Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

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

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 25th December 2018, 05:54 PM   #1
roanoa
Member
 
roanoa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 230
Default ethiopian sword/arab blade???

I just got this gorade. I need an expert opinion to identify the blade. I think is "Arabian"? Maybe from North Africa? Any idea about the age? Cheers.
Attached Images
   
roanoa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th December 2018, 12:01 AM   #2
ariel
Member
 
ariel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
Default

I am inclining toward European trade, German more likely.
ariel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th December 2018, 09:39 PM   #3
kahnjar1
Member
 
kahnjar1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND
Posts: 2,728
Default

I agree with Ariel that the blade is likely Solingen from where many blades were supplied to Ethiopia. Wilkinson of London also supplied many blades to the region.
I would discount North Africa or Arabia as point of origin as it is most unlikely that any blade from there would be decorated in the manner shown.
As to age, the blade is likely 19th or early 20th century though the date of mounting could be any time.
See here also for Ethiopian swords
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=24493
Stu
kahnjar1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th December 2018, 10:58 PM   #4
ariel
Member
 
ariel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
Default

Based on what I saw coming to the market, most gurades sport European blades. I have one German and one Russian, Zlatoust dated 1853.

Wilkinson made shotels as well, but all I have seen were obviously local.
ariel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27th December 2018, 07:39 PM   #5
Martin Lubojacky
Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Czech Republic
Posts: 836
Default

I am also of the opinion it is rather European blade, but it does not seem to be one of those typical custom-designed (decorated with etching "on Ethiopian requests").
The blade from Zlatoust dated 1853 could originally be a property of one of the cossacks or dragoons accompanying Russian envoys by the end of 19th century. Such blades are not common on gorades...
I saw one gorade with interesting - probably Persian or may be Turkish blade. I hope I´ll be able to post a photo later. But such combination is also not common.
Martin Lubojacky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28th December 2018, 12:04 AM   #6
TVV
Member
 
TVV's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,595
Default

I have a gorade with a Russian Zlatoust made blade, dated 1875, most probably from the M1865 officer shashka. I cannot be sure what the exact story behind these Russian blades is, but it appears to be more than just a random blade or two left there by an individual traveling to the area. Maybe some enterprising merchant brought a whole bunch of surplus blades in the early 20th century, or maybe these are part of Soviet military aid during the 30s (or later).

Back to the subject of this thread: these crescent and star symbols are obviously Muslim and I recall seeing similar markings on Yemeni mounted blades. Swords generally traveled from Ethiopia to Yemen because of the rhino hilts, but it is possible this European blade traveled in the other direction.

Teodor
TVV is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28th December 2018, 03:11 AM   #7
Jim McDougall
Arms Historian
 
Jim McDougall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,719
Default

It is hard to imagine exactly the dynamics of blade trade an diffusion in these regions with certainty, but there are certain factors to consider. This blade is very much like the 'shashka' type blades out of Solingen which were in some degree found in Arab blades.

These 'cosmological' markings are also typical of those found on various European blades in both talismamic themes as well as makers marks. Firms such as Schimmelbusch & Kirschbaum used these kinds of stars and comet and others used the crescent moon. These were often adopted and spuriously applied on trade blades in various entrepots receiving them.

There were also Russian blades, Caucasian blades which may have come from Armenian context into trade networks which ended up in the Red Sea. It is well known there were many Armenian merchants bringing in blades in Harar, in Abyssinia. While of course there were considerable numbers of British blades and Solingen blades imported into Abyssinia through more diplomatic channels, these 'extracirricular' products probably had considerable presence as well.

As well noted, many gurades went to Arabia, primarily San'aa and were relieved of their rhino hilts, the blades remounted or traded elsewhere.
It does not seem unusual that this type of trade blade, probably Solingen of 19th c., would end up in Abyssinian context.
Numbers of the 'nimcha' often termed 'Zanzibar' style, ended up in Yemen with blades carrying similar groupings of these spurious European type markings and date in latter 19th c.

All these factors add to the mystery and dynamics of these intriguing blades in whatever mounts they ended up in.
Jim McDougall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28th December 2018, 02:21 PM   #8
ariel
Member
 
ariel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
Default

At the end of 19th century there was a sudden flood of Russians into Abyssinia: military men, Cossacks, intellectuals, physicians.
The point of attraction was that Abyssinian Christians were Orthodox. Russian government decided to enter Africa and to establish there not exactly a colony akin to West Europeans, but a “ brotherly” forepost. They sent medical personnel, their officers trained Abyssinian soldiers and were appointed as mid,- and high-level administrators. Pertinent to our discussion, Abyssinians were given Russian surplus weapons, including old sword blades. This is the origin of Teodor’s and my gurades.

In a way, Russian tactics and strategy in Abyssinia were identical to their later Communist assimilation of Castro’s Cuba. The locals were to remain nominally independent but fully beholden to and controlled by Russia.

