sign on Ethiopian saif

[Emil Slavov]

Hello to all !
I just wanted to share with you some info, especially with Jim McDougall, concerning the sign " O.Terzian" on a saif.
I will attach a picture and just quote the answers of Professor Pankhurst/ read his works about Ethiopia/

"The big importer of weapons in Menilek;s day and after was Sarkis Terzian,
I have gone into the arms imports story and the Terzian family history and
the history of Armenians in Ethiopia fairly exhaustuvely - and I have never
come across an O. Terzian,
Could it be a mistake?
See my book AN ECONOMIC HISTORY OF ETHIOPIA (Addis Ababa, 1968)
Best regards
Richard Pankhurst
See my article on Armenians in Ethiopia in REVUE DES ETUDES ARMEMIENNES
1981m vol XV "

"Greetings
It is clearly the Ethiopian Lion of Judah!
I wonder whether it could be a mistake with the makers mistaking their
instructions Many years ago my son, a schoolboy in Addis Ababa, was
collectung AIR MAIL POSTAL LABELS, i.e stamps with aeroplanes etc. He found
one with the words "In Amharic" i,e the printers were given an instruction
which they misunderstood.
Could your people have mistaken the O.
Unfortunately the old Mr Avedis Terzian, the last of the family, died some
years back, I intrviewed him extensively -
I don't see where the O comes from
Did people read it as it Ovedis
I will ask members of the Armenian community whom I know
Best wishes
Richard Pankhurst"

"The importer was Ovannes [short for Hovannes] Terzian, the brother of hte
much better known Sarkis Terzian This I learn from the Armenian community
Best wishes
Richard Pnakhurst"

I am sure this clever man has nothing against to share his answers from our private correspondence with forum mates.
I am still searching for another answer-where the blade was made and by whom and when?
I am expecting an answer from Solingen, but if anyone can help and knows something-write.
Any additional info I have, will be shared with you.
my best regards to all
Emo