Ethiopian scabbard with utility knife????

roanoa · 8th October 2020, 07:30 PM

Run into this scabbard from an Ethiopian sword and a little tab sticking out at the throat got my curiosity. I pulled it and out came a very crude blade, about ten inches long. Utility knife to slice raw meat when eating? As far as I know Abyssinians had the habit of biting into a chunk of raw meat, hold it with their teeth, pull it with the left hand and slice it close to the lips with a knife. Or even with a sword, according to some paintings... Martin, have you ever seen anything like this? Has anyone? Any thoughts?

kronckew · 9th October 2020, 08:33 AM

Please post a Photo of the sword too for the record!

The custom of biting a chunk of meat and cutting it with a quick slash of your utility knife just in front of your nose, as far as I have heard before, was associated with the Gauchos of southern Brazil/Argentina. They ate a lot of beef in the field. I have not previously heard it about Ethiopia. This of course doesn't mean it wasn't also observed there. Do you recall your source for this titbit of esoterica?

Scottish dirks, Khukuris, and European hunting swords/trusses, as well as some Japanese swords had small utility knives in the main weapon's scabbard. Usually for eating. The Japanese ones were more for marking a battlefield trophy as your own for presentation to your lord. This was traditionally the head of a
high ranking opponent.

The knife is interesting and a bit unusual, is it sharpened? If so, how far down from the tip? Gripping it must not be easy. I don't think I'd trust my nose to it eating like a gaucho.

colin henshaw · 9th October 2020, 08:48 AM

[QUOTE=kronckew]Please post a Photo of the sword too for the record!

"Do you recall your source for this titbit of esoterica?"

I've heard of this too, I think it was first observed and reported by the Scottish explorer James Bruce ? Or perhaps it was in Alan Moorehead's book "The Blue Nile"...

roanoa · 10th October 2020, 12:04 AM

The "knife" is not sharpened for the first 45 inches. The rest is still sharp, though badly corroded. Could not find (I'll keep looking) the old Ethiopian painting that I saw a while back. Only found this photo of an Inuit (Canadian Eskimo) boy.

colin henshaw · 10th October 2020, 07:17 AM

Here is an old print found from the internet.

kronckew · 10th October 2020, 11:50 AM

Cool, parallel developement I guess

.

roanoa · 10th October 2020, 04:32 PM

Thanks for finding this great print.

8th October 2020, 07:30 PM	#1
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 233	Ethiopian scabbard with utility knife???? Run into this scabbard from an Ethiopian sword and a little tab sticking out at the throat got my curiosity. I pulled it and out came a very crude blade, about ten inches long. Utility knife to slice raw meat when eating? As far as I know Abyssinians had the habit of biting into a chunk of raw meat, hold it with their teeth, pull it with the left hand and slice it close to the lips with a knife. Or even with a sword, according to some paintings... Martin, have you ever seen anything like this? Has anyone? Any thoughts? Attached Images

9th October 2020, 08:33 AM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,178	Please post a Photo of the sword too for the record! The custom of biting a chunk of meat and cutting it with a quick slash of your utility knife just in front of your nose, as far as I have heard before, was associated with the Gauchos of southern Brazil/Argentina. They ate a lot of beef in the field. I have not previously heard it about Ethiopia. This of course doesn't mean it wasn't also observed there. Do you recall your source for this titbit of esoterica? Scottish dirks, Khukuris, and European hunting swords/trusses, as well as some Japanese swords had small utility knives in the main weapon's scabbard. Usually for eating. The Japanese ones were more for marking a battlefield trophy as your own for presentation to your lord. This was traditionally the head of a high ranking opponent. The knife is interesting and a bit unusual, is it sharpened? If so, how far down from the tip? Gripping it must not be easy. I don't think I'd trust my nose to it eating like a gaucho. Last edited by kronckew; 9th October 2020 at 08:43 AM.

10th October 2020, 12:04 AM	#4
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 233	The "knife" is not sharpened for the first 45 inches. The rest is still sharp, though badly corroded. Could not find (I'll keep looking) the old Ethiopian painting that I saw a while back. Only found this photo of an Inuit (Canadian Eskimo) boy. Attached Images

10th October 2020, 07:17 AM	#5
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Here is an old print found from the internet. Attached Images

9th October 2020, 08:48 AM	#3
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	[QUOTE=kronckew]Please post a Photo of the sword too for the record! "Do you recall your source for this titbit of esoterica?" I've heard of this too, I think it was first observed and reported by the Scottish explorer James Bruce ? Or perhaps it was in Alan Moorehead's book "The Blue Nile"...

10th October 2020, 11:50 AM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,178	Cool, parallel developement I guess .

10th October 2020, 04:32 PM	#7
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 233	Thanks for finding this great print.