Ethiopian Shotel or Gurade to share

roanoa