Takoubavariant?

kronckew · 15th February 2023, 07:55 PM

won this Medieval style steel bladed sword, 90.5cm in length", (auctioneer description

)

Looks to me like a takouba variant. Any comments on age and possible origin, etc. welome. Thanks in advance for anything you can add.
sadsly, no scabbard.

werecow · 15th February 2023, 11:41 PM

With that pommel and short guard it looks to me like an attempt at a Viking sword.

kronckew · 16th February 2023, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by werecow

With that pommel and short guard it looks to me like an attempt at a Viking sword.

That was my initial thoughts, but then the blade has tak-like fullers and that crossguard is not very viking. reminded me of asub saharan short tak with a cast aluminum guard I have. (below)

In any case, it was cheap. Thought it might be worth checking it out in hand.

kronckew · 16th February 2023, 02:29 PM

I Note on mine in post #1, the wide blade, single fuller, rounded tip, reenforcing plates on the crossguard, holes that may have once had rivets for a cover. And the oval half a brazil nut pommel.

Also I note from http://takouba.org/the_takouba_form_...stribution.pdf

the oval pommel is also a feature on some.

Iain · 16th February 2023, 02:38 PM

In my view its not a takouba, its most likely an old stage prop aping a viking sword. The pommel is not of the type you would see on a takouba, its made to imitate a two part viking pommel. The blade could have been taken from a takouba or a kaskara, this was fairly common when making stage swords in the early 20th century, but its very hard to say given the current mounts.

The screenshots you posted are actually from a very old PDF I wrote and the sword is no longer in my hands but looks a lot better these days. I have posted it several times in the past.

kronckew · 16th February 2023, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iain

In my view its not a takouba, its most likely an old stage prop aping a viking sword. The pommel is not of the type you would see on a takouba, its made to imitate a two part viking pommel. The blade could have been taken from a takouba or a kaskara, this was fairly common when making stage swords in the early 20th century, but its very hard to say given the current mounts.

The screenshots you posted are actually from a very old PDF I wrote and the sword is no longer in my hands but looks a lot better these days. I have posted it several times in the past.

Your expertise is of course telling. I'll consider it a Stage Combat prop 'Viking' sword with a takouba style blade.

might be of interest to Jim in his stage combat thread in miscellanea.

Thanks, I'm always willing to learn, especially from my mistooks.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Iain · 16th February 2023, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

Your expertise is of course telling. I'll consider it a Stage Combat prop 'Viking' sword with a takouba style blade.

might be of interest to Jim in his stage combat thread in miscellanea.

Thanks, I'm always willing to learn, especially from my mistooks.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Its a well made thing at any rate and perhaps sturdier than many takouba I've handled! When you get it in hand it will be interesting to see if there's anything else the blade can tell us.

I've lost track of the number of kaskara I've seen messed about with to make them look like "medieval" swords, but there's been a few similar takouba. One of the oddest was actually using a takouba hilt but it was mounted to a lightweight blade that was stamped for a German theatre.

kronckew · 16th February 2023, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iain

Its a well made thing at any rate and perhaps sturdier than many takouba I've handled! When you get it in hand it will be interesting to see if there's anything else the blade can tell us.

I've lost track of the number of kaskara I've seen messed about with to make them look like "medieval" swords, but there's been a few similar takouba. One of the oddest was actually using a takouba hilt but it was mounted to a lightweight blade that was stamped for a German theatre.

Interesting, I've been seeing a lot of those from Berlin online recently, as I mentioned in Jim's Theatre Combat thread in miscellanea.

Jim McDougall · 17th February 2023, 05:37 PM

Very interesting Wayne!!! Again thanks for your help on that stage props thread.
This seems very much like such an item, not meant as a reproduction but a visual accoutrement which would serve as 'close enough' in a production setting.

Iain, great to see you come in here!!! You are missed here!

Wayne, what misteakes?

16th February 2023, 02:29 PM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,178	I Note on mine in post #1, the wide blade, single fuller, rounded tip, reenforcing plates on the crossguard, holes that may have once had rivets for a cover. And the oval half a brazil nut pommel. Also I note from http://takouba.org/the_takouba_form_...stribution.pdf the oval pommel is also a feature on some. Attached Images

15th February 2023, 07:55 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,178	Takoubavariant? won this Medieval style steel bladed sword, 90.5cm in length", (auctioneer description ) Looks to me like a takouba variant. Any comments on age and possible origin, etc. welome. Thanks in advance for anything you can add. sadsly, no scabbard. Attached Images

15th February 2023, 11:41 PM	#2
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 491	With that pommel and short guard it looks to me like an attempt at a Viking sword.

16th February 2023, 02:38 PM	#5
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,693	In my view its not a takouba, its most likely an old stage prop aping a viking sword. The pommel is not of the type you would see on a takouba, its made to imitate a two part viking pommel. The blade could have been taken from a takouba or a kaskara, this was fairly common when making stage swords in the early 20th century, but its very hard to say given the current mounts. The screenshots you posted are actually from a very old PDF I wrote and the sword is no longer in my hands but looks a lot better these days. I have posted it several times in the past.

17th February 2023, 05:37 PM	#9
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,937	Very interesting Wayne!!! Again thanks for your help on that stage props thread. This seems very much like such an item, not meant as a reproduction but a visual accoutrement which would serve as 'close enough' in a production setting. Iain, great to see you come in here!!! You are missed here! Wayne, what misteakes?