Origins of the Mandinka saber

Iain · 10th October 2016, 05:57 PM

Just a few thoughts, the point about the handles of these weapons and the similarity to Arab forms is the most easy to dismiss I think. Wrapping a blade with a bit of leather and adding a pommel is not something I think that requires much of an outside influence.

The more interesting element I think is the flared scabbard. Jim of course makes a good point about the relative rarity of this feature and the fact that the intermediate takouba form which geographically comes between the kaskara and these sabres emphatically does not have this feature.

However, not all kaskara have a flared tip, not all of these saber scabbards have a flared tip.

If I could perhaps suggest a direction of research, both the flared scabbards of the Sudan and the sabers under discussion originate with peoples who migrated to the areas they currently occupy. Looking for a convergent period of contact might explain this feature far better than (in my opinion) and a shared heritage than influence from Omani traders.

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10th October 2016, 05:57 PM	#12
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,717	Just a few thoughts, the point about the handles of these weapons and the similarity to Arab forms is the most easy to dismiss I think. Wrapping a blade with a bit of leather and adding a pommel is not something I think that requires much of an outside influence. The more interesting element I think is the flared scabbard. Jim of course makes a good point about the relative rarity of this feature and the fact that the intermediate takouba form which geographically comes between the kaskara and these sabres emphatically does not have this feature. However, not all kaskara have a flared tip, not all of these saber scabbards have a flared tip. If I could perhaps suggest a direction of research, both the flared scabbards of the Sudan and the sabers under discussion originate with peoples who migrated to the areas they currently occupy. Looking for a convergent period of contact might explain this feature far better than (in my opinion) and a shared heritage than influence from Omani traders.