Kaskara - Translation?

Mefidk · 11th January 2013, 06:42 AM

Thanks for the link Chris. It does seem to me that we are coming to land firmly on the side of these being made as soldier's souvenirs in the very early part of the 20th C.
I think that the 'Made in Omdurman' translation from Dom pretty well clinches it. In your case it seems the message was different, and perhaps you have a higher end, or at least different producer/area.
I can't see it clearly from the pictures, but I think that the thuluth on your blade is closer to the form seen on the fighting blades, and it does not seem to have the chain motif associated with most of the flat thuluth kaskaras. Brass guard is the same though. Looks like a flat non-functional blade though, made in the same way as the other examples with no peg to hold the blade in. I wonder if we have any more variants of these out there?

regihis · 11th January 2013, 11:29 PM

i paid 400 us$ for a tourist gift?

Iain · 12th January 2013, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by regihis

i paid 400 us$ for a tourist gift?

We don't usually discuss prices on the forum. If these short kaskara were made for "export" they still have some age and an interesting story behind them. If you are not satisfied with the sword you have I guess you can always try to return it. For the figure you mentioned a large, fighting kaskara should not be too difficult to find.

Mefidk · 12th January 2013, 12:00 PM

These are still interesting historically, whether made for fighting or as momentos, and are attractive pieces as long as you don't expect anything sharp and deadly. As Iain says, perhaps you can return it, or sell it and buy a fighting kaskara if that is more to your taste.

11th January 2013, 06:42 AM	#1
Mefidk Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Denmark Posts: 157	Thanks for the link Chris. It does seem to me that we are coming to land firmly on the side of these being made as soldier's souvenirs in the very early part of the 20th C. I think that the 'Made in Omdurman' translation from Dom pretty well clinches it. In your case it seems the message was different, and perhaps you have a higher end, or at least different producer/area. I can't see it clearly from the pictures, but I think that the thuluth on your blade is closer to the form seen on the fighting blades, and it does not seem to have the chain motif associated with most of the flat thuluth kaskaras. Brass guard is the same though. Looks like a flat non-functional blade though, made in the same way as the other examples with no peg to hold the blade in. I wonder if we have any more variants of these out there?

11th January 2013, 11:29 PM	#2
regihis Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 39	i paid 400 us$ for a tourist gift?

12th January 2013, 12:00 PM	#4
Mefidk Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Denmark Posts: 157	These are still interesting historically, whether made for fighting or as momentos, and are attractive pieces as long as you don't expect anything sharp and deadly. As Iain says, perhaps you can return it, or sell it and buy a fighting kaskara if that is more to your taste.