African (?) saber - help needed

Flavio · 8th September 2006, 03:51 PM

Hi all, here is a picture from Spring's book: a gurade and an europian saber with ethiopian scabbards.

roanoa · 9th September 2006, 02:22 AM

Hi guys. I'd like to see a close up of the scabbard. The tooling on the red leather is a sure tell. It looks Ethiopian to me. I agree that Berber scabbards also come in this shape, but the blades are usually much shorter. I also agree that the leather covered hilt has close ties with a Kaskara. That was my very first thought. It would be interesting to have the writing translated. Having said that, nothing surprises me when it comes to ABYSSINIAN swords. I have seen Kascaras with Ge'ez writing on the blades as well as the Lion of Judah. I have seen gurades with Arabian and even Moroccan hlts. And, of course, gurades with Arabic writing. Let's not forget the Arabian influence in Abyssinian areas like Harar. As it stands, without better pictures and more info, I would say it's a sword of Ethiopian/Sudanese origin and that it may have changed hands a few times and that each new owner has put a personal touch to it. Also, it seems to me there is leather braided cord attached to the scabbard and that it is made in the typical fashion of Southern Sudan. Any more thoughts? Cheers, RON

roanoa · 9th September 2006, 09:55 PM

One more thing that came to mind. The scabbard is, I suppose, made of raw hide covered with thin red leather. Ethiopian swords are worn on the right side and the stiching is therefore on the left side which is the side close to the body. If this is the case, then I would believe that at least the scabbard is Ethiopian.

Michael Blalock · 13th September 2006, 03:45 PM

It looks like an Ethiopian sword that ended up in Sudan and got the typical Kaskara acid etching. There may have been other modifications at that point as well.

Tim Simmons · 13th September 2006, 05:37 PM

Ethiopia and the Sudan share a long modern international border in the 19th century this would have been much more fluid. The Mahdi had followers in what is to days Ethiopia. So where one influence ended and another started is splitting hairs really.

8th September 2006, 03:51 PM	#1
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Hi all, here is a picture from Spring's book: a gurade and an europian saber with ethiopian scabbards. Attached Images

9th September 2006, 02:22 AM	#2
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 241	Hi guys. I'd like to see a close up of the scabbard. The tooling on the red leather is a sure tell. It looks Ethiopian to me. I agree that Berber scabbards also come in this shape, but the blades are usually much shorter. I also agree that the leather covered hilt has close ties with a Kaskara. That was my very first thought. It would be interesting to have the writing translated. Having said that, nothing surprises me when it comes to ABYSSINIAN swords. I have seen Kascaras with Ge'ez writing on the blades as well as the Lion of Judah. I have seen gurades with Arabian and even Moroccan hlts. And, of course, gurades with Arabic writing. Let's not forget the Arabian influence in Abyssinian areas like Harar. As it stands, without better pictures and more info, I would say it's a sword of Ethiopian/Sudanese origin and that it may have changed hands a few times and that each new owner has put a personal touch to it. Also, it seems to me there is leather braided cord attached to the scabbard and that it is made in the typical fashion of Southern Sudan. Any more thoughts? Cheers, RON

9th September 2006, 09:55 PM	#3
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 241	One more thing that came to mind. The scabbard is, I suppose, made of raw hide covered with thin red leather. Ethiopian swords are worn on the right side and the stiching is therefore on the left side which is the side close to the body. If this is the case, then I would believe that at least the scabbard is Ethiopian.

13th September 2006, 03:45 PM	#4
Michael Blalock Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: dc Posts: 271	It looks like an Ethiopian sword that ended up in Sudan and got the typical Kaskara acid etching. There may have been other modifications at that point as well.

13th September 2006, 05:37 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,842	Ethiopia and the Sudan share a long modern international border in the 19th century this would have been much more fluid. The Mahdi had followers in what is to days Ethiopia. So where one influence ended and another started is splitting hairs really.