Ethiopean Sword

Mark · 17th May 2005, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom hyle

I too think it is a German blade. The mark with the thermometer(?) seems familiar. I think there was at least one good thread on German/Ethiopian swords on the old forum....The lion with the flag is the "Lion of Judah" which was some sort of title held by one or more Ethiopian kings/emperors. Should be a nice spring tempered blade, and it looks like someone has already sharpened it at some time

"The Conquering Lion of Judah," one of the Ethiopian Imperial titles, was assumed by the Emperors based on the legend/tradition that the first Emperor of Ethiopia (Menelik I) was the son King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The Imperial dynasty in general was (and I guess still is among
Ethiopian monarchists, since one of Selasse's sons is still alive) as the "Solomonic Dynasty."

ariel · 17th May 2005, 02:30 PM

Once we went to a local Ethiopian restaurant and, after dinner, the owner proudly showed us the gallery of his pictures with celebrities. I admiringly pointed at a photograph of him with, apparently, Sammy Davis, Jr.
He almost killed me: it was Haile Selassie himself.
I never visited the place since.

Mark · 17th May 2005, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

Once we went to a local Ethiopian restaurant and, after dinner, the owner proudly showed us the gallery of his pictures with celebrities. I admiringly pointed at a photograph of him with, apparently, Sammy Davis, Jr.
He almost killed me: it was Haile Selassie himself.
I never visited the place since.

LOL!!! I can see why he was upset. For an Ethiopian having your picture taken with the Emperor would be sort of like getting your picture taken with the Pope (only probably even more special -- I mean the guy was at least in theory a distant cousin to Jesus).

M.carter · 17th May 2005, 07:09 PM

Ive seen an identical sword to this here in Kuwait, with the G.G, thermometer and the lion of judah mark. Although that had no scabbard. The blade was in a better condition (not resharpened).

Bill M · 17th May 2005, 11:28 PM

Thanks for the replies. Any ideas about the handle? Rhino??

tom hyle · 18th May 2005, 12:35 AM

I'm not sure what would make you think the blade is resharpened; Looks to me like it's just "sharpened" and hasn't seen much if any use. As for characterizing an unsharpened sword as in better condition than a sharpened one; a little like saying a car that's never had any gasoling poluting its clean tank is in better condition than one that has been filled up

Conogre · 18th May 2005, 01:51 AM

A comment and a question, even if perhaps a little dumb.
As to the horn hilt, rhino is a possibility, based upon the close-up photo in which the thermometer is seen, as the edge shows a "roughened" area, but in all the hilt appears too translucent to my eye, a tough call with just photographs.
Keep in mind that rhino and giraffe horn are compacted hair that's completely opaque and not naturally shiny unless carefully buffed and polished.As to the question, is this still called a gurade, based upon the hilt, even though it has a perfectly straight blade?
At any rate, it's a completely beautiful sword, and while I'm not usually impressed by "blood stains" and the like, my own preferences are to a sharpened blade, particularly in military pieces, unless it was done with a Dremmel or on a garage grinder with a heavy hand.
Mike

17th May 2005, 02:30 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Once we went to a local Ethiopian restaurant and, after dinner, the owner proudly showed us the gallery of his pictures with celebrities. I admiringly pointed at a photograph of him with, apparently, Sammy Davis, Jr. He almost killed me: it was Haile Selassie himself. I never visited the place since.

17th May 2005, 07:09 PM	#4
M.carter Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 176	Ive seen an identical sword to this here in Kuwait, with the G.G, thermometer and the lion of judah mark. Although that had no scabbard. The blade was in a better condition (not resharpened).

17th May 2005, 11:28 PM	#5
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Thanks for the replies. Any ideas about the handle? Rhino??

18th May 2005, 12:35 AM	#6
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	I'm not sure what would make you think the blade is resharpened; Looks to me like it's just "sharpened" and hasn't seen much if any use. As for characterizing an unsharpened sword as in better condition than a sharpened one; a little like saying a car that's never had any gasoling poluting its clean tank is in better condition than one that has been filled up

18th May 2005, 01:51 AM	#7
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	A comment and a question, even if perhaps a little dumb. As to the horn hilt, rhino is a possibility, based upon the close-up photo in which the thermometer is seen, as the edge shows a "roughened" area, but in all the hilt appears too translucent to my eye, a tough call with just photographs. Keep in mind that rhino and giraffe horn are compacted hair that's completely opaque and not naturally shiny unless carefully buffed and polished.As to the question, is this still called a gurade, based upon the hilt, even though it has a perfectly straight blade? At any rate, it's a completely beautiful sword, and while I'm not usually impressed by "blood stains" and the like, my own preferences are to a sharpened blade, particularly in military pieces, unless it was done with a Dremmel or on a garage grinder with a heavy hand. Mike