Posted on by Erik Chipchase

ghost-of-gold:


Kaskara, African sword, 19th century,
provenanced example

A very nice Sudanese Kaskara of good form, good provenance and unusual markings.

Overall this sword is 101cms in the scabbard, 99cms out with an 86cms single fullered double edged blade.
The hilt shows tooling to the ends of the leather grip and a thumb ringremains intact.
The cross guard is of forged iron construction and a reverse ‘Z’ to one end.
The blade, most likely European in origins has a nice old original dark patina and exhibits to the forte numerous unidentified lines and sun like markings with the line work differing on each side. The blade has very good flex and spring but is slightly loose within the hilt.
The scabbard is expertly tooled and stitched with raised discs holding the differing suspension rings with the upper suspension ring being tooled brass and the lower being iron.
There is an old collection tag attached to the rear just below the upper suspension loop, largely illegible now due to staining but what can be read is “Dervish sword taken from prisoner at Suakin … … ….HMS Melita 1898 JGB”
A very nice well presented sword in outstanding condition and with good history worthy of further research.

Source & Copyright: Swords & Antique Weapons


Gaaaahhh!!! this is such a cool fucking sword!! :O!!! how could you not like or reblog this?! i want it so badly :{

Posted on by Erik Chipchase

victoriansword:

Sudanese Kaskara, 19th Century 

Straight, double-edged blade of almost flat section, three central fullers and two crescents marked on both facets. Gray, non-ferrous metal, cross-shaped quillon, quillons ribbed and slightly enlarged toward the ends. Bone, cylindrical grip (veining) engraved with concentric circles. Wooden and metal, disk-pommel.

Posted on by Erik Chipchase

victoriansword:

Sudanese Kaskara, 19th Century 

Straight, double-edged blade of almost flat section, three central fullers and two crescents marked on both facets. Gray, non-ferrous metal, cross-shaped quillon, quillons ribbed and slightly enlarged toward the ends. Bone, cylindrical grip (veining) engraved with concentric circles. Wooden and metal, disk-pommel.

Posted on by Erik Chipchase

historicalfightingguide:

victoriansword:

Kaskara with Snake Fuller, 19th Century

Straight-bladed swords with cruciform guards and disk-shaped pommels, known as kaskaras, are typical of the Sahara region, particularly Sudan. While the hilt of this example was locally made, the fine blade of crucible (“watered”) steel is Iranian and bears the name of Nasir al-Din Shah Qajar, who ruled Iran from 1848 to 1896. This sword was taken as booty by the British general James Grenfell Maxwell at the battle of Omdurman, during the Mahdi uprising in Sudan, on September 2, 1898.

Date: hilt, late 19th century; blade, 1848–96

Culture: hilt, Sudanese; blade, Iranian

Medium: Steel, copper alloy, wood, leather, gold

Dimensions: L. 40 ½ in. (103 cm); L. of blade 34 11/16 in. (88 cm); Gr. W. of blade 1 ¾ in. (4.3 cm); W. of guard 6 ½ in. (16.5 cm); Wt. 2 lbs. 14 oz. (1304.1 g)

The double-headed snake fuller is incredible. According to the Instagram account of Sean Belair, the pommel is also a rattle!

HAMAA: Historical African Martial Arts Association is the place you wanna go if you’re interested in learning how to use a kaskara.

Posted on by Erik Chipchase

historicalfightingguide:

victoriansword:

Kaskara with Snake Fuller, 19th Century

Straight-bladed swords with cruciform guards and disk-shaped pommels, known as kaskaras, are typical of the Sahara region, particularly Sudan. While the hilt of this example was locally made, the fine blade of crucible (“watered”) steel is Iranian and bears the name of Nasir al-Din Shah Qajar, who ruled Iran from 1848 to 1896. This sword was taken as booty by the British general James Grenfell Maxwell at the battle of Omdurman, during the Mahdi uprising in Sudan, on September 2, 1898.

Date: hilt, late 19th century; blade, 1848–96

Culture: hilt, Sudanese; blade, Iranian

Medium: Steel, copper alloy, wood, leather, gold

Dimensions: L. 40 ½ in. (103 cm); L. of blade 34 11/16 in. (88 cm); Gr. W. of blade 1 ¾ in. (4.3 cm); W. of guard 6 ½ in. (16.5 cm); Wt. 2 lbs. 14 oz. (1304.1 g)

The double-headed snake fuller is incredible. According to the Instagram account of Sean Belair, the pommel is also a rattle!

HAMAA: Historical African Martial Arts Association is the place you wanna go if you’re interested in learning how to use a kaskara.