Abyssinian shotel for coment

Rod Charters · 20th November 2007, 07:28 PM

Hi Paolo its a very interesting and nice sword you have. I have not seen one like that before so difficult for me to comment. However I am posting below two knives with similar designed hilts (one I have posted previously). Neither are sickle shaped nor are they Oromo in origin. Both are from southern regions (probably wolliso and sidamo) although these tribes are somewhat closely related to the Oromo. One is a horn hilt and the other has an Ivory hilt. I am wondering if anyone knows where this hilt design may originate from and is it restricted to the Oromo related groups.

paolo · 20th November 2007, 08:10 PM

Hi Rod,
above all, the second knife's hilt looks very similar to that of my sword. Now I'm really curious to know more about its origin.
Paolo

roanoa · 21st November 2007, 06:10 PM

Ciao, Paolo. Very nice sword. I do not know which area of Abyssinia it originated from. The only thought I have is that it is very VERY similar to one that is at the Pigorini Museum in Rome. Flavio posted the pictures a while back and is listed as number 2. Unfortunatelly, the identification card cannot be read. Maybe Flavio as made a note of it?

paolo · 21st November 2007, 06:54 PM

Hi roanoa,
Is this?

Jim McDougall · 22nd November 2007, 01:25 AM

Interesting discussion and examples gentlemen.

roanoa · 24th November 2007, 02:24 AM

Ciao, Paolo. Have you checked with Flavio about the description of the Pigorini sword? It is a very nice example of a not so common variation. I am a bit uncertain about calling it a "shotel" as it has characteristics that set it apart from the typical shotel forms. I have seen somewhere a reference about it being called SHAMLA. But considering the many languages spoken in Abyssinia, shamla could very well simply mean "sword".....

Rod Charters · 24th November 2007, 03:58 PM

Hi Roanna,
is there a link between the hilt designs as seen in Paolos sword and the couple of daggers I posted. Do you think this is a characteristic of Oromia related tribes or just coincidence in this case?
Rod

20th November 2007, 07:28 PM	#1
Rod Charters Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 48	Hi Paolo its a very interesting and nice sword you have. I have not seen one like that before so difficult for me to comment. However I am posting below two knives with similar designed hilts (one I have posted previously). Neither are sickle shaped nor are they Oromo in origin. Both are from southern regions (probably wolliso and sidamo) although these tribes are somewhat closely related to the Oromo. One is a horn hilt and the other has an Ivory hilt. I am wondering if anyone knows where this hilt design may originate from and is it restricted to the Oromo related groups. Attached Images

21st November 2007, 06:54 PM	#4
paolo Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 173	Hi roanoa, Is this? Attached Images

20th November 2007, 08:10 PM	#2
paolo Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 173	Hi Rod, above all, the second knife's hilt looks very similar to that of my sword. Now I'm really curious to know more about its origin. Paolo

21st November 2007, 06:10 PM	#3
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 241	Ciao, Paolo. Very nice sword. I do not know which area of Abyssinia it originated from. The only thought I have is that it is very VERY similar to one that is at the Pigorini Museum in Rome. Flavio posted the pictures a while back and is listed as number 2. Unfortunatelly, the identification card cannot be read. Maybe Flavio as made a note of it?

22nd November 2007, 01:25 AM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,525	Interesting discussion and examples gentlemen.

24th November 2007, 02:24 AM	#6
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 241	Ciao, Paolo. Have you checked with Flavio about the description of the Pigorini sword? It is a very nice example of a not so common variation. I am a bit uncertain about calling it a "shotel" as it has characteristics that set it apart from the typical shotel forms. I have seen somewhere a reference about it being called SHAMLA. But considering the many languages spoken in Abyssinia, shamla could very well simply mean "sword".....

24th November 2007, 03:58 PM	#7
Rod Charters Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 48	Hi Roanna, is there a link between the hilt designs as seen in Paolos sword and the couple of daggers I posted. Do you think this is a characteristic of Oromia related tribes or just coincidence in this case? Rod