The 1917 revolution put an end to Russia’s Abyssinian adventure. But in its aftermath there was a thin streak of Russian emigrees to Abyssinia, among whom BTW was Nazima Hanafi, a direct descendant of Shamil ( yes, the very same one) who converted to Orthodoxy and became one of the Grand Dames of Ethiopian beaumonde.

Currently, the only traces of Russian presence in Ethiopia are Balcha Hospital in Addis Ababa ( originally established by the Tzarist Russian Red Cross) where they still serve bliny and stuffed cabbage, and a small group of Russian women who married Ethiopian students.

Russia still conducts the same bottom-feeding attempts to influence certain pariah African countries such as Zimbabwe, Central African Republic, Sudan and Erythrea. Despite her own economical catastrophes, Russia continues to send there military advisers and private security forces and provide them with loans ( with no hope of return) to buy outdated Russian military junk, akin to the Tzarist Russia shipments of decommissioned Zlatoust saber blades. Meanwhile, China builds industrial complexes all over Africa, buys land and natural resources there and floods the entire continent with China-made cheap goods.

But at least we have Ethiopian gurades with antique Zlatoust blades, a memento of yet another Russian attempt to become a world- class empire.

Last edited by ariel; 28th December 2018 at 03:42 PM.
ariel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28th December 2018, 05:37 PM   #9
Battara
EAAF Staff
 
Battara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,135
Default

Had no idea. Thanks Ariel. This explains a lot of the European blades there.
Battara is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28th December 2018, 05:45 PM   #10
Jim McDougall
Arms Historian
 
Jim McDougall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,719
Default

Ariel,
Thank you so much for this valuable insight, which I clearly missed in my studies on Ethiopian weapons!! I really had no idea there were Russians in there, and I guess assumed there was so much other nationality presence that such intervention by them was not viable. Clearly they had 'their hands in the cookie jar' in many places not well known.

Here in the US, in California and Western regions all the way to Alaska they loomed large in areas regarded as French, Spanish and British it would seem much in the same manner.


I really appreciate very much these kinds of responses, which illuminate things missed by my own research and probably others as well, and give the topic the proper perspective in a generous and gracious manner. Thank you again
.

Jim
Jim McDougall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th December 2018, 01:11 AM   #11
ariel
Member
 
ariel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
Default

Guys,

I was given so much by the multiple Forumites over the years that even a small payback to the community is a pleasure.


Gentlemen, Please restrict your postings to the original topic. Those interested in discussing or wanting to make comments or state personal opinions on the present or possible future political climent should do so either through PM or email.

Robert

Last edited by Robert; 30th December 2018 at 06:30 AM.
ariel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th December 2018, 06:04 PM   #12
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

Ariel we are very lucky to have a specialist in such developments of Russian expansionism and how much they were involved in that part of East Africa... Among the weapons supplied to Ethiopia there were 5000 Sabres ...and a huge load of gunpowder weapons...in the mid 1890s...and which won the first of the wars with Italy . It must be considered in the mix and blades could easily have been traded afterwards and rehilted etc.
Please see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Italo-Ethiopian_War and I place a few pictures here …Key to the war was the main battle of Adwa attended by a Russian contingent of about 50 cavalry and 15 Artillery Advisors including Nikolay Leontiev who became a Count see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolay_Leontiev pictured below and a whole load of weapons including 5,000 Russian swords. A lot of damage was done by Ethiopian irregulars with spears and swords ...and of course gunpowder weapons again supplied by Russia. The question is raised as to the blades and swords used in this major battle and what transpired afterwards... as well as captured Italian weapons and swords...
Attached Images
   

Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 29th December 2018 at 06:17 PM.
Ibrahiim al Balooshi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th December 2018, 06:42 PM   #13
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

Here is a vibrant painting of the Battle of Adwa painted in the Ethiopian style (about 1940) and now in the British Museum. Note that those fighting were good verses bad... The Good displayed in full face but the Bad in profile.
Attached Images
 
Ibrahiim al Balooshi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th December 2018, 07:30 PM   #14
ariel
Member
 
ariel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
Unhappy

I know thic pic from Spring’s book.
Can you find yet another sign identifying the “bad”? :-)))
ariel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30th December 2018, 12:13 AM   #15
Martin Lubojacky
Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Czech Republic
Posts: 836
Default

Interesting book by Russian cavalry officer, who accompanied Ethiopian army racing into souther territories to expand the Ethiopian Empire:
http://www.seltzerbooks.com/ethiopat...ssianeyes.html
Martin Lubojacky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30th December 2018, 01:20 AM   #16
Jim McDougall
Arms Historian
 
Jim McDougall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,719
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi
Ariel we are very lucky to have a specialist in such developments of Russian expansionism and how much they were involved in that part of East Africa... Among the weapons supplied to Ethiopia there were 5000 Sabres ...and a huge load of gunpowder weapons...in the mid 1890s...and which won the first of the wars with Italy . It must be considered in the mix and blades could easily have been traded afterwards and rehilted etc.
Please see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Italo-Ethiopian_War and I place a few pictures here …Key to the war was the main battle of Adwa attended by a Russian contingent of about 50 cavalry and 15 Artillery Advisors including Nikolay Leontiev who became a Count see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolay_Leontiev pictured below and a whole load of weapons including 5,000 Russian swords. A lot of damage was done by Ethiopian irregulars with spears and swords ...and of course gunpowder weapons again supplied by Russia. The question is raised as to the blades and swords used in this major battle and what transpired afterwards... as well as captured Italian weapons and swords...



