I was browsing the net today and found several, relatively cheap (~$700) antique swords from Sudan, called "kaskara". The interesting detail was the supposition that the blade of the sword was old, and from European origin. I did not take that seriously. then I found another such sword on a different site. The blade, again quite European looking, was clearly marked with two half-moons, a very common mark used in Toledo and Solingen in the 17th century. What was even more interesting was that I found a sword with similar two half moons and similar three fullers in the book " European Swords and Daggers from the Tower of London" plate 13c. the sword is dated to 17th century and likely made in Germany.

how about them apples :)

Now I am a bit more likely to take seriously the claim that the blades on some of these "kaskara" swords are from european origin that have been re-mounted in the style of the sudanese culture.

The interesting side effect is that for ~$700 one MAY get an antique european blade. Sounds very cool to me.

Alexi

http://www.ashokaarts.com/edgedweapons/ew-10.html

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http://www.antiques-arms.com/catalog/product_...ts_id=1380

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There does seem to have been quite an afinity for using European blades in new mounts. It is certainly something to watch for when they surface. Prices seem to be creeping up.

A distant cousin seem to be the kattara, which are also often European blades hilted in an ethnic manner. Some fancy, others quite plain.
http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=6658

I'm wondering how much might have been normal trade and how much might have been from siezed cargos. Bare blades were often shipped in bulk.

Cheers

GC

Yes this is a fairly common pratice. German and italy exported swords to the near east from the middle ages. We have a few at the museum I work at that definatly have german marks on the but are Sudanese.

Randall

Many of the blades are indeed old European blades, but more often than not they are locally manufactured. Not that there's anything wrong with that, these blades were intended as fighting blades and feature decent heat treatment, balance, distal taper, etc. In fact, it was very common for these African swords to be "dummied" into European-style swords and hawked off as "authentic medieval swords" by unscrupulous vendors, beginning back in the later Victorian era and still going today.

I have a basket-hilted sword featuring an African-made Kaskara blade that had several collectors stumped as to it's origins.... the blade is of excellent quality....

I've been beaten to it already, but European blades were considered of high quality so a lot of 19th century Sudanese craftsmens could make very convincing copies. However there is a suspiciously large amount of Sudanese kaskaras on ebay, I suspect than many of them them are modern replicas.

Check out these links from a sister forum:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?...ht=kaskara

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?...ht=kaskara

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?...ht=kaskara

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?...ht=kaskara

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?...ht=kaskara

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?...ht=kaskara