Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 18th July 2016, 05:33 PM   #1
roanoa
Member
 
roanoa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 230
Default ETHIOPIAN WILKINSON SWORD

This is the first truly European sword for the Ethiopian Cavalry that I have found for sale. Of course, I could not miss out on it.... I have seen several (in Museums) Imperial Cavalry swords, but they were all German made in the pattern we see in the few pictures of the Selassie's Imperial Body Guards, like the one I am posting. This one is different. Made by Wilkinson with the usual writing in Amharic: HENRY WILKINSON SWORD MAKER OF KING GEORGE V PALL MALL LONDON. I am still trying to find out the pattern of this sword. Any ideas?? Does any of you have the German pattern or knows where I can find one......
Attached Images
    

Last edited by roanoa; 18th July 2016 at 09:22 PM.
roanoa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th July 2016, 05:47 AM   #2
Ibrahiim al Balooshi
Member
 
Ibrahiim al Balooshi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE
Posts: 4,408
Default

Slightly odd as these were worn on the saddle not the man. Your very interesting picture showing barefoot with puttees and the swords somehow attached...though these in the picture with a different style of hilt...
Please see http://svalbardrepublic.org/ebay/wil...saber-0510.htm for the Wilkinson Gurade for Ethiopia.
Ibrahiim al Balooshi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th July 2016, 08:37 AM   #3
kronckew
Member
 
kronckew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,145
Default

the ones in the photo do appear to be a lion headed pommel style with a barred guard. the guardsman second from the left seems to have a poorly leg. must have been a favourite relative to stay on active service after that injury. lack of shoes, as in the zulu impis, is not a measure of their effectiveness and probably only odd to us more pampered modernists. looks like a fairly std. sam browne belt with the common short/long straps attached to the two-ring scabbards & hung on the belt hook for use while on foot.
kronckew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th July 2016, 07:03 PM   #4
Jim McDougall
Arms Historian
 
Jim McDougall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,719
Default

This would be the M1912 sword for British cavalry officers. Obviously this appears to be a variant of the pattern.

Nicely added post Ibrahiim showing the more commonly seen blades for Ethiopian gurade, in traditional form here often termed shotel in a collective sense with the deeply parabolic sickle types.
Attached Images
 
Jim McDougall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th July 2016, 02:37 AM   #5
Ibrahiim al Balooshi
Member
 
Ibrahiim al Balooshi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE
Posts: 4,408
Default

In addition Wilkinson Swords produced Gurade swords for Ethiopia ...as did other European factories; example also shown...I attach a Wilkinson advertisement for the Ethiopian Market. The Gurade on a blue backdrop is inscribed by Wilkinson in Amharic all down the blade...and the Hilt is Rhino.
Attached Images
    

Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 20th July 2016 at 11:05 AM.
Ibrahiim al Balooshi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th July 2016, 12:58 PM   #6
Richard G
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 400
Default

This looks like a 1897 pattern British infantry sword but with a grip and pommel resembling the 1912 cavalry pattern.
Regards
Richard

Last edited by Richard G; 20th July 2016 at 01:27 PM.
Richard G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st July 2016, 04:17 PM   #7
Ibrahiim al Balooshi
Member
 
Ibrahiim al Balooshi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE
Posts: 4,408
Default

Ibrahiim al Balooshi is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 09:53 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.