Scabbard help

nKante · 8th November 2020, 02:24 AM

Greetings folks!

A friend of mine is getting a takouba reproduced for modern sparring. I was hoping to make a scabbard for him as a gift. What can you folks tell me about their construction? Do they have a wooden or cardboard core, or is it all leather? Are there any written sources on how they were made? And would it be possible for some of you who own one to take a few close up photos for me? I would like to seams, the mouth and the tip.

Thanks

Yvain · 8th November 2020, 05:07 PM

Hi !

There is some good information in "Essai sur l'épée des Touareg de l'Ahaggar" by Morel, however, the article is in French. I will translate the relevant extract for you, but I won't be able to do it until tomorrow, I think. In the meantime, here is some relevant screenshots from the article.

I can already tell you that the scabbard is made of leather only (no wood core), and that it is not stitched but glued. But I sadly don't own one with a scabbard myself.

Is the takouba you're talking about made by Da'Mon Stith by any chance ?

nKante · 8th November 2020, 08:59 PM

Thank you. This is greatly appreciated. I will wait patiently for the translation. And yes Da'Mon Stith at Street Forge Armory is the maker.

Yvain · 9th November 2020, 09:57 PM

And here is the translation ! It wasn't an easy one (English isn't my first language), so if anything is unclear, feel free to ask me and I will try to rephrase it with my own words.

I want to add to the information contained in that extract that it only covers scabbards made in the Hoggar during the first part of the 20th century, and that scabbards made elsewhere or in a different time period might have been done differently.

David R · 10th November 2020, 12:30 AM

Thank you for sharing this. I did wonder how they were made. I have seen some battered ones at fairs that seem to have paper or card used as well, probably recent productions.

nKante · 10th November 2020, 02:52 PM

This is excellent. Your translation is perfect. It answered several questions and made it much more clear to me.
Thank you

Marc M. · 10th November 2020, 04:49 PM

Hi Yvain
Outstanding translation, much appriciated.

Greetings
Marc

Yvain · 10th November 2020, 08:40 PM

Thanks a lot to you all ! I have no problem translating from English to French, but the other way around is way more tricky for me, especially when the French text itself is in written in somewhat old-fashioned way...

8th November 2020, 02:24 AM	#1
nKante Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Philly Posts: 72	Scabbard help Greetings folks! A friend of mine is getting a takouba reproduced for modern sparring. I was hoping to make a scabbard for him as a gift. What can you folks tell me about their construction? Do they have a wooden or cardboard core, or is it all leather? Are there any written sources on how they were made? And would it be possible for some of you who own one to take a few close up photos for me? I would like to seams, the mouth and the tip. Thanks

8th November 2020, 05:07 PM	#2
Yvain Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: France Posts: 178	Hi ! There is some good information in "Essai sur l'épée des Touareg de l'Ahaggar" by Morel, however, the article is in French. I will translate the relevant extract for you, but I won't be able to do it until tomorrow, I think. In the meantime, here is some relevant screenshots from the article. I can already tell you that the scabbard is made of leather only (no wood core), and that it is not stitched but glued. But I sadly don't own one with a scabbard myself. Is the takouba you're talking about made by Da'Mon Stith by any chance ? Attached Images

8th November 2020, 08:59 PM	#3
nKante Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Philly Posts: 72	Thank you. This is greatly appreciated. I will wait patiently for the translation. And yes Da'Mon Stith at Street Forge Armory is the maker.

10th November 2020, 12:30 AM	#5
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,079	Thank you for sharing this. I did wonder how they were made. I have seen some battered ones at fairs that seem to have paper or card used as well, probably recent productions.

10th November 2020, 02:52 PM	#6
nKante Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Philly Posts: 72	This is excellent. Your translation is perfect. It answered several questions and made it much more clear to me. Thank you

10th November 2020, 04:49 PM	#7
Marc M. Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Belgium Posts: 158	Hi Yvain Outstanding translation, much appriciated. Greetings Marc

10th November 2020, 08:40 PM	#8
Yvain Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: France Posts: 178	Thanks a lot to you all ! I have no problem translating from English to French, but the other way around is way more tricky for me, especially when the French text itself is in written in somewhat old-fashioned way...