could probably use some help as well. That said, I'm not interested in doing anything that will negatively impact the integrity of the sword. I want to take care of it, not shine it up for display. I would appreciate any additional information on the sword and any tips around conservation for pieces of this type.

werecow · 21st April 2024, 10:05 AM

You might find this guy's videos useful. He does some conservative cleaning of various antique swords with some ballistol, and occasionally a bit of autosol:

https://www.youtube.com/@Rapiersdelight/videos

Sajen · 21st April 2024, 11:59 AM

Welcome to the forum dbpro!

To clean a blade from rust and old grease I use a rubber gum like pictured, you can get it by Amazon. To preserve leather I use shoe polish.
After you have cleaned the blade with the rubber gum oil it with a thin coat of good machine oil.

Regards,
Detlef

Edster · 21st April 2024, 02:38 PM

Great to have another Kaskara fan on the Forum. Your sword was old/worn when it was collected, but it's hard to date; maybe 20s-40s. It likely had a Beja tassel based on the different shade of the wood near the pommel. The Beni-Amer people are Beja and live in Eritrea so it is likely from that group.

Regards,
Ed

Pertinax · 21st April 2024, 03:22 PM

Hello dbpro!

There were a lot of discussions on Kaskara on the forum. You can get answers to all your questions. Above Quick Links - hammer - Kaskara.

Regards, Yuri

Marc M. · 22nd April 2024, 09:08 AM

Welcome, nice kaskara, the blade and engravings seem to me to be locally made and as Ed said well used. Rust removal can be done in a number of ways, steel wool, scotch brite and sandpaper wet or dry to be used depending on the resutment you desire. Afterwards oil lightly or use a mikrocrystalline wax, this wax gives a dry harder coat after drying. Leather can be treated with any leather nourishing product.
Regards
Marc

20th April 2024, 06:29 PM	#1
dbpro Member Join Date: Apr 2024 Posts: 2	Identifying/Conserving a Kaskara from the late 60s or earlier I'm posting regarding a family heirloom that I would like some additional information on. From 1969 through early 1971 my father was posted in Asmara, Ethiopia. We went as a family, I was 4 years old at the time so I have some memory of our time there, but all of the information I'm sharing in this post is second hand. My father was responsible for maintaining electronic equipment in Asmara and in the surrounding region. His travels occasionally put him in contact with some local Masai tribes. During one of those trips, my father traded some goods--clothes that would no longer pass inspection, for example--for a number of native items, one example of this is the Kaskara pictured below. I'm providing all these details to underscore that the provenance of this item is fairly certain, i.e. it at least 50 years old and sourced in Ethiopia. I've lurked here for a little while and read Ed Hunley's work on the Kaskara. Based on what I understand from this, my father brought back a Sulimani Daud. It appears to have a leather handle, with a plain pommel, and the scabbard is also fairly plain. As it passed into our hands, there is no metal tip protector to the scabbard. There's a lot of overall wear. When my father retired from the military, this sword went up on the wall in his bedroom and has received no TLC for over 40 years. The blade itself has a number of graphic etchings, most prominently the "man in the crescent moon" and the "fly". There is also an etching of a person's head in profile and what I believe is a lion of Judah. Happy to post any additional images, if needed. Since I'm now the official custodian of this sword, I'd like to know more about it and conserve it better. The blade has some staining and what appears to be a little rust. The scabbard could probably use some help as well. That said, I'm not interested in doing anything that will negatively impact the integrity of the sword. I want to take care of it, not shine it up for display. I would appreciate any additional information on the sword and any tips around conservation for pieces of this type. Attached Images

21st April 2024, 11:59 AM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,761	Welcome to the forum dbpro! To clean a blade from rust and old grease I use a rubber gum like pictured, you can get it by Amazon. To preserve leather I use shoe polish. After you have cleaned the blade with the rubber gum oil it with a thin coat of good machine oil. Regards, Detlef Attached Images

21st April 2024, 10:05 AM	#2
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 493	You might find this guy's videos useful. He does some conservative cleaning of various antique swords with some ballistol, and occasionally a bit of autosol: https://www.youtube.com/@Rapiersdelight/videos

21st April 2024, 02:38 PM	#4
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 408	Great to have another Kaskara fan on the Forum. Your sword was old/worn when it was collected, but it's hard to date; maybe 20s-40s. It likely had a Beja tassel based on the different shade of the wood near the pommel. The Beni-Amer people are Beja and live in Eritrea so it is likely from that group. Regards, Ed

21st April 2024, 03:22 PM	#5
Pertinax Member Join Date: Dec 2023 Location: City by the Black Sea Posts: 156	Hello dbpro! There were a lot of discussions on Kaskara on the forum. You can get answers to all your questions. Above Quick Links - hammer - Kaskara. Regards, Yuri

22nd April 2024, 09:08 AM	#6
Marc M. Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Belgium Posts: 158	Welcome, nice kaskara, the blade and engravings seem to me to be locally made and as Ed said well used. Rust removal can be done in a number of ways, steel wool, scotch brite and sandpaper wet or dry to be used depending on the resutment you desire. Afterwards oil lightly or use a mikrocrystalline wax, this wax gives a dry harder coat after drying. Leather can be treated with any leather nourishing product. Regards Marc