Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons
FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 17th June 2005, 03:27 PM   #1
manteris1
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 114
Default Ethiopian Sword

Hi everyone-

I have an Ethiopian Gorade. It has marks that I don't recognize. There is a mark on the top of the blade that looks like it might be "& GUNBY" and on the blade it looks like a crown with a number "4" underneath. There are also 3 other miscellaneous marks.
Any help would be appreciated. Sorry no pictures yet.

Thanks................jimmy
manteris1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17th June 2005, 03:37 PM   #2
Jeff D
Member
 
Jeff D's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: B.C. Canada
Posts: 473
Default

Hi Jimmy,

Most likely it is Osborn & Gunby A maker from London. Early 1800's.The other symbols will have to wait until I see the photo's.

Hope this helps.
Jeff
Jeff D is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17th June 2005, 10:30 PM   #3
derek
Member
 
derek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 215
Default

Hi Jimmy,

Good to see you posting again.

Can't wait to see the pics of that one.

-d
derek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th June 2005, 03:49 PM   #4
manteris1
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 114
Default thanks

thanks, Jeff......
manteris1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th June 2005, 10:10 PM   #5
roanoa
Member
 
roanoa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 233
Default

Hi Jimmy. I really want to see the pictures of this one. Do not keep us waiting.... It was good to see you in Baltimore. Cheers, RON AZZI
roanoa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th June 2005, 11:46 PM   #6
Jim McDougall
Arms Historian
 
Jim McDougall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,940
Default

Hi Jimmy,
It really is great to see you posting!!! We all missed ya!!
Jeff is exactly on target on this blade which as he notes Osborne & Gunby were prominant British swordmakers in Birmingham very active with the M1796 patterns. The marking of a crown over a numeral was inspection marking from the Tower, and after 1820 this marking changed to a letter between the crown and the numeral (Robson, p.191).

We know that British makers were extremely active in supplying blades to Abyssinia in the latter 19th and early 20th century, but most were blades manufactured by Wilkinson and Mole. It does seem reasonable that surplus blades may have been supplied prior to the large contracts for manufacture. It seems that quite a number of British blades became available in Arabia, thence to Ethiopia via thier presence in Aden also, and Ron Azzi and Derek can address this much better than I.

Wheres the pictures!!! Ya didn't sell this one already did ya!!?? Can never forget the shotel incident in Baltimore!!! The best!!!!
Welcome home Jimmy!
All the best,
Jim
Jim McDougall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th June 2005, 05:35 AM   #7
Jeff D
Member
 
Jeff D's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: B.C. Canada
Posts: 473
Default

Thanks Jim, I forgot that they had a Birmingham office as well .

Jeff
Jeff D is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th June 2005, 04:00 PM   #8
Jim McDougall
Arms Historian
 
Jim McDougall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,940
Default

Hey Jeff!
Thats makes us even, I didn't realize Osborne also had the London office!!
Rechecking May & Annis, sho' nuff, both listings were there. Also showed Osborn and Gunby listed by that format from 1808-1820 which again places that blade between those years.
All the best,
Jim
Jim McDougall is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:27 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.