Sword badge/brooch from the Sudan

[sabrigade]

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I recently purchased this badge in Khartoum. It depicts a "KASKARA", the traditional Sudanese sword used in the many and varied conflicts that took place in the Sudan. Unfortunately the hallmarks on the reverse are not clear.

[zob]

Hi,

Very nice piece - It is an Officer's headdress badge for the Western Arab Corps who were part of the Sudan Defence Force, and would have been worn on a purple flash.

Zob.

[sabrigade]

Hi Zob,

Thank you for the information.

Are there any reference books or guidelines for Sudanese Badges?

Regards,

Will

[saumua]

I would be interested in finding out more too.

[Eddie Parks]

That goes for me too. It seems there are a lot of very confusing swords/daggers to learn!

[saumua]

Zob,

How about this item?

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ictureid=11292

Shaun

Originally Posted by zob

Hi,

Very nice piece - It is an Officer's headdress badge for the Western Arab Corps who were part of the Sudan Defence Force, and would have been worn on a purple flash.

Zob.

[sabrigade]

I have found that collecting militaria in Arabic countries, not only badges, to be very difficult to determine exactly what the object or item is. I am sure that I have left some very good items behind due to my ignorance and lack of research resources available.

[zob]

Hi,

The devise worn by the Arab Battalion "Ortat el Arab" and the Eastern Arab Corps "Ferkit el Arab el Sharkia" were to the best of my knowledge one of the same. Originally referred to as "Hadendowa Knife" after the Hadendowa tribesmen of the Eastern Sudan the badge resurfaced in 1928 under the description "Silver Shotal". (The Shotel is the traditional sword of the Abyssinian (Ethiopia). It looks like a huge sickle, with a long blade deeply curved almost to half circle). Why this was, I can't really say, other than being something to with the curve at the end of the blade - the ethnicity of the E.A.C. battalions, or perhaps the vernacular then in use - considering close proximity to the Abyssinian/ Eritrean border.

By comparison the devise worn by the Western Arab Corps "Ferkit el Arab el Gharbia" is as was described a "Kaskara Sword" but was generally referred to as a "Fur" - after the Fur people who lived not altogether harmoniously next door the people of Dar, in Darfur the western most province of the Sudan.

Without wishing to dismiss your devise altogether, and giving a complete understanding how confusing the subject is. I would say that in my honest opinion what you have there is a rather splendid silver Niello brooch of either Egyptian or Persian origin. (Niello in the antiques world is a black metallic alloy used as an inlay on engraved metal).

Zob.

[sabrigade]

Hi Zob,

If it will not be regarded as being off topic, I will post pics of the actual weapons.

Regards,

Will