Ethiopian sword?

RobT · 18th September 2022, 09:41 PM

Araña_del_Sol,

Thanks for the butt cap picture. It looks like Ethiopia is likely. The domed portion of the butt cap is probably steel because aluminum would probably be too soft. The flat portion looks like aluminum to me which would indicate a 20th century date. The thing I find most interesting about the piece is the repoussé fuller. I don't have anything like it in my collection nor can I recall ever having seen anything like it.

Sincerely,
RobT

Araña_del_Sol · 20th September 2022, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobT

Araña_del_Sol,

Thanks for the butt cap picture. It looks like Ethiopia is likely. The domed portion of the butt cap is probably steel because aluminum would probably be too soft. The flat portion looks like aluminum to me which would indicate a 20th century date. The thing I find most interesting about the piece is the repoussé fuller. I don't have anything like it in my collection nor can I recall ever having seen anything like it.

Sincerely,
RobT

Thanks for the information, its always good to get an idea of when a arm was made and it potentially being an oddball

David R · 24th September 2022, 08:47 AM

OK, a longshot here....
47 years ago as callow youth I worked alongside an ex serviceman, (Kings Shropshire Light Infantry) who had service during the 1968 Mauritian riots. He mentioned that the main weapon used were swords made out of flattened Bicycle wheel rims! Apparently they made a deadly weapon with a razor sharp edge..... Could this be one of them?

roanoa · 26th September 2022, 08:02 PM

Interesting suggestion. However, if this blade had been made from a bicycle rim, the holes (from the spokes) would be evenly spaced and there would be a fourth one close to the hilt. Also they would have been distorted by the hammering. These holes appear to have been drilled. Shape of the hilt, material used and general appearance say "Ethiopian". Cheers.

18th September 2022, 09:41 PM	#1
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 535	Steel & Aluminum Araña_del_Sol, Thanks for the butt cap picture. It looks like Ethiopia is likely. The domed portion of the butt cap is probably steel because aluminum would probably be too soft. The flat portion looks like aluminum to me which would indicate a 20th century date. The thing I find most interesting about the piece is the repoussé fuller. I don't have anything like it in my collection nor can I recall ever having seen anything like it. Sincerely, RobT

24th September 2022, 08:47 AM	#3
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,116	OK, a longshot here.... 47 years ago as callow youth I worked alongside an ex serviceman, (Kings Shropshire Light Infantry) who had service during the 1968 Mauritian riots. He mentioned that the main weapon used were swords made out of flattened Bicycle wheel rims! Apparently they made a deadly weapon with a razor sharp edge..... Could this be one of them?

26th September 2022, 08:02 PM	#4
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 241	Interesting suggestion. However, if this blade had been made from a bicycle rim, the holes (from the spokes) would be evenly spaced and there would be a fourth one close to the hilt. Also they would have been distorted by the hammering. These holes appear to have been drilled. Shape of the hilt, material used and general appearance say "Ethiopian". Cheers.