sucker for African sickles

Tim Simmons · 8th November 2007, 11:15 AM

I took these scabs of rust back to the bare metal. To avoid etching do not leave the rust remover on as long as the bottle says but work in short bursts with a steel tooth brush. When bare metal the patches looked a bit weired so I had to work back. I think I have got a good balance between removing a rust canker and leaving enough dirt and patina on the rest of the blade.

roanoa · 8th November 2007, 06:31 PM

Hi, Tim. Fantastic blades. The similarities with the Ethiopian shotels are striking (no pun intended). And talking about shotels...... I hate to bring this up again, and I agree that my opinion is not worth that much, BUT let me start by saying that the shotel may be very curved or almost straight. Regardless of the curvature, it is virtually impossible to do any damage by "reaching around the opponent's shield". If you have a shotel you can try.... You may just be able to tickle your opponents and while doing so you will leave yourself wide open to be stabbed. I guess the "reaching around the shield" is one of those myths that eons ago someone thought of, put in writing and became gospel. Lots of these "myths" around as you all well know. The shotel is used to strike with the TIP and it has lots of periferal striking force. Then again, it's only my opinion.

Tim Simmons · 8th November 2007, 06:56 PM

Thank you roanoa, I would agree with you. The head, face, neck and shoulders would be very vulnerable to hammer like blows from these weapons. The more I play with this it becomes all the more obvious and the realisation of the frightful wound that must have been inflicted is not nice.

Emanuel · 8th November 2007, 07:46 PM

I am still waiting to receive my first shotel, but I've always had the impression that shotel are double-edged - is that correct? If so, then what would stop them being used like shamshir?

Regards,
Emanuel

Luc LEFEBVRE · 11th November 2007, 10:17 PM

Nice exemples Tim, I had one but I don't kept it.
I have these sickled weapons :
Luc

Luc LEFEBVRE · 11th November 2007, 10:18 PM

The one I had.
Luc

Jim McDougall · 19th November 2007, 02:57 AM

Fernando and Tim, thank you so much for answering my question, and I apologize for missing your answers. I somehow overlooked this thread while involved elsewhere and I try to avoid letting that happen. The reason I was curious is that I had one of these also, and seem to recall Congo regions noted with it but could not recall.

It does seem that 19th century collectors did tend to apply practical manners of use according to presumption by the shape of blades etc. without actually seeing them used, especially with the 'throwing knives' for example. On the shotel, the severe tip on the deeply curves examples does seem likely to have had purpose for reaching over shields in downward stroke, as well of course for hooking and slashing...but as Roanoa has noted, such movement would leave the weapon holder wide open, so without having 'been there' in the battles....predictable assumption.

As Roanoa has noted, and as we are discussing on a concurrent thread, shotels seem to have had certain range in the curvatures...hopefully others interested in these might add to the Abyssinian shotel thread

Very nice example of this type Tim, thanks for showing the interesting geometrics on the blade, and nice grouping you have shown Luc!!

Any thoughts on that opening at the base of the blade at the hilt?

All the best,
Jim

8th November 2007, 11:15 AM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	I took these scabs of rust back to the bare metal. To avoid etching do not leave the rust remover on as long as the bottle says but work in short bursts with a steel tooth brush. When bare metal the patches looked a bit weired so I had to work back. I think I have got a good balance between removing a rust canker and leaving enough dirt and patina on the rest of the blade. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 8th November 2007 at 11:29 AM.

11th November 2007, 10:17 PM	#5
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	Nice exemples Tim, I had one but I don't kept it. I have these sickled weapons : Luc Attached Images

11th November 2007, 10:18 PM	#6
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	The one I had. Luc Attached Images

8th November 2007, 06:31 PM	#2
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 241	Hi, Tim. Fantastic blades. The similarities with the Ethiopian shotels are striking (no pun intended). And talking about shotels...... I hate to bring this up again, and I agree that my opinion is not worth that much, BUT let me start by saying that the shotel may be very curved or almost straight. Regardless of the curvature, it is virtually impossible to do any damage by "reaching around the opponent's shield". If you have a shotel you can try.... You may just be able to tickle your opponents and while doing so you will leave yourself wide open to be stabbed. I guess the "reaching around the shield" is one of those myths that eons ago someone thought of, put in writing and became gospel. Lots of these "myths" around as you all well know. The shotel is used to strike with the TIP and it has lots of periferal striking force. Then again, it's only my opinion.

8th November 2007, 06:56 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Thank you roanoa, I would agree with you. The head, face, neck and shoulders would be very vulnerable to hammer like blows from these weapons. The more I play with this it becomes all the more obvious and the realisation of the frightful wound that must have been inflicted is not nice.

8th November 2007, 07:46 PM	#4
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	I am still waiting to receive my first shotel, but I've always had the impression that shotel are double-edged - is that correct? If so, then what would stop them being used like shamshir? Regards, Emanuel

19th November 2007, 02:57 AM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,295	Fernando and Tim, thank you so much for answering my question, and I apologize for missing your answers. I somehow overlooked this thread while involved elsewhere and I try to avoid letting that happen. The reason I was curious is that I had one of these also, and seem to recall Congo regions noted with it but could not recall. It does seem that 19th century collectors did tend to apply practical manners of use according to presumption by the shape of blades etc. without actually seeing them used, especially with the 'throwing knives' for example. On the shotel, the severe tip on the deeply curves examples does seem likely to have had purpose for reaching over shields in downward stroke, as well of course for hooking and slashing...but as Roanoa has noted, such movement would leave the weapon holder wide open, so without having 'been there' in the battles....predictable assumption. As Roanoa has noted, and as we are discussing on a concurrent thread, shotels seem to have had certain range in the curvatures...hopefully others interested in these might add to the Abyssinian shotel thread Very nice example of this type Tim, thanks for showing the interesting geometrics on the blade, and nice grouping you have shown Luc!! Any thoughts on that opening at the base of the blade at the hilt? All the best, Jim