ETHIOPIAN WILKINSON SWORD
 

This is the first truly European sword for the Ethiopian Cavalry that I have found for sale. Of course, I could not miss out on it.... I have seen several (in Museums) Imperial Cavalry swords, but they were all German made in the pattern we see in the few pictures of the Selassie's Imperial Body Guards, like the one I am posting. This one is different. Made by Wilkinson with the usual writing in Amharic: HENRY WILKINSON SWORD MAKER OF KING GEORGE V PALL MALL LONDON. I am still trying to find out the pattern of this sword. Any ideas?? Does any of you have the German pattern or knows where I can find one......

Slightly odd as these were worn on the saddle not the man. Your very interesting picture showing barefoot with puttees and the swords somehow attached...though these in the picture with a different style of hilt...
Please see http://svalbardrepublic.org/ebay/wil...saber-0510.htm for the Wilkinson Gurade for Ethiopia. :)

the ones in the photo do appear to be a lion headed pommel style with a barred guard. the guardsman second from the left seems to have a poorly leg. must have been a favourite relative to stay on active service after that injury. lack of shoes, as in the zulu impis, is not a measure of their effectiveness and probably only odd to us more pampered modernists. looks like a fairly std. sam browne belt with the common short/long straps attached to the two-ring scabbards & hung on the belt hook for use while on foot.

This would be the M1912 sword for British cavalry officers. Obviously this appears to be a variant of the pattern.

Nicely added post Ibrahiim showing the more commonly seen blades for Ethiopian gurade, in traditional form here often termed shotel in a collective sense with the deeply parabolic sickle types.

In addition Wilkinson Swords produced Gurade swords for Ethiopia ...as did other European factories; example also shown...I attach a Wilkinson advertisement for the Ethiopian Market. The Gurade on a blue backdrop is inscribed by Wilkinson in Amharic all down the blade...and the Hilt is Rhino.

This looks like a 1897 pattern British infantry sword but with a grip and pommel resembling the 1912 cavalry pattern.
Regards
Richard

:)