Hi,
Sorry that I did not enclose the copy of the whole page, the handles are from "Afar style" daggers.
There is no doubt about influence comming from Arab and Ottoman world to Ethiopia that time.
Ethiopia that time was sorrouned with muslim countries and small kingdoms. Now it is landlocked, but look at e.g. Rashida peaple (Eritrea was part of the Abyssinian Kingdom). This influence was not only the question of the 19th century, but of the thousands of years ("colonization" of the African Horn from Arabic peninsula allegedly min in 2 big wawes - ancient Kingdom of Sheba - common part of Yemanite and Ethiopean history, fights of Abyssinian kings against Harar Kingdom, Somals, also against Mahdi´s Army - I think they knew Arabic and Ottoman weaponry very well). I think also this dagger is the result of such or similar influence:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=14202
I eclose lower part of the page and another two pictures from the nice book "Ethiopia Engraved".
Regards,
Martin