Ethiopian sword needs HELP!!!

roanoa · 3rd December 2005, 08:29 PM

Hi guys. Just wants to share this beauty with you. It is a straight blade sword (GURADE or SEIF) made by Wilkinson. The scabbard did not come with the sword, but it fits quite nicely. The blade must have been just superb in its original condition. Unfortunatelly some of the gilt is gone, though there is lots left. As you can see from the last picture, there are what look like blood stains (???). Does any of you know how to remove them without damaging the gilt. ROANO

Henk · 3rd December 2005, 09:37 PM

If the blood stains don't rust any further and damage the blade I would leave it and just oil the blade. The real proof this beauty was used in battle.

Tim Simmons · 3rd December 2005, 09:50 PM

Where did the scabbard come from? It looks almost made for the sword, many a dealer would pass it off as so. As to cleaning the best advice is very carefully

what is the stain? is it rust? you cannot get rust on top of gold. Will bits push off using a blunt scraper like a butter knife. You might have to leave some of it on the gilding and just clean around it. To me it looks that it just needs some oil rubbed in with the very finest grade steel wool . Tim

roanoa · 3rd December 2005, 10:22 PM

Tim, the scabbard came with an Ethiopian straight sword from Artzi. As the length and width of the two blades are virtually identical, I decided to pair the scabbard with the better sword. Who knows? Maybe 70 years ago someone in Ethiopia did the same in reverse.....

Jeff D · 3rd December 2005, 10:33 PM

Very nice Ron!

On the spots away from the gilt, I would use a fine steel wool. The areas near the gilt use bone or antler and pick away. Use lots of time and WD40.

All the Best
Jeff.

P.S. I haven't forgotten the kaskara blade, still looking...

derek · 8th December 2005, 09:44 PM

Hi Roano,

That's a beauty! Maybe the best I've seen. Thanks for sharing.
-d

3rd December 2005, 08:29 PM	#1
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 234	Ethiopian sword needs HELP!!! Hi guys. Just wants to share this beauty with you. It is a straight blade sword (GURADE or SEIF) made by Wilkinson. The scabbard did not come with the sword, but it fits quite nicely. The blade must have been just superb in its original condition. Unfortunatelly some of the gilt is gone, though there is lots left. As you can see from the last picture, there are what look like blood stains (???). Does any of you know how to remove them without damaging the gilt. ROANO Attached Images

3rd December 2005, 09:37 PM	#2
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	If the blood stains don't rust any further and damage the blade I would leave it and just oil the blade. The real proof this beauty was used in battle.

3rd December 2005, 09:50 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Where did the scabbard come from? It looks almost made for the sword, many a dealer would pass it off as so. As to cleaning the best advice is very carefully what is the stain? is it rust? you cannot get rust on top of gold. Will bits push off using a blunt scraper like a butter knife. You might have to leave some of it on the gilding and just clean around it. To me it looks that it just needs some oil rubbed in with the very finest grade steel wool . Tim

3rd December 2005, 10:22 PM	#4
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 234	Tim, the scabbard came with an Ethiopian straight sword from Artzi. As the length and width of the two blades are virtually identical, I decided to pair the scabbard with the better sword. Who knows? Maybe 70 years ago someone in Ethiopia did the same in reverse.....

3rd December 2005, 10:33 PM	#5
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	Very nice Ron! On the spots away from the gilt, I would use a fine steel wool. The areas near the gilt use bone or antler and pick away. Use lots of time and WD40. All the Best Jeff. P.S. I haven't forgotten the kaskara blade, still looking...

8th December 2005, 09:44 PM	#6
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Hi Roano, That's a beauty! Maybe the best I've seen. Thanks for sharing. -d