Abyssinian shotel for coment

Jim McDougall · 22nd November 2007, 01:25 AM

Interesting discussion and examples gentlemen.

roanoa · 24th November 2007, 02:24 AM

Ciao, Paolo. Have you checked with Flavio about the description of the Pigorini sword? It is a very nice example of a not so common variation. I am a bit uncertain about calling it a "shotel" as it has characteristics that set it apart from the typical shotel forms. I have seen somewhere a reference about it being called SHAMLA. But considering the many languages spoken in Abyssinia, shamla could very well simply mean "sword".....

Rod Charters · 24th November 2007, 03:58 PM

Hi Roanna,
is there a link between the hilt designs as seen in Paolos sword and the couple of daggers I posted. Do you think this is a characteristic of Oromia related tribes or just coincidence in this case?
Rod

roanoa · 26th November 2007, 05:57 PM

Hi, Rod. The handles you are referring to are of typical Abyssinian design, but there is not enough evidence to trace them to a particular ethnic group.

roanoa · 29th November 2007, 03:25 PM

Hi, Rod. Just saw this picture (horribly small..... I hope it will show OK) and thought of you. The knife is identified (I hope the identification is correct) as being from the Sidamo province of Ethiopia. Cheers.

Rod Charters · 30th November 2007, 10:53 PM

Hi Roanna, thanks very much for this. Yes its an interesting style of knife and scabbard and given that the one I have is extremely heavy (34cm blade but approx. 1.5 cm thick in the centre) had some previous discussions on whether it had an agricultural purpose as well as fighting. My guess for cutting enset (ornamental banana commonnon to the area). Thanks Rod.

Emanuel · 7th December 2007, 02:59 PM

Hello,

I talked with an Ethiopian gentleman about Ethiopian swords and when I mentioned the shotel he didn't understand what I meant. He did not recognize the word nor did he understand my description of the sword. Could we have the word wrong? Or is it more likely that the shotel is not in living memory, or is uncommonly known to Ethiopians? I will show him a pic next time and see what he says.

Furthermore when I mentioned the "guradé" he corrected my pronunciation to "guragué". Any comments on this?

Regards,
Emanuel

29th November 2007, 03:25 PM	#5
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 241	Hi, Rod. Just saw this picture (horribly small..... I hope it will show OK) and thought of you. The knife is identified (I hope the identification is correct) as being from the Sidamo province of Ethiopia. Cheers. Attached Images

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22nd November 2007, 01:25 AM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,298	Interesting discussion and examples gentlemen.

24th November 2007, 02:24 AM	#2
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 241	Ciao, Paolo. Have you checked with Flavio about the description of the Pigorini sword? It is a very nice example of a not so common variation. I am a bit uncertain about calling it a "shotel" as it has characteristics that set it apart from the typical shotel forms. I have seen somewhere a reference about it being called SHAMLA. But considering the many languages spoken in Abyssinia, shamla could very well simply mean "sword".....

24th November 2007, 03:58 PM	#3
Rod Charters Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 48	Hi Roanna, is there a link between the hilt designs as seen in Paolos sword and the couple of daggers I posted. Do you think this is a characteristic of Oromia related tribes or just coincidence in this case? Rod

26th November 2007, 05:57 PM	#4
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 241	Hi, Rod. The handles you are referring to are of typical Abyssinian design, but there is not enough evidence to trace them to a particular ethnic group.

30th November 2007, 10:53 PM	#6
Rod Charters Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 48	Hi Roanna, thanks very much for this. Yes its an interesting style of knife and scabbard and given that the one I have is extremely heavy (34cm blade but approx. 1.5 cm thick in the centre) had some previous discussions on whether it had an agricultural purpose as well as fighting. My guess for cutting enset (ornamental banana commonnon to the area). Thanks Rod.

7th December 2007, 02:59 PM	#7
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hello, I talked with an Ethiopian gentleman about Ethiopian swords and when I mentioned the shotel he didn't understand what I meant. He did not recognize the word nor did he understand my description of the sword. Could we have the word wrong? Or is it more likely that the shotel is not in living memory, or is uncommonly known to Ethiopians? I will show him a pic next time and see what he says. Furthermore when I mentioned the "guradé" he corrected my pronunciation to "guragué". Any comments on this? Regards, Emanuel