Chieftan Kaskara from Sudan

Bill Marsh · Mar 10, 2005

This must have belonged to a Da Fur. Leader of the People. Could be as old as mid 1500's. The inscriptions were added later, sometime in the late 1700s or early 1800s. Anybody able to read them, I would sure like to know. The reddish yellow color is from my overhead lighting, the flash did not overpower them.

The Khuk is a 30" Siru. The kaskara is over a foot longer and one of my very favorite swords. Notice the distinctive end on the scabbard. Cobra roadkill?

Yvsa · Mar 10, 2005

It's really something that a sword that old is still around and in such excellent shape in this day and age!!!!

If only they could talk! But then again some of their stories we may not want too hear or be able too take ainnit?

I don't know if I'm wierd or what but I've been fascinated by old swords, knives, and guns ever since I can remember and have always wondered about their stories.
There's just something magical about running your fingers lightly down an old blade of any sort too me.
And I'll bet I'm not the only one here that feels the same way.

Bill Marsh · Mar 10, 2005

Yvsa said:
There's just something magical about running your fingers lightly down an old blade of any sort too me.
And I'll bet I'm not the only one here that feels the same way.

Me too! Swords are something really magical, often, by far, THE most important and expensive thing people owned. Venerated, loved, cherished, passed from generation to generation.

There is a Moro Kris story that when the warrior first got his new kris the ganja (separate metal part at the base of the blade) was not attached. Niether was the handle.

The Moro warrior took his new kris away to a private and very magical spot. There, alone, he fasted, prayed and said his mantras. He held his new blade and gently stroked it from the hilt end to the point.

After many hours, sometimes days later, the blade began to soften in his hands. Then he knew a spirit had entered it. He quickly placed the ganja on the hilt end of the blade, the asang-asang clamps and attached the handle, trapping the spirit in his blade. Then the blade became perfectly straight and hard again, harder and more durable than before.

Don't try this at home! Seriously the spirit world is nothing to meddle with.

ferguson · Mar 10, 2005

You sir, have impeccable taste in blades.

Steve

Ad Astra · Mar 10, 2005

Bill Marsh said:
Don't try this at home! Seriously the spirit world is nothing to meddle with.

Whoa! That was good.

Blades can/do talk. I believe... sorry, I know.

Ah, gotta go. the M-43 is PO'd at me- again.

Ad Astra

mross · Mar 10, 2005

Bill,
Have you tried the forums at http://vikingsword.com ? Chances are good someone there can read it. Really nice by the way, that's exactly what I have in mind when I think kaskara.
Mike

VML · Mar 11, 2005

Great looking Kaskara, Bill. Thanks for sharing it. I hope to own one like it one day.

Stephen Hamilton · Mar 11, 2005

Bill,

The inscription is Arabic and since I long ago forgot what little I knew, I can only speculate that it is a verse from the Koran. Perhaps you can find someone to translate.

The pictures make me think they are remembrances of battle.

Stephen

Kismet · Mar 11, 2005

Bill?

I did a little wandering on sites. One translated the inscription on a particular sword (taureg or berber):

http://faculty.washington.edu/wheelerb/swords/qala_inscription.html

Another site translated the script on the sword as a homage to a conquerer:http://www.myarmoury.com/feature_alexandria.html.

Could be anything, I'd guess. But what a little glimpse of history it might provide you!

Thanks for sharing.

Bill Marsh · Mar 11, 2005

Kismet said:
Bill?

I did a little wandering on sites. One translated the inscription on a particular sword (taureg or berber):

http://faculty.washington.edu/wheelerb/swords/qala_inscription.html

Another site translated the script on the sword as a homage to a conquerer:http://www.myarmoury.com/feature_alexandria.html.

Could be anything, I'd guess. But what a little glimpse of history it might provide you!

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks all for the comments, and thanks Kis for the links. It would be really great to know what these inscriptions say. I will also ask on Viking Sword Forum.