I recently obtained this Kaskara and thought I should share it here. I have also posted details on Sword Forum International.
Catalogue description:
19th Century Armoury marked Sudanese Kashkha(sic) Sword. 35 1/4 inch double edged wide blade. Short triple fullers.Crescent moon face Armoury stamps to both sides of the blade. Steel chamfered crossguard. Leather covered grip with disc pommel. Contained in its tooled leather scabbard with steel belt buckle. Tip of scabbard absent.
My Stats:
Weight, sword: 2lb 6oz (1.09kg)
Length overall: 40'' (102cm) Blade:35.5''(90cm)
POB: 9.5'' (24
cm)
Profile taper: 1.72'' (43.9mm) at ricasso, 1.46'' (37.1mm) mid blade, 1.32'' (33.5mm) 2 inches from tip.
Distal taper 0.21'' (5.4mm) at ricasso, 0.16'' (4mm) mid blade. 0.1'' (2.6mm) 2inches from tip.
I don't believe that the pairs of moon face stamps both sides of the blade are armoury stamps, I have read that they denote a locally made blade that is copying marks found on some trade blades. Anybody know any more? The scabbard is probably beyond saving but has the remains of nice tooling on the leather. I am applying copious amounts of Pecards and neatsfoot oil.
My question is this: Is there a reliable way of dating these swords? Or does one just look at the general state of the dirt (patina) and say ' Late 19th century', with fingers crossed behind back! ;)
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