Kaskara Saif
Kaskara Saif
Sudanese Arab - Nubian
Turko- Egyptian Sudan - Mahdist Sudan (Northern Sudan)
Last half of the 19th century (ca. 1850 - 1900)
Steel, brass, wood, horn, crocodile skin, leather, iron
Blade: 88,9cm
Hilt & Blade: 105,1m
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 106cm
Collection Date: 2025
Collection Number: 504
Ex. Glasgow, UK Art Market (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 spanning into Chad.
This Northern Sudanese kaskara dates from around the last half of the 19th century and is paired with likely a European broad trade blade from Germany.
The straight blade is double- edged, having a series of three central fullers. The two outside fullers span approximately 1/2 of the blade's length while the central fuller continues to the point. The blade is very flexible with moderate thickness, springs when handled, and has a reverberation when "tapped". The three fullers are well crafted, straight, and spaced accordingly, as compared to cheaper sheet metal blades of Sudanese locality. The blade looks to be a European trade blade of the mid- 19th century, possibly of German origin.
The cast brass cross guard has a squared langlet with profusely flared quillions. This style of cross guard was common with the Nubian and Arab Sudanese tribes of the Northern Nile around the Dongola regions. The hilt is bound with thick crocodile skin with a horn disc- shaped pommel ending in a domed brass cap, influenced by Ottoman swords of Egypt. The sheath is wood covered in a red leather with two iron bands attached with iron suspension rings.
A good quality Nubian kaskara with a European trade blade, complete with its original sheath.
[1] https://royalarmouries.org/collection/object/object-1917
[2] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1978-22-796-a
[3] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1979-01-3017-a-b
[4] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1979-01-3020-a-b
[5] https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/158495
[6] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=5494
[7] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/photos.php?id=642
[9] https://africanarms.com/gallery.html?big-kaskara-with-thuluth-inscription
[10] https://africanarms.com/gallery.html?kaskara-100-6-cm-blade-40-mm
[11] https://africanarms.com/gallery.html?8-kaskara-with-unusual-handle-104-cm