[Jim McDougall]

I'm glad to see Roanoa's comments as always, as in my opinion when it comes to things Ethiopian...he is the man! I agree with Charles in accord with his comments on the straightening of blades, and honestly would not have ever known that was possible. In checking through notes, I did find the multichanneled Wilkinson blades of the 20th c. period and the fullering does not correspond to this example, which obviously would further suggest the probable Solingen origin of the blade.
The suggestion by Roanoa on the M.Kevorkoff Co. in Harrar certainly does seem well placed and while he wisely exercises caution in specifying that is what the MK represents, I feel it is most plausible. Harrar was of course one of the key Ethiopian trade centers for Red Sea commerce, and as noted, this blade, and its mounts, seem to comprise items in that sphere.

Teodor, I wasn't sure what the metal might be so used the term silver metal, not meaning silver, but of the color, thinking possibly even aluminum. I dont believe Keverkoff was the Armenian name you were looking for, but there was considerable activity in arms acquisition maintained by the Emperor Menelik II (r.1868-1915). In this time he worked with the Armenian Sarkis Terzian in these arrangements c.1890, though acquiring weapons through a number of other channels as well it would appear. These efforts enabled the Abyssinians to accomplish a resounding victory against Italian colonization at Adowa, on March 1,1896.

It seems that Solingen suppliers provided some blades to smiths who were responding to these efforts, many of which seem to have been situated in Yemen (probably San'a) and Hadrahmaut, as well as, it would seem, to Harrar. It seems we saw some of these blades, straight with fullering similar to this one, from Solingen, and another straight example by Mole of Birmingham, in discussions about six years ago here.
These predate the Wilkinson contract for Tafari Makonnen (Haile Selassie I) which was in 1932, and may have been from between 1917 and then while Menelik's daughter Zauditu ruled after his death in 1915 as Menelik had no sons. I have wondered whether sword blades with the Lion of Judah absent might have been issued during this period since it represented effectively, the Lion of Judah as emperor, and wondered if that might have been very strictly viewed. Just a thought, not intending any incorrectness.

As noted earlier, a most interesting piece comprised of components that include the blade, probably Solingen made and exported to Harrar (?) or Yemen, uncertain which direction first, and probably curved from straight configuration. In Yemen, where it has been noted, the Zanzibar 'nimcha' hilts are known to have been received from Zanzibar and often remounted there. The hilt style, in its present form, seems to have been refashioned in Bedouin regions of Sinai to Negev (?) using the Yemen applied components of the Zanzibar hilt (missing knucklebow, suggesting possible damage that may have led to refurbishing) and the straight Solingen blade. The crude application of the six point star seems an effort to recall the Wilkinson style blades, suggesting it might have been done c.1930's when these entered Abyssinia, though it is unclear on these blades sent there prior to the 1932 contract. I have been told that most such blades were sent there through Robert Mole, who subcontracted for Wilkinson , and I do not believe carried this six point star feature.

Looks like this refurbished Bedouin sabre indeed had an interesting working life!

All best regards,
Jim