Hello, everyone, help me with these?

athena · 30th April 2006, 05:19 AM

Hi all,

A friend of mine recommand this forum to me. I'm glad that many knowledgable people contribute here.

There are two blades that I have no idea and would like your opinons: which country, what style, period and what's the meaning of the letters?

The first is mine, there is inlaid gold in the flower design. The second I didn't bought.

Thanks very much!

ariel · 30th April 2006, 06:05 AM

Overall pics would help...
And better pics of the inscriptions, too.
If it is difficult, can you carefully trace them?

ariel · 30th April 2006, 04:51 PM

The more I look, the more "Ethiopian" comes to mind. May be just an illusion....

Total pic is essential

Jim McDougall · 30th April 2006, 08:54 PM

Hi Athena,
Welcome to the forum!!
I agree with Ariel, this script lettering certainly does resemble certain examples of Ethiopian gurade. It is typically impossible to identify a weapon simply by the inscription so as Ariel notes, we need a picture of the entire weapon.
Best regards,
Jim

athena · 2nd May 2006, 04:43 PM

Thanks everyone! I guessed it was Russian before. I never imagine it could be Ethiopia, as Ethiopia is so far away. Unfortunately, I didn't buy this sword, and don't have more pictures.

Could anyone help me with the following one? It has inlaid gold at the flower decoration.

Rick · 2nd May 2006, 06:28 PM

This looks almost like an extremely long spear blade ; I think the collar is put on backwards .

Got some dimensions for us ?

Tim Simmons · 2nd May 2006, 10:28 PM

I have been looking in a 1962 publication of the Wallace collection and I think this is a Russian or other Eastern European country with a related script, 18- early 19 cent Pillow, Small or Day Sword. The segmented hilt and tang area, to take a shell or guard and knuckle bow. It would help if there was a sensible picture of the script along with the whole sword.

roanoa · 31st May 2006, 08:26 AM

I agree that at first glance it looks Ethiopian, BUT I do not believe it is. I think that it may actually be Armenian or Georgian. I remember going nuts over a similar inscription years ago which turned out not to be Ethiopian after all....

Mark · 31st May 2006, 04:19 PM

Not Ethiopian (Amharic/Ge'ez) letters, that much I know.

ariel · 31st May 2006, 06:15 PM

I guess we all agree that a better pic of the entire inscription (or segment-by-segment), in both directions (is it upside down, and that is why we can't make sense of the already bad pics???) is needed..Tough to believe that European/ Caucasian noble carried a very long spear in the 18-19th century and this is not a familiar style.
But all these speculations are just speculations: we need to decipher the inscription.

30th April 2006, 05:19 AM	#1
athena Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 42	Hello, everyone, help me with these? Hi all, A friend of mine recommand this forum to me. I'm glad that many knowledgable people contribute here. There are two blades that I have no idea and would like your opinons: which country, what style, period and what's the meaning of the letters? The first is mine, there is inlaid gold in the flower design. The second I didn't bought. Thanks very much! Attached Images

2nd May 2006, 04:43 PM	#5
athena Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 42	Thanks everyone! I guessed it was Russian before. I never imagine it could be Ethiopia, as Ethiopia is so far away. Unfortunately, I didn't buy this sword, and don't have more pictures. Could anyone help me with the following one? It has inlaid gold at the flower decoration. Attached Images

30th April 2006, 06:05 AM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Overall pics would help... And better pics of the inscriptions, too. If it is difficult, can you carefully trace them?

30th April 2006, 04:51 PM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The more I look, the more "Ethiopian" comes to mind. May be just an illusion.... Total pic is essential

30th April 2006, 08:54 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,950	Hi Athena, Welcome to the forum!! I agree with Ariel, this script lettering certainly does resemble certain examples of Ethiopian gurade. It is typically impossible to identify a weapon simply by the inscription so as Ariel notes, we need a picture of the entire weapon. Best regards, Jim

2nd May 2006, 06:28 PM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	This looks almost like an extremely long spear blade ; I think the collar is put on backwards . Got some dimensions for us ?

2nd May 2006, 10:28 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	I have been looking in a 1962 publication of the Wallace collection and I think this is a Russian or other Eastern European country with a related script, 18- early 19 cent Pillow, Small or Day Sword. The segmented hilt and tang area, to take a shell or guard and knuckle bow. It would help if there was a sensible picture of the script along with the whole sword.

31st May 2006, 08:26 AM	#8
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 235	I agree that at first glance it looks Ethiopian, BUT I do not believe it is. I think that it may actually be Armenian or Georgian. I remember going nuts over a similar inscription years ago which turned out not to be Ethiopian after all....

31st May 2006, 04:19 PM	#9
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	Not Ethiopian (Amharic/Ge'ez) letters, that much I know.

31st May 2006, 06:15 PM	#10
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I guess we all agree that a better pic of the entire inscription (or segment-by-segment), in both directions (is it upside down, and that is why we can't make sense of the already bad pics???) is needed..Tough to believe that European/ Caucasian noble carried a very long spear in the 18-19th century and this is not a familiar style. But all these speculations are just speculations: we need to decipher the inscription.