Ethiopian swords

roanoa · 5th October 2006, 03:43 PM

Sorry, Yannis. Gonna bet you a bottle of Uzo it's not rhino. I have quite a few swords with rhino hilts and a some with "cow" hilts. The difference is obvious when you see them side by side.

Bill M · 5th October 2006, 04:43 PM

Hi Lew and Roanoa,

I'll take the uzo and not care whether it is cow or rhino!

Will try to get a picture of the end grain.

maybe there were not a lot of rhinos around, but this swords seems really top knotch and maybe the owner splurged on rhino?

Maybe I need to bring it to Timonium when we meet again and let you have a 'hands-on' test?

Flavio · 5th October 2006, 04:53 PM

Rhino or not, it's beautiful!!!

Lew · 5th October 2006, 04:54 PM

Bill

Here are two photos from Artzi's website. Notice it is one piece and you can see the matrix of the horn. When you compare it to yours you can see there is a definate difference between the two hilts.

Lew

Tim Simmons · 5th October 2006, 05:27 PM

The Rhino horn I have is like the picture that Lew has post. The horn is dense and fibrous so as to not let light into the material. Also it can very nearly look like wood as opposed to horn.

roanoa · 5th October 2006, 10:27 PM

About 100 years ago, in East Africa, rhino were so numerous that they were killed by the thousands every year. And I mean MANY thousands!!! Quality of the blade has little to do with the quality of the hilt. I have seen rhino horn hilts on very poor blades, and vice-versa.

Lew · 5th October 2006, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roanoa

About 100 years ago, in East Africa, rhino were so numerous that they were killed by the thousands every year. And I mean MANY thousands!!! Quality of the blade has little to do with the quality of the hilt. I have seen rhino horn hilts on very poor blades, and vice-versa.

Just a note:

During the last century, the Black Rhino has suffered the most drastic decline in total numbers of all rhino species. Between 1970 and 1992, the population of this species decreased 96%. In 1970, it was estimated that there were approximately 65,000 Black Rhinos in Africa but by 1992-93, there were only 2,300 surviving in the wild. However, since 1996, the intense anti-poaching efforts have had encouraging results. Numbers have been recovering and are now back up to about 3,610 and still increasing. Each species probably numbered white and black rhino combined 200,000 during the 19th century I don't think more than a few thousand were hunted each year. They were not as plentiful as the American bison which numbered in the millions up until the 1870s. I still say most of the horn is from various types of cattle and some from rhino and still some were wood and bakelite. I say only the wealthy would have rhino used as hilts as a status symbol.

Lew

roanoa · 6th October 2006, 10:58 PM

Bill, love your display. Very nice. I know, virtually all Arussi shields have repaired spear cuts (at least that's what I think they are...). Gorgeous pieces anyways.
Lew, we are not 100% in tune. Certainly the vast majority of rhino hilts are found on quality blades, but not always. I posted 3 Oromo/Galla swords; the blades are of similar quality (poor..). Two of them have cheap wooden handles and one has a NICE rhino grip. I have a couple of cheap Ethiopian blades with rhino grip. On the other hand, I just saw a nice picture of Ras Seyum (circa 1930) all dressed up. The sword he is wearing has "cow" grip. He certainly could afford a more expensive one. And again, when rhino was still plentiful, the Abyssinian fell in love with bakelite and "plastic" grips.... Ah, the joys of collecting!!
Keep up the good work, guys. I really want to see what's out there. I myself will keep on posting.

5th October 2006, 04:54 PM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Bill Here are two photos from Artzi's website. Notice it is one piece and you can see the matrix of the horn. When you compare it to yours you can see there is a definate difference between the two hilts. Lew Attached Images

5th October 2006, 03:43 PM	#1
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 241	Sorry, Yannis. Gonna bet you a bottle of Uzo it's not rhino. I have quite a few swords with rhino hilts and a some with "cow" hilts. The difference is obvious when you see them side by side.

5th October 2006, 04:43 PM	#2
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Hi Lew and Roanoa, I'll take the uzo and not care whether it is cow or rhino! Will try to get a picture of the end grain. maybe there were not a lot of rhinos around, but this swords seems really top knotch and maybe the owner splurged on rhino? Maybe I need to bring it to Timonium when we meet again and let you have a 'hands-on' test?

5th October 2006, 04:53 PM	#3
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Rhino or not, it's beautiful!!!

5th October 2006, 05:27 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	The Rhino horn I have is like the picture that Lew has post. The horn is dense and fibrous so as to not let light into the material. Also it can very nearly look like wood as opposed to horn.

5th October 2006, 10:27 PM	#6
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 241	About 100 years ago, in East Africa, rhino were so numerous that they were killed by the thousands every year. And I mean MANY thousands!!! Quality of the blade has little to do with the quality of the hilt. I have seen rhino horn hilts on very poor blades, and vice-versa.

6th October 2006, 10:58 PM	#8
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 241	Bill, love your display. Very nice. I know, virtually all Arussi shields have repaired spear cuts (at least that's what I think they are...). Gorgeous pieces anyways. Lew, we are not 100% in tune. Certainly the vast majority of rhino hilts are found on quality blades, but not always. I posted 3 Oromo/Galla swords; the blades are of similar quality (poor..). Two of them have cheap wooden handles and one has a NICE rhino grip. I have a couple of cheap Ethiopian blades with rhino grip. On the other hand, I just saw a nice picture of Ras Seyum (circa 1930) all dressed up. The sword he is wearing has "cow" grip. He certainly could afford a more expensive one. And again, when rhino was still plentiful, the Abyssinian fell in love with bakelite and "plastic" grips.... Ah, the joys of collecting!! Keep up the good work, guys. I really want to see what's out there. I myself will keep on posting.