Tjikeroeh parang - western style

[kronckew]

Found this mark on a recent acquisition of mine that appeared to be a stirrup guarded bull nosed parang made in Tjikeroeh. The blade mark looks rather western to me, anyone have a clue what the mark is? I personally think it is not Javan & the mark looks European. Blade may be a European sabre cut down to be a hanger/cutlass.

[Ian]

Wayne, does this one have TJIKEROEH engraved on the reverse forte? When I first saw your picture, it did not strike me as being from Tjikeroeh. The foliate engraved design down the blade has some resemblance, but on Tjiker swords it is usually contained within a fuller, and I cannot recall seeing a heavily engraved border around that design on a Tjiker sword before.

The grip of the hilt seems to be finely ridged and I've also not seen that, or a stirrup guard, on a Tjiker sword before.

Unless it bears the "Tjikeroeh" mark, I think this sword is more likely from elsewhere.

Here's a blown up view of the sword...

[TVV]

This looks like a cut down Ethiopian saber to me. The Saint George mark is found on European blades imported into Abyssinia during the 2nd half of the 19th century, like the one I have on a blade reworked into a kaskara. Often there would be a Lion of Judah on the opposite side.

[Tim Simmons]

Is that grip a turn of 19th century/ww1 German sabre grip?

I now wonder if this possibly a not often seen German export , Romanian artillery officers sabre?

[TVV]

All kinds of countries used lionhead hilts, but this is an Ethiopian pattern. See a similar sword here:

http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=24493&highlight=ethiopian+lionhead

[kronckew]

TVV:


Can you show a photo of the whole stirrup hilted sword?

[TVV]

A quick internet search produced this image:

250266

You may also want to check this link:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SWORDS/comments/13zkvio/ethiopian_imperial_guard_sabres/

[kronckew]

Oops! I meant the whole sword belonging to the one in TVV's post #3 above which is more takouba-like.

[TVV]

Sure, it is a kaskara, with a blade that was reforged into a broadsword from what used to be a curved Ethiopian blade.

250274

[Tim Simmons]

Certianly German manufatcure?

[Pertinax]

Certianly German manufatcure?

Officer's sabre of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (KSHS), made in Solingen, Handle KD89

[kronckew]

Figured it out, it's an Ethiopian Imperial Guard sword imported from Germany. No other markings on the reverse side, Appears to have been shaped with that odd tip on its yelman deliberately as an infantry weapon rather than for cavalry. Missing the red ruby eyes on the Imperial Lion figurine. It was covered in red ochre, typical Ethiopian Red iron oxide colour. No scabbard, unfortunately.
Cleaned up a bit:

[kronckew]

Last photo in the set:

[Ian]

Very nice sword, Wayne. Much better pics and it cleaned up nicely. Congratulations!