Ethiopian sword needs HELP!!!

[roanoa]

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]

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]

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 :D 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]

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]

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]

Hi Roano,

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