Ethiopian 19th century Gurade

Rick · 3rd February 2015, 10:02 PM

What kind of money does this stuff bring ?

VANDOO · 4th February 2015, 12:12 AM

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME. I WAS IN DJBOUTI SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND SAW 100 OR MORE OF THESE SWORDS ALL WITH REPLACED HANDLES MADE OF SEVERAL PIECES OF HORN OR WOOD. THE REPLACEMENTS WERE OLD AND SHOWED GOOD PATINA AND WEAR AND SOME HAD THE BETTER IMPORTED BLADES THAT NO DOUBT HAD RHINO HILTS AT SOME TIME. THE SILVER POMMELS WERE MISSING TOO. I SUSPECT A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE NATIVE MADE SWORDS NEVER HAD RHINO HILTS OR SILVER POMMEL CAPS BUT MOST THAT DID LOST THEM LONG AGO. UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD BUY THE REMAINING SWORDS AND DESTROY THEM TODAY.
MOST LIKELY THE LEGENDS OF THE UNICORN GO BACK TO PREHISTORIC TIMES IT IS UNFORTUNATE THEY PERSIST TODAY AND ENDANGER THE SURVIVAL OF A UNIQUE AND INTERESTING ANIMAL. NO DOUBT A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF RHINO HORN MIXED IN WITH THE GROUND DUST OF ALMOST ANYTHING SERVES AS THE MEDICINE SOLD TO ALL BUT THE RICHEST CUSTOMERS. IT IS A VERY LONG RUNNING CON AND THOUGH NOT AS DESTRUCTIVE TO PEOPLE AS DRUGS IT DESTROYS RHINOS AND ARTEFACTS INDESCRINIMATELY.

Dimasalang · 5th February 2015, 10:05 PM

I recently watched a documentary on rhino poaching and where these horns were ending up. They are mostly going to Asia, many Asians believe it does sever as a super medicine. Oddly enough they mentioned many of the horns ended up in Vietnam, as many Vietnamese and Chinese living there believe in its powers more than in other areas. While Vietnam is a poor country, the rich and powerful elite were the ones buying it. Many believe it restored their vitality; so to these old folks they swear by it as being the fountain of youth. One individual who resided in Vietnam showed he was dying of cancer, but the rhino horn reduced the cancer to the point he now goes about his daily life with no issues. He showed his stash, and it was only a small chunk, about the size of a small medicine bottle, which he says he paid about US$5000 for it. He also showed how they prepared it, only scraping off little shreds and putting it in tea to drink, the strength they say lasted several days. So a small amount will last a very long time.

Just to add, South-East Asia do still have Rhinos. In Vietnam they are completely wiped out and extinct. They are different compared to the African rhino in that they only have one horn which is also very short and stubby. So it is not like the rhino was a completely foreign animal to Asians.

kronckew · 5th February 2015, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

What kind of money does this stuff bring ?

in 2013: pprox. prices to nearest dollar

rhino horn:..USD 2800 per gram
gold:...........USD 53 per gram

it has fallen a bit since.

spiral · 6th February 2015, 08:55 AM

[IMG]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

in 2013: pprox. prices to nearest dollar

rhino horn:..USD 2800 per gram
gold:...........USD 53 per gram

it has fallen a bit since.

According to all the undercover purchases & siezures by Rhino horn charitys , its More like $10 to £15 a gram in Europe, $50 to $60 in Vietnam & China, up to $100 a gram for Asiatic rhino, as end user price. Evry trader makes a big mark up.

If it was $2800 a gram there would be not one rhino left in the world, nor jambiya or Gurade with a rhino grip.

In China its used as a fever cure.

Some desperate people in Vietnam with cancer believe it might cure them... it doesn't.

Many newly rich in Vietnam take it along with cocaine & Viagra to party. Those types also say it helps hangovers.

Either way there better drugs for everything, Rhino does reduce fever slightly, {like asprin.}

But soon there will be no rhinos, in the last 5 years over 50 museums around the world have been robbed of rhino horns by an Irish gang called the Rathkeale rovers.

In India, rhino already have been killed in zoos. In England a plot to do the same was thwarted.

In Africa they will at current rate be extinct within a couple of decades.

If the price goes up even faster...

Gurade have been striped since at least the 1970s by Yeminis to make jambiya, the always sold the off cuts to the Chinese.

All this is well recorded.

spiral

kronckew · 6th February 2015, 12:00 PM

even at that price, still higher than gold (tho gold is much more useful as a real rather than as a placebo anti-cancer medicinal agent) for the end user. if they want keratin as a medicine, there are a lot handier sources. they could chew their finger nails or hair balls and get more at very little cost..

price i had was copied from a quick google, i wasn't on a quest for greater accuracy.

