Ethiopian Gurade sword

[francantolin]

Hello everybody,

I'd like your comments about this sword,
it is a large african sword, I think an Ethiopian gurade,
I's pretty big: 96 cm / 37,8 inches.

I wonder if the blade is a local production or an european one ?
( no stamps at all ... ).
I think it's an old ( 19th century ) model but ?...

The hilt is made of two parts,
it is made of horn ,
maybe rhino ? ( The grip part more than the second, but I'm not a specialist)

Strange the big hole on one size of the hilt,
Can a parasite of the horn do that ?
Or this part of the hilt was made with ''remains / leftovers'' of a piece of horn ?

Kind regards

Francky

[francantolin]

And the hilt

Thank you !

[francantolin]

Maybe these three picture can help,
pictures made with more day light !
a little translucent, nice color !!
looks like rhino for me !
What I found on internet

[Martin Lubojacky]

Hi and thanks for nice pictures.
Because of the structure visible on the two pictures below I would tend to cow horn .... Nevertheless the lower part of the handle is not as distinct as the upper one, as you said.
The hole is relatively frequent in the case of the cow horn, but I don´t know the reason. I would say it was not done by insect. (maybe it has something with the sealing or maintaining of iron thorn or/and the handle ?)

[Martin Lubojacky]

I forgot the two pictures

[francantolin]

Hello Martin,

Thank you for your comment,

If the hole are made by insects have you an idea which product can destroy it
(without damaging the horn ) ?
I cleaned it first with low degree alcool then ''oiled '' it with linseed oil,
I know it work for protect wood from parasites, but for horn ?...

Kind regards