Takouba - Saharan Tuareg sword
Measurements
Classic takouba, a sword used by the nomadic Tuareg, an offshoot of the Berbers
in Saharan Africa. The Tuareg long dominated the central and west-central areas
of the Sahara desert (including portions of what is now Niger, Mali, Burkina
Faso, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, and Morocco) and had a reputation as effective
warriors and as highwaymen, exacting heavy tolls from trans-Saharan caravans for
over a millennium. Having broad, straight, double-edged blades averaging 74 to 84
cm. (29 to 33 inches) in length and a simple cross-guard, the takouba, like the
more westerly Sudanese kaskara, has long been confused with medieval European
swords. Current learned opinion is that these swords are a distinct and entirely
indigenous African type, although speculations of possible influence from Spain
via the Almoravides in the 11th Century (Nicolaisen (1997, p. 399)) or from
medieval Arab broadswords (Spring (1993, p. 42)) have been made. (description
courtesy of the Ethnographic Edged
Weapons web site.)
This takouba dates from the early 1900's. The blade and guard are original, the
grip and pommel are a reconstruction in the original style.
length: 34"
blade: 28 3/4"
blade width: 2"
grip and pommel: 4"
guard: 4 7/8"
weight: 1 lb 8.8 oz