Medicinal gold uses

spiral · 6th February 2015, 03:15 PM

I totally agree, I think someone sell them ground up toenails instead!

kronckew · 6th February 2015, 05:45 PM

i know a chiropodist that could supply them in bulk; a few pounds of toenails should set us up for life.

i could buy the nice gold trimmed wootz kilij i've always wanted, plus a house to show it off in.

hmmm, ....now where did i put his phone number.

spiral · 6th February 2015, 06:14 PM

That's Good! I feel a plan coming together!

But thinking about it, those who buy it in powder form are probably buying old toenails already!

After all every stage of the trade is illegal, even in Vietnam , So I am sure the poachers,dealers,smuglers etc. have already adulterated it & what better than stinky old toenails!

6th February 2015, 12:00 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	even at that price, still higher than gold (tho gold is much more useful as a real rather than as a placebo anti-cancer medicinal agent) for the end user. if they want keratin as a medicine, there are a lot handier sources. they could chew their finger nails or hair balls and get more at very little cost.. price i had was copied from a quick google, i wasn't on a quest for greater accuracy. Medicinal gold uses Last edited by kronckew; 6th February 2015 at 12:10 PM.

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3rd February 2015, 10:02 PM	#1
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	What kind of money does this stuff bring ?

4th February 2015, 12:12 AM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME. I WAS IN DJBOUTI SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND SAW 100 OR MORE OF THESE SWORDS ALL WITH REPLACED HANDLES MADE OF SEVERAL PIECES OF HORN OR WOOD. THE REPLACEMENTS WERE OLD AND SHOWED GOOD PATINA AND WEAR AND SOME HAD THE BETTER IMPORTED BLADES THAT NO DOUBT HAD RHINO HILTS AT SOME TIME. THE SILVER POMMELS WERE MISSING TOO. I SUSPECT A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE NATIVE MADE SWORDS NEVER HAD RHINO HILTS OR SILVER POMMEL CAPS BUT MOST THAT DID LOST THEM LONG AGO. UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD BUY THE REMAINING SWORDS AND DESTROY THEM TODAY. MOST LIKELY THE LEGENDS OF THE UNICORN GO BACK TO PREHISTORIC TIMES IT IS UNFORTUNATE THEY PERSIST TODAY AND ENDANGER THE SURVIVAL OF A UNIQUE AND INTERESTING ANIMAL. NO DOUBT A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF RHINO HORN MIXED IN WITH THE GROUND DUST OF ALMOST ANYTHING SERVES AS THE MEDICINE SOLD TO ALL BUT THE RICHEST CUSTOMERS. IT IS A VERY LONG RUNNING CON AND THOUGH NOT AS DESTRUCTIVE TO PEOPLE AS DRUGS IT DESTROYS RHINOS AND ARTEFACTS INDESCRINIMATELY.

5th February 2015, 10:05 PM	#3
Dimasalang Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 264	I recently watched a documentary on rhino poaching and where these horns were ending up. They are mostly going to Asia, many Asians believe it does sever as a super medicine. Oddly enough they mentioned many of the horns ended up in Vietnam, as many Vietnamese and Chinese living there believe in its powers more than in other areas. While Vietnam is a poor country, the rich and powerful elite were the ones buying it. Many believe it restored their vitality; so to these old folks they swear by it as being the fountain of youth. One individual who resided in Vietnam showed he was dying of cancer, but the rhino horn reduced the cancer to the point he now goes about his daily life with no issues. He showed his stash, and it was only a small chunk, about the size of a small medicine bottle, which he says he paid about US$5000 for it. He also showed how they prepared it, only scraping off little shreds and putting it in tea to drink, the strength they say lasted several days. So a small amount will last a very long time. Just to add, South-East Asia do still have Rhinos. In Vietnam they are completely wiped out and extinct. They are different compared to the African rhino in that they only have one horn which is also very short and stubby. So it is not like the rhino was a completely foreign animal to Asians.

6th February 2015, 03:15 PM	#7
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	I totally agree, I think someone sell them ground up toenails instead!

6th February 2015, 05:45 PM	#8
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	i know a chiropodist that could supply them in bulk; a few pounds of toenails should set us up for life. i could buy the nice gold trimmed wootz kilij i've always wanted, plus a house to show it off in. hmmm, ....now where did i put his phone number.

6th February 2015, 06:14 PM	#9
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	That's Good! I feel a plan coming together! But thinking about it, those who buy it in powder form are probably buying old toenails already! After all every stage of the trade is illegal, even in Vietnam , So I am sure the poachers,dealers,smuglers etc. have already adulterated it & what better than stinky old toenails!