An Old Unusual CURVED, Single Edge, Taureg Takouba Sword

CharlesS · 24th November 2015, 05:17 PM

This Taureg takouba sword is from Ebay. I found it unusual in that it had a native made modestly CURVED blade and the scabbard to fit it. I have never encountered a curved blade on a takouba. I am assuming after seeing several variations of curved blades used against them the Taureg experimented with one of their own.

The blade is very roughly forged, single edged, with a wide fuller and carries the typical Tuareg blunted tip. The sword is razor sharp and well balanced. It lacks the well known half moon marks often seen on takouba blades. The hilt grip is woven leather and the pommel is no nonsense all steel discs applied in the typical stacked manner. The scabbard is typical tooled leather, and is either nicely decorated or was repaired in the center at some point.

The sword clearly has a great deal of legitimate age, so I don't think this is one made for the tourist market.

I am hoping perhaps Iain and Lee and others can offer more info about this takouba variation.

Dimensions:
Overall length: 37in.
Blade length: 31in.
Blade's widest point: 1.25in.

Iain · 24th November 2015, 05:44 PM

This should be from the Cameroon border region. This was sold earlier this year at auction with another (straight bladed) takouba and both have wound up on eBay.

I've had a few of these over the years and if I'm allowed I will post a link to where you can view a few others.

http://takouba.org/catalog/index.php.../curved-blades

Sword #90 on that link I posted on the forum a while back and is quite similar to yours. I like these, they have a nice feeling in the hand. The curved blades are a rare, but known element of takouba design.

CharlesS · 24th November 2015, 05:54 PM

Thanks Iain,

I knew I could count on you, but didn't realize how quickly!!!

Iain · 24th November 2015, 06:39 PM

Not a problem, a takouba thread is like water for a dying man in the desert to me. It's been a few dry months for me on the acquisition front with some other hobbies taking over more time.

Been a while since we had a good one appear on the forum!

To continue this interesting topic, the Hausa word for these should be Hankaltilo or Hindi or perhaps Bisalami which apparently refers to a curved sword of the 'Arab' type.

While to a Tuareg this would be a alguinjar.

There might be a Fulani element to these as well since they were active in pushing the takouba form into Cameroon as part of the Fulani Jihad in the early 1800s as far as I can tell.

CharlesS · 24th November 2015, 07:09 PM

Ian,

Would you date this one to the earlier 20th Century...earlier?...later?

Thanks again for your input.

Iain · 24th November 2015, 08:22 PM

I think the earlier part of the 20th century to mid. I have to admit I'm losing my touch for dating the specifics of later takouba, I've been too buried in trying to figure out how to heck to do it for the earlier ones!

I think we could say this for a few reasons, the condition of the dress, the stacked pommel style etc. The one I had before (image attached) I would put a little later due to the more crude blade and fresher leather. Could be even into the 1980s in my case!

Iain · 27th December 2015, 01:23 PM

I thought this might make an interesting addition to the thread. Just a new piece with a reused European sabre blade.

24th November 2015, 05:17 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	An Old Unusual CURVED, Single Edge, Taureg Takouba Sword This Taureg takouba sword is from Ebay. I found it unusual in that it had a native made modestly CURVED blade and the scabbard to fit it. I have never encountered a curved blade on a takouba. I am assuming after seeing several variations of curved blades used against them the Taureg experimented with one of their own. The blade is very roughly forged, single edged, with a wide fuller and carries the typical Tuareg blunted tip. The sword is razor sharp and well balanced. It lacks the well known half moon marks often seen on takouba blades. The hilt grip is woven leather and the pommel is no nonsense all steel discs applied in the typical stacked manner. The scabbard is typical tooled leather, and is either nicely decorated or was repaired in the center at some point. The sword clearly has a great deal of legitimate age, so I don't think this is one made for the tourist market. I am hoping perhaps Iain and Lee and others can offer more info about this takouba variation. Dimensions: Overall length: 37in. Blade length: 31in. Blade's widest point: 1.25in. Attached Images

24th November 2015, 08:22 PM	#6
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,693	I think the earlier part of the 20th century to mid. I have to admit I'm losing my touch for dating the specifics of later takouba, I've been too buried in trying to figure out how to heck to do it for the earlier ones! I think we could say this for a few reasons, the condition of the dress, the stacked pommel style etc. The one I had before (image attached) I would put a little later due to the more crude blade and fresher leather. Could be even into the 1980s in my case! Attached Images

27th December 2015, 01:23 PM	#7
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,693	I thought this might make an interesting addition to the thread. Just a new piece with a reused European sabre blade. Attached Images

24th November 2015, 05:44 PM	#2
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,693	This should be from the Cameroon border region. This was sold earlier this year at auction with another (straight bladed) takouba and both have wound up on eBay. I've had a few of these over the years and if I'm allowed I will post a link to where you can view a few others. http://takouba.org/catalog/index.php.../curved-blades Sword #90 on that link I posted on the forum a while back and is quite similar to yours. I like these, they have a nice feeling in the hand. The curved blades are a rare, but known element of takouba design.

24th November 2015, 05:54 PM	#3
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Thanks Iain, I knew I could count on you, but didn't realize how quickly!!!

24th November 2015, 06:39 PM	#4
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,693	Not a problem, a takouba thread is like water for a dying man in the desert to me. It's been a few dry months for me on the acquisition front with some other hobbies taking over more time. Been a while since we had a good one appear on the forum! To continue this interesting topic, the Hausa word for these should be Hankaltilo or Hindi or perhaps Bisalami which apparently refers to a curved sword of the 'Arab' type. While to a Tuareg this would be a alguinjar. There might be a Fulani element to these as well since they were active in pushing the takouba form into Cameroon as part of the Fulani Jihad in the early 1800s as far as I can tell.

24th November 2015, 07:09 PM	#5
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Ian, Would you date this one to the earlier 20th Century...earlier?...later? Thanks again for your input.