kaskara sword travelling through Sahara

werecow · 17th June 2023, 08:05 PM

I have one with a similar blade as well, as seen below (although that is not my foot!

).

francantolin · 17th June 2023, 10:03 PM

Thank you all for your messages and really nice model Werecow 🙂

Can we say that these blades were made in Ethiopia or South Soudan ?
Really flexibles, well balanced and sharp...

For the west area of the kaskara,
I know that that most/all tuaregs have takoubas but
I wanted to add that I saw years ago ''many'' black tuaregs in Tamanrasset walking with their kaskara on their side, fixed on a belt with baldric not on the shoulder.,
The final tip of the scabbard almost on the ground.
sign of prestige/importance ?
It was in 2002, the local guide told me these tuaregs came from Mali .( really close)
Interesting ( a thought ),the scabbard of the kaskara looks like the malian mandingo's swords.
In Tamanrasset, they were kaskaras, long straights swords with large cross guard.
Sadly no.pictures...

francantolin · 17th June 2023, 10:22 PM

Takouba, clearly the Tuareg sword
( here I have the picture 🙂 )

Edster · 18th June 2023, 12:31 AM

Ethiopia maybe, but likely not South Soudan as they didn't make broadswords.

Your and Werecow's swords are virtually identical and could have been made in the same smithy. It would be interesting to compare dimensions.

The Ethiopian origin is only a guess. They had the sword making talent & skills and a my Kassala informant 1985 said they specialized in wide channeled fullers on broadswords. (Also, to my knowledge wide fullered blades were not typically included as 19 C. European trade blades.) Even though they preferred curved blades and bought finished single edged swords from England among others.

The blades could have been battlefield pick-ups from the Battle of Gallabat, March 1889, and redressed into Hadendawa kaskaras.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gallabat

Best,
Ed

17th June 2023, 08:05 PM	#1
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 561	I have one with a similar blade as well, as seen below (although that is not my foot! ). Attached Images

17th June 2023, 10:22 PM	#3
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 905	Takouba, clearly the Tuareg sword ( here I have the picture 🙂 ) Attached Images

17th June 2023, 10:03 PM	#2
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 905	Thank you all for your messages and really nice model Werecow 🙂 Can we say that these blades were made in Ethiopia or South Soudan ? Really flexibles, well balanced and sharp... For the west area of the kaskara, I know that that most/all tuaregs have takoubas but I wanted to add that I saw years ago ''many'' black tuaregs in Tamanrasset walking with their kaskara on their side, fixed on a belt with baldric not on the shoulder., The final tip of the scabbard almost on the ground. sign of prestige/importance ? It was in 2002, the local guide told me these tuaregs came from Mali .( really close) Interesting ( a thought ),the scabbard of the kaskara looks like the malian mandingo's swords. In Tamanrasset, they were kaskaras, long straights swords with large cross guard. Sadly no.pictures...

18th June 2023, 12:31 AM	#4
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 413	Ethiopia maybe, but likely not South Soudan as they didn't make broadswords. Your and Werecow's swords are virtually identical and could have been made in the same smithy. It would be interesting to compare dimensions. The Ethiopian origin is only a guess. They had the sword making talent & skills and a my Kassala informant 1985 said they specialized in wide channeled fullers on broadswords. (Also, to my knowledge wide fullered blades were not typically included as 19 C. European trade blades.) Even though they preferred curved blades and bought finished single edged swords from England among others. The blades could have been battlefield pick-ups from the Battle of Gallabat, March 1889, and redressed into Hadendawa kaskaras. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gallabat Best, Ed