Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Jim McDougall · 7th March 2016, 05:29 PM

I think this is actually an Italian cavalry sabre of mid 19th c. or later style.
I don't have my copy at the moment, but the answer may be in:
"Armi Bianchi Militaire Italiene" C. Calamendrei, Florence, 1987

These curious 'finger stalls' in the grip are something that occurs on a number of Italian swords up into WWII, and it seems something Kronckew and I discussed a couple of years ago.

If you look at the basic hilt profile and particularly the wood on the hilt on this example attached, the similarities are somewhat compelling. I am really not sure what the blade stamps would be for, but would point out that Italian presence in Ethiopia and N. Africa was strong in the 1930s and before. In Harar, Ethiopia at the turn of the century prior to WWI most of the arms importers were Armenians, and of course the Ottoman connections may play in here as well.

7th March 2016, 05:29 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,796	I think this is actually an Italian cavalry sabre of mid 19th c. or later style. I don't have my copy at the moment, but the answer may be in: "Armi Bianchi Militaire Italiene" C. Calamendrei, Florence, 1987 These curious 'finger stalls' in the grip are something that occurs on a number of Italian swords up into WWII, and it seems something Kronckew and I discussed a couple of years ago. If you look at the basic hilt profile and particularly the wood on the hilt on this example attached, the similarities are somewhat compelling. I am really not sure what the blade stamps would be for, but would point out that Italian presence in Ethiopia and N. Africa was strong in the 1930s and before. In Harar, Ethiopia at the turn of the century prior to WWI most of the arms importers were Armenians, and of course the Ottoman connections may play in here as well. Attached Images