Some more objects from the RDG - kaskara (?) and spears

[David]

Originally Posted by RDGAC

I did try uploading to the forum, but unfortunately found that the forum's file server size limits are rather smaller than the images I'm uploading! Is there any way around that? I know ImageShack and the like are distinctly ephemeral storage means, but without uploading them here being possible I'm not sure where else to go.

Edit: Of course, I could do the intelligent thing, and crop the images so as to eliminate the honking great background area that's irrelevant to the weapon. I'll try that tomorrow and see what I get, as well as working on getting some better pics of that design.

Of course it is possible to upload them here, you just need to resize your images. If the software that you crop with doesn't allow you to resize then there are are internet sites that will do it for you. Rick is always recommending one whose url eludes me at the moment. Perhaps he will chime in.
FYI, i usually resize to about 7x10 at 72dpi. This is well within the means of our server to handle. There is really no need for you dpi to be anything higher since most computer screens are only capable of this resolution.

[katana]

I've taken the liberty of uploading a selection of the images....

Below is the first Kaskara in the posting....

Regards David

.

[katana]

Kaskara 2 .....



.

[katana]

Kaskara 3 ....


.

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you so much for enhancing these images David! It really is amazing, while these to some may look like beaten up, worn old swords....To myself, and anyone who has a passion for the history of North Africa and the ethnography, they are beautiful. The example with the triple fullers of course stands to be one of the earlier of the group. The others, it is hard to be sure as they seem more sheet steel stock with a vestigial central fuller in seeing better views.
Still, I enjoyed the search for an explanation for how 'kaskaras' MIGHT have been captured at Tel el Kebir........there remains of course the profound chance that at least some of these may have been acquired later as was once proposed. My goal was of course to find support for the captioning specified by RDG.

As I have also noted many times through the years, the British troops were quite impressed with the Sudanese warriors, and there was an enormous trend for bringing back souveniers from these campaigns. It has been a well known circumstance that families in much later years who have donated items of military veterans who have passed on to museums, only knew the assumed origins of the items. Often interpolated and anecdotal stories were relayed with the items, or even worsened as the items were handed down through a generation or two.

These resulting errors in captioning in no way take from the intent of memorial to the donors or the veteran, but simply present difficulties in using the items in scholarly study. Therefore correcting any data on captions or descriptions not only enhances the value of the item historically but reinforces the purpose of the museum in preserving that history, and honoring the veterans who collected the items.

An important duty in our upcoming recognition of our traditional Memorial Day, in which many of us recognize all those who serve and who have served militarily, and particularly all who have fallen in war or battle.

[RDGAC]

After a lengthy hiatus - caused mostly by a shortage of computers, and by the installation and promotion of our new exhibition covering Op. HERRICK and suchlike - I return, bearing another weapon for your comments. This particular specimen comes from Oman, and is presumably therefore Omani in nature; I would hesitantly suppose it to be a kattara, but that is a very hesitant identification indeed.

Overall length: 39.5in (100cm)
Blade length: 32in (81.3cm)
Scabbard length: 32.85in (81cm)
Breadth of blade (at widest point): 1.5in)

The blade has severe pitting throughout its length and is very thin, so much so that it visible bends if the sword is held at the grip only. From the lines visible along its length, the lack of active rust spots and the thinness of the blade, I would conjecture that this particular weapon was, much to my dismay, ground at some point, probably prior to its presentation to Field Marshal Bagnall in order to present a better appearance. The blade also has a few cracks on its edges, the most severe of which is shown in picture 11. Overall, despite good preservation in the museum, it is in bad shape, and the damage appears irreversible.

[katana]

Hi RDGAC,
Kattara it is .....well known to have very 'flexible' blades. High end examples often have silver or silver decorated hilts.

Regards David