Very old but simple takouba

Iain · 8th November 2011, 01:31 PM

This is an interesting sword I picked up the other week. Arrived in the post today.

Needs a bit of a clean for a few rust spots but overall in good condition, except for the leather which is dried to hell (normal for these).

It's rather short at 91cm, blade is 76cm.

The pommel style here is one that seems to be an older form, I've only ever seen it on swords that are dated 19th century or earlier. This example is iron (usual material) and has a repair on it, usual solder method. Small incised line decoration can be seen.

Blade is native made, plenty of forging flaws on display! But the flex and hardness of the steel is excellent despite the rough appearance.

Hilt is leather and brass, the leather design looks intentional, there is some wear on the edge but it seems intentionally cut rather than just having disintegrated off the brass. The cross guard is iron and from what I can see poking under the leather probably didn't have the full brass plate treatment at any point.

For me this is a nice example of an old, hard working takouba. Two swords with similar pommels can be seen in the ANHM collections that were acquired in 1905 from the Bornu region. The style of the blade and overall size makes me think it is quite possibly from the Nigerian/Cameroon area.

Martin Lubojacky · 8th November 2011, 07:19 PM

Hi Iain,

I bought this one nearly exactly 3 years ago in flea-market in Maroua, capital of the Far North Region of Cameroon. The territory, I think, was still off the Bornu Kingdom in 19 th century. This example is relatively small (total 73 cms, blade 51 cm). The pommel was made of zinc-coated plate (?). I tried to clean it that time, it was coated with deep layer of rust, as it used to be. The blade is springy.

Iain · 8th November 2011, 07:25 PM

Hi Martin,

Thanks for posting your sword. That confirms my thoughts about where mine is from. Looks like a similar age even to your sword, although I have to say yours has a nicer fuller and is much nicer looking than mine.

The construction of the guard is identical on mine as well. So I think it certainly looks like mine should be from the same region.

I'm glad my guesses are getting better about locations!

I am always surprised how many beautiful and old takouba you have, please show more if you can!

Best,

Iain

Martin Lubojacky · 8th November 2011, 08:13 PM

Iain, please don´t be unduly modest. I have only two takoubas, or what I consider/call "real Touareg takoubas", and neither them, nor their photos are with me, now. And then - two swords from this "Takouba Family" - one of them posted now, one posted sometimes before. But the wider region of "Borno State and its surroundings" is full of various types of swords, which were already discussed here, too. But let me post separate thread concerning one type, which is very simmilar to Teda/Daza swords, but is much heavier and I think was used a little bit more to the south west. We can compare it with this Takouba Family on one photo.

Iain · 8th November 2011, 08:36 PM

Hi Martin,

Thanks for the kind swords. I really do like my new sword, it looks simple and a bit unrefined but it is probably the best balanced takouba like sword I have personally inspected and this included swords with European blades!

You bring up an interesting point about where we should apply the term takouba. Locally if we agree these swords generally fall inside the Bornu empire kaskara or more properly kasakar would be the local word in the Kanuri language.

I generally think the Tuareg/Hausa/Fulani/Bornu swords are in one family because we see very similar blade designs and pommel designs. For example here is a similar pommel on a Tuareg sword dating from 1830 - one that Louis-Pierre has on his website here: http://blade.japet.com/takouba.htm (near the bottom of the page).

I remember some other photos of your swords from this region - all iron and very heavy and thick blades.

Many thanks again for posting your sword.

Best,

Iain

Martin Lubojacky · 8th November 2011, 09:28 PM

Thanks for interesting link !
Best regards
Martin

Iain · 9th November 2011, 12:57 PM

I thought I would add to this thread a couple pictures of the sword alongside other takouba. I don't have the variety of swords I used to but this grouping is mainly from Nigeria and thus gives a few of the regional characteristics or 'neighbors' to the Bornu style.

I wanted to give a good visual comparison for just how large this pommel is and the reason why this sword has such exceptional (by takouba standards) balance.

Martin Lubojacky · 9th November 2011, 03:42 PM

This is nice collection of the type. Congratulations.
Regards,
Martin

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 12th November 2011, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iain

I thought I would add to this thread a couple pictures of the sword alongside other takouba. I don't have the variety of swords I used to but this grouping is mainly from Nigeria and thus gives a few of the regional characteristics or 'neighbors' to the Bornu style.

I wanted to give a good visual comparison for just how large this pommel is and the reason why this sword has such exceptional (by takouba standards) balance.

Salaams Iain, Great swords nicely pictured. I was also impressed with the information at your reference http://blade.japet.com/takouba.htm

Regards Ibrahiim.

