Ethiopian Shotel or Gurade to share

[roanoa]

OK, so I guess I misunderstood. I though you were referring at the cut on the scabbard for the shotel. If you instead refer top the cut in the scabbard for the gorade, then there is no other explanation than that it may have been damaged.

[werecow]

Originally Posted by roanoa

OK, so I guess I misunderstood. I though you were referring at the cut on the scabbard for the shotel. If you instead refer top the cut in the scabbard for the gorade, then there is no other explanation than that it may have been damaged.

Yes indeed, I meant the scabbard for the gurade. There is actually no cutout in the one for the shotel (I expected there to be one before I actually got it), though it flares out a bit near the top.

I'll add some detailed pics of both scabbards in case anyone is interested. First the gurade's, which is pretty straightforward other than the odd cutout. Will add the shotel's in the next post.

[werecow]

Shotel's scabbard. This one has some decorations.

[werecow]

Oh, and as to how these handle: they are pretty front heavy (the grip is of course quite light) and they both feel to me with my limited experience a lot like draw cutting swords like tulwars and shamshirs, as if they want to be pulled around or along the body from the shoulder and elbow in a long slicing motion, if that makes sense. My guess is you wouldn't really do a western saber style moulinet with it (at least not with the shotel). The pommel reinforces that impression. But I could be wrong of course, as I don't know much about HAMA. The point on the shotel is a little terrifying to me when I carefully swing it around (which ever way I hold it). I've tried to indicate the approximate point of balance in this picture (red lines). In both cases it's about a third of the way up the blade. And with the shotel the point of gravity is significantly in front of the hand (making it feel more like a forward curved blade like a yataghan), whereas with the gurade it is of course slightly behind the hand like a saber.

As a total layman, this flow kind of feels "right" to me for the gurade:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxJMODhcZk4

[Martin Lubojacky]

Hi, The hole on the sheath of Gorade was dug by mice. You can clearly see the tooth marks. It's common in Ethiopia.

The rawhide sheath can be shaped and stretched by maceration in pure ethanol. The advantage is that it doesn't shrink to its original size, as when soaked in water.

[Martin Lubojacky]

One more thing about the ethanol maceration: I wouldn't do that with a shotel sheath. This sheath probably consists of two layers. The rawhide scabbard is covered with a fine leather with an embossed pattern, and that could get ruined.

[werecow]

Originally Posted by Martin Lubojacky

Hi, The hole on the sheath of Gorade was dug by mice. You can clearly see the tooth marks. It's common in Ethiopia.

The rawhide sheath can be shaped and stretched by maceration in pure ethanol. The advantage is that it doesn't shrink to its original size, as when soaked in water.

Ah, yes, now that you've said it... that does look like toothmarks! Funny how straight that is. They nibbled it like a watermelon! And here I thought it was some sort of weird open-backed scabbard fashion choice.