On the subject of Arab sabres...

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Michael Blalock

After some consideration of why there would be a lot of Ethiopean sword bades in Yemen, beyond the georaphy, I would bet that makers of better Yemeni Jambiyas imported them to salvage the Rhino hilts and then remounted the blades for additional money.

Now THAT makes perfect sense!!! I hadn't thought of that Michael, but what a perfect way to bring in rhino horn.

Reminds me of the one on the guy working in the gold mines, that every day came to the exit with a wheelbarrow full of dirt. The guards checked the dirt very carefully, but no evidence of purloined gold.
Eventually they figured it out....the guy was stealin' wheelbarrows!!!

All the best,
Jim