Sudanese(?) shamshir anomaly

Jim McDougall · 7th January 2023, 06:18 PM

Thank you guys for responding, indeed British colonial officers had a genuine affinity for 'exotica' and there was a notable cottage industry in outfitting which had a strong center in British controlled Aden in Arabia as well as of course in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan.
This example however has the distinct ring of a weapon intended for status or ceremonial wear for a Sudanese notable, probably of the Condominium period.

It is true that the British favored sabers with the bulbous pommel Ottoman hilt, which was exemplified by the well know 'mameluke' style officers saber. This example with this type of brass hilt in this shape is not at all in the quality and style of those hilts, and while sabers are indeed known in the Sudan this is unusual in the character of the blade.

In discussions of those years ago, it was suggested that the flaws in the forging of the 'Istanbul bayez' damascus seems to have been possibly produced by a Sudanese maker who had 'been making kaskara blades' but perhaps with Ottoman direction.

The reticulation in the hilt shows remains of the medium which apparently held some type of decorative fixtures in the spaces since removed. The character of the fashioned brass is atypical for this type of hilt, and recalls certain hilts produced in India on pata for example in 19th c. I would imagine there is a wood basis underneath.

7th January 2023, 06:18 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,284	Thank you guys for responding, indeed British colonial officers had a genuine affinity for 'exotica' and there was a notable cottage industry in outfitting which had a strong center in British controlled Aden in Arabia as well as of course in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. This example however has the distinct ring of a weapon intended for status or ceremonial wear for a Sudanese notable, probably of the Condominium period. It is true that the British favored sabers with the bulbous pommel Ottoman hilt, which was exemplified by the well know 'mameluke' style officers saber. This example with this type of brass hilt in this shape is not at all in the quality and style of those hilts, and while sabers are indeed known in the Sudan this is unusual in the character of the blade. In discussions of those years ago, it was suggested that the flaws in the forging of the 'Istanbul bayez' damascus seems to have been possibly produced by a Sudanese maker who had 'been making kaskara blades' but perhaps with Ottoman direction. The reticulation in the hilt shows remains of the medium which apparently held some type of decorative fixtures in the spaces since removed. The character of the fashioned brass is atypical for this type of hilt, and recalls certain hilts produced in India on pata for example in 19th c. I would imagine there is a wood basis underneath. Last edited by Jim McDougall; 7th January 2023 at 07:09 PM.