ETHIOPIAN, ANYONE?

roanoa · 22nd October 2006, 03:52 AM

Hi guys. Here something for you, Abyssinian swords lovers!! This is a selection of traditional design hilts using different materials. They are all in scale. A) Wood; B) Bakelite; C) Plastic; D) German silver; E) 3 piece Buffalo horn; F) 1 piece Rhino horn; G) 2 piece Rhino horn with joining silver band.
Brass and Ivory were also used. Reports of SOLID Gold leave me skeptical because of the weight; gold plated metal or hollow cast gold seem more likely. Please, note that when Buffalo horn was used, BY NECESSITY, construction was ALWAYS of two or three pieces; I have one with FOUR pieces, but that's very unusual. Also, when Buffalo horn was used, the top cross piece was quite thin. When Rhino horn was used, the top piece usually extended to, and beyond, half of the total length of the grip. Comments?

Flavio · 22nd October 2006, 09:46 AM

Hi Roano, please write a reference book on Ethiopian weapons!!!!!

Flavio

Jeff D · 22nd October 2006, 04:21 PM

Hi Ron,

Just a note to say i really appreciate what you are doing here. Just wish I could contribute.

All the Best
Jeff

P.S. Can I preorder your book

roanoa · 27th October 2006, 06:06 AM

This time I want to share with you four of my best pieces. Best because they are complete with thier decorated scabbards. Scabbards are usually found in terrible shape, when they are not missing altogether. Ethiopian scabbards for shotels, gurades and seifs were made of tough raw hide covered with very thin leather, usually red in color, or velvet. The leather was poorly tanned and did not last very long. It became brittle and simply fell apart. Velvet had a better chance of survival.... Some scabbards were decorated with furniture in brass or silver. As pointed before in this thread, some of these furnitures were used as knives scabbards. The seif in the picture has a leather covered scabbard. The 3 gurades have velvet covered scabbards. If you have an Ethiopian sword with decorated scabbard, PLEASE post it.

Bill M · 27th October 2006, 10:50 AM

WOW!

have nothing like this!

I would like to contribute and keep this thread bumped up, but am running out of Ethiopian weapons. The culture fascinates me.

Is there enough interest in creating a sub-forum on Ethiopian and other North African weapons and artifacts?

I nominate Ron to moderate it! Maybe Tim and Freddy also?

derek · 2nd November 2006, 01:13 AM

Someone, a LONG time ago, posted a comment about an old piece of film that showed two Abyssinian warriors sparring with shotels. It was described as a lot of jumping and attempting to pierce the opponent --- over the shield.

Jim McD, was it you that posted that comment? Did you actually see that film?

-d

roanoa · 2nd November 2006, 06:01 PM

I sure would like to see that clip. In any case, my point is that, since shotels vary so much in curvature, I doubt that most of them could do any damage when used that way.

22nd October 2006, 03:52 AM	#1
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 241	Hi guys. Here something for you, Abyssinian swords lovers!! This is a selection of traditional design hilts using different materials. They are all in scale. A) Wood; B) Bakelite; C) Plastic; D) German silver; E) 3 piece Buffalo horn; F) 1 piece Rhino horn; G) 2 piece Rhino horn with joining silver band. Brass and Ivory were also used. Reports of SOLID Gold leave me skeptical because of the weight; gold plated metal or hollow cast gold seem more likely. Please, note that when Buffalo horn was used, BY NECESSITY, construction was ALWAYS of two or three pieces; I have one with FOUR pieces, but that's very unusual. Also, when Buffalo horn was used, the top cross piece was quite thin. When Rhino horn was used, the top piece usually extended to, and beyond, half of the total length of the grip. Comments? Attached Images

27th October 2006, 06:06 AM	#4
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 241	This time I want to share with you four of my best pieces. Best because they are complete with thier decorated scabbards. Scabbards are usually found in terrible shape, when they are not missing altogether. Ethiopian scabbards for shotels, gurades and seifs were made of tough raw hide covered with very thin leather, usually red in color, or velvet. The leather was poorly tanned and did not last very long. It became brittle and simply fell apart. Velvet had a better chance of survival.... Some scabbards were decorated with furniture in brass or silver. As pointed before in this thread, some of these furnitures were used as knives scabbards. The seif in the picture has a leather covered scabbard. The 3 gurades have velvet covered scabbards. If you have an Ethiopian sword with decorated scabbard, PLEASE post it. Attached Images

2nd November 2006, 01:13 AM	#6
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	How shotels were used Someone, a LONG time ago, posted a comment about an old piece of film that showed two Abyssinian warriors sparring with shotels. It was described as a lot of jumping and attempting to pierce the opponent --- over the shield. Jim McD, was it you that posted that comment? Did you actually see that film? -d

22nd October 2006, 09:46 AM	#2
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Hi Roano, please write a reference book on Ethiopian weapons!!!!! Flavio

22nd October 2006, 04:21 PM	#3
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	Hi Ron, Just a note to say i really appreciate what you are doing here. Just wish I could contribute. All the Best Jeff P.S. Can I preorder your book

27th October 2006, 10:50 AM	#5
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	WOW! have nothing like this! I would like to contribute and keep this thread bumped up, but am running out of Ethiopian weapons. The culture fascinates me. Is there enough interest in creating a sub-forum on Ethiopian and other North African weapons and artifacts? I nominate Ron to moderate it! Maybe Tim and Freddy also?

2nd November 2006, 06:01 PM	#7
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 241	I sure would like to see that clip. In any case, my point is that, since shotels vary so much in curvature, I doubt that most of them could do any damage when used that way.