Kaskara Saif
Kaskara Saif
Sudanese Arab
Sennar Region, Turko- Egyptian Sudan - Mahdist Sudan (Sennar, Sudan)
Blade: 18th century
Hilt: 19th century (ca. 1850)
Steel, silver metal alloy
Blade: 74,9cm
Hilt & Blade: 91,4cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: -cm
Collection Date: 2025
Collection Number: 476
Ex. Einszwei Gallery: Prague, Czech Republic (2025)
The kaskara or saif is the traditional sword of Sudan taking its form from early Mamluk swords. Used by Sudanese Arabs including the Beja and Baggara, kaskaras are found throughout Sudan from the Red Sea Coast to the desert plains of Darfur and into Chad.
This fine kaskara dates from the mid- 19th century and is paired with a European broad blade from around the 18th century. The hilt style is indicitive to Sennar, the historic region of the Funj Sultanate. A similar sword of this hilt style (comet & stars) was owned by Funj Hamaj regent Nasir ibn Badi IV (r. 1762 -1769). The straight blade is double- edged, having a deep and broad central fuller that spans the entire length of the blade. The blade is a European trade blade, possibly of German origin. It is well forged and quite heavy, still having a good balance, with a thickened diamond cross section at the base.
The steel cross guard has a squared langlet and quillions that are decorated with linear engravings on each of the edges and an "X" motif at the junction. The hilt has an old fabric liner underneath. The hilt is bound in silver wire with a silver metal alloy grip that is embossed with fine details of cosmological imbuement containing celestrial stars and comets. Silver metal alloy disc- shaped pommel and cap engraved in a myriad of detailed patterns. There is a circular stamp that is pressed into the end cap piece of unidentified meaning. The disc-shaped pommel contains stones within that rattle when the sword is shaken. "A pommel of twin flattened hollowed spheres filled with beans or small pebbles- common among mounted nobility in Darfur. During victory celebrations Mahdist, calvary charged toward surrendered troops at full gallop, with these swords drawn and shook them to frighten the prisoners." ("Mahdism and the Egyptian Sudan", F.R. Windgate, 1891, p.137)
Here is a fine quality and older kaskara sword from the Sennar region that was likely once held by an important Sudanese dignitary, chief, or emir. European fighting blade with a very well crafted crossguard and hilt.
Photograph 15: Imam Mohammad Ahmad bin Abdullah bin Fahal (Al Mahdi), founder of the Mahdi state in Sudan. He is seen mounted to a horse wearing chain mail with a silver hilted kaskara sword (diamond patterned hilt) tucked under his arm. Sudan 1880s.
[1] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/kaskar-sword-sudan-sudanese-21247bba14
[2] https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O71642/sword/
[3] https://royalarmouries.org/collection/object/object-1918
[4] https://royalarmouries.org/collection/object/object-1917
[5] https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sword_Nasir_ibn_Badi_IV_NCAM_KH394.jpg
[6] https://www.spesbona-arms.com/product-page/silver-mounted-kaskara
[8] http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=24124
[9] http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=435&highlight=Kaskara
[10] https://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=29881
[11] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-good-sudanese-chiefs-massive-kaskara-or-sword-7ca46bda62