Iain · 14th November 2011, 05:56 PM

Hi Ibrahiim,

Thanks, I've worked hard to build up this collection and sadly had to sell a lot to focus in on a few examples I really liked.

That link is a website made and maintained by one of our members. Very well versed in Tuareg takouba. With any luck he will stop by this thread to comment. But I'm not sure he visits the forums regularly.

Cheers,

Iain

8th November 2011, 01:31 PM	#1
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,693	Very old but simple takouba This is an interesting sword I picked up the other week. Arrived in the post today. Needs a bit of a clean for a few rust spots but overall in good condition, except for the leather which is dried to hell (normal for these). It's rather short at 91cm, blade is 76cm. The pommel style here is one that seems to be an older form, I've only ever seen it on swords that are dated 19th century or earlier. This example is iron (usual material) and has a repair on it, usual solder method. Small incised line decoration can be seen. Blade is native made, plenty of forging flaws on display! But the flex and hardness of the steel is excellent despite the rough appearance. Hilt is leather and brass, the leather design looks intentional, there is some wear on the edge but it seems intentionally cut rather than just having disintegrated off the brass. The cross guard is iron and from what I can see poking under the leather probably didn't have the full brass plate treatment at any point. For me this is a nice example of an old, hard working takouba. Two swords with similar pommels can be seen in the ANHM collections that were acquired in 1905 from the Bornu region. The style of the blade and overall size makes me think it is quite possibly from the Nigerian/Cameroon area. Attached Images

8th November 2011, 07:19 PM	#2
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 841	Hi Iain, I bought this one nearly exactly 3 years ago in flea-market in Maroua, capital of the Far North Region of Cameroon. The territory, I think, was still off the Bornu Kingdom in 19 th century. This example is relatively small (total 73 cms, blade 51 cm). The pommel was made of zinc-coated plate (?). I tried to clean it that time, it was coated with deep layer of rust, as it used to be. The blade is springy. Attached Images

9th November 2011, 12:57 PM	#7
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,693	I thought I would add to this thread a couple pictures of the sword alongside other takouba. I don't have the variety of swords I used to but this grouping is mainly from Nigeria and thus gives a few of the regional characteristics or 'neighbors' to the Bornu style. I wanted to give a good visual comparison for just how large this pommel is and the reason why this sword has such exceptional (by takouba standards) balance. Attached Images

8th November 2011, 07:25 PM	#3
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,693	Hi Martin, Thanks for posting your sword. That confirms my thoughts about where mine is from. Looks like a similar age even to your sword, although I have to say yours has a nicer fuller and is much nicer looking than mine. The construction of the guard is identical on mine as well. So I think it certainly looks like mine should be from the same region. I'm glad my guesses are getting better about locations! I am always surprised how many beautiful and old takouba you have, please show more if you can! Best, Iain

8th November 2011, 08:13 PM	#4
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 841	Iain, please don´t be unduly modest. I have only two takoubas, or what I consider/call "real Touareg takoubas", and neither them, nor their photos are with me, now. And then - two swords from this "Takouba Family" - one of them posted now, one posted sometimes before. But the wider region of "Borno State and its surroundings" is full of various types of swords, which were already discussed here, too. But let me post separate thread concerning one type, which is very simmilar to Teda/Daza swords, but is much heavier and I think was used a little bit more to the south west. We can compare it with this Takouba Family on one photo.

8th November 2011, 08:36 PM	#5
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,693	Hi Martin, Thanks for the kind swords. I really do like my new sword, it looks simple and a bit unrefined but it is probably the best balanced takouba like sword I have personally inspected and this included swords with European blades! You bring up an interesting point about where we should apply the term takouba. Locally if we agree these swords generally fall inside the Bornu empire kaskara or more properly kasakar would be the local word in the Kanuri language. I generally think the Tuareg/Hausa/Fulani/Bornu swords are in one family because we see very similar blade designs and pommel designs. For example here is a similar pommel on a Tuareg sword dating from 1830 - one that Louis-Pierre has on his website here: http://blade.japet.com/takouba.htm (near the bottom of the page). I remember some other photos of your swords from this region - all iron and very heavy and thick blades. Many thanks again for posting your sword. Best, Iain

8th November 2011, 09:28 PM	#6
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 841	Thanks for interesting link ! Best regards Martin

9th November 2011, 03:42 PM	#8
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 841	This is nice collection of the type. Congratulations. Regards, Martin

14th November 2011, 05:56 PM	#10
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,693	Hi Ibrahiim, Thanks, I've worked hard to build up this collection and sadly had to sell a lot to focus in on a few examples I really liked. That link is a website made and maintained by one of our members. Very well versed in Tuareg takouba. With any luck he will stop by this thread to comment. But I'm not sure he visits the forums regularly. Cheers, Iain