Now THIS is some outstanding perspective, and key to the period of these Russian swords being discussed! Fascinating entry and again.....a whole new view for me into the Russian faction in Ethiopia.


Martin, thank you for adding this book too!


Never stop learning here
Jim McDougall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30th December 2018, 01:18 PM   #17
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

Thank you Jim, Nothing beats a good research subject like this one! there are some superb books and the web is full of little snippets and some big full productions such as the Wikipedia details well advanced in great detail with huge references to explore.. It is said that unless a student understands Ethiopia that essentially he will not understand anything about Africa and that is vital for the 19thC developments in Europe and leading up to WW1. the clues to British involvement in Sudan are on these pages … the war against the Mahdist and all ...are tied to this very essential reading.

please see https://www.africaresource.com/rasta...-for-ethiopia/ and the accompanying artwork below showing the Russians who were at Adwa..
Attached Images
 
Ibrahiim al Balooshi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30th December 2018, 01:22 PM   #18
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

The Battle of Adowa.
Attached Images
 

Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 30th December 2018 at 02:00 PM.
Ibrahiim al Balooshi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30th December 2018, 06:37 PM   #19
roanoa
Member
 
roanoa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 230
Default

Here are two Russian swords from Ethiopia. Both have the two-headed Russian Imperial eagle and the puzzling sun with 4 letters. Initials of an Armenian merchant???
Attached Images
   
roanoa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31st December 2018, 11:18 AM   #20
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

Just picking up on the two headed eagle insignia and a superb website reference on this subject at http://www.hubert-herald.nl/TwoHeade...eadedeaglewest
Ibrahiim al Balooshi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31st December 2018, 11:50 AM   #21
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
Old 1st January 2019, 06:26 PM   #22
Martin Lubojacky
Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Czech Republic
Posts: 836
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Martin Lubojacky
....I saw one gorade with interesting - probably Persian or may be Turkish blade. I hope I´ll be able to post a photo later....
Here it is
Attached Images
     
Martin Lubojacky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 1st January 2019, 06:36 PM   #23
Martin Lubojacky
Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Czech Republic
Posts: 836
Default

I forgot to ad: The blade is cca 1 cm thick at its base, The "yelmen" part takes ca half of the total length and is sharp from both sides, The sabre is heavy and the blade is not flexible. Pronounced grooves are deep.
Martin Lubojacky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd January 2019, 02:50 PM   #24
Richard G
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 400
Default

Rather unusual. What is the hilt\handle made of?
It looks like some kind of root\burr wood.
Regards
Richard
Richard G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd January 2019, 03:14 PM   #25
roanoa
Member
 
roanoa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 230
Default

The gorade is a Solingen blade. It appears on Julius Voos catalogue of Abyssinian blades as #6. I have seen 6 so far. All of them are plain, with the exception of the one I have in my collection, which has an inscription in Amharic naming Count Leontieff as owner.
Attached Images
    
roanoa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd January 2019, 09:55 PM   #26
ariel
Member
 
ariel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
Default

Some of German blades have a mark G.G.

My Alzheimer’s is getting worse: forgot the meaning of this abbreviation.

Can you help?
ariel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd January 2019, 09:58 PM   #27
ariel
Member
 
ariel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
Default

Re. Colored handle: not plastic, I presume?

As to Leontieff’s gurade: outstanding find!
ariel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd January 2019, 10:03 PM   #28
TVV
Member
 
TVV's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,595
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ariel
Some of German blades have a mark G.G.

My Alzheimer’s is getting worse: forgot the meaning of this abbreviation.

Can you help?
Gesetzlich Geschutzt, i.e. "Protected by Law", as in a trade mark? Sorry, I have no umlauts on my keyboard.
TVV is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 7th January 2019, 04:27 PM   #29
Martin Lubojacky
Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Czech Republic
Posts: 836
Default

Sorry for the late answer, I was travelling a little.
First of all, thank you roanoa for the identification of the blade, I did not see it before (and thanks for reference to Julius Voos catalogue, which I also did not know).
The handle is made of plastic I think. Maybe imitation of tortoisesshell
Martin Lubojacky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 7th January 2019, 05:28 PM   #30
Kubur
Member
 
Kubur's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,145
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Martin Lubojacky
Sorry for the late answer, I was travelling a little.
First of all, thank you roanoa for the identification of the blade, I did not see it before (and thanks for reference to Julius Voos catalogue, which I also did not know).
The handle is made of plastic I think. Maybe imitation of tortoisesshell
Is it plastic or bakelite?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakelite
Many old jambiya have bakelite hilts... I'm pretty sure that your hilt is original...
BTW absolutely beautiful
Kubur 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 10:24 PM.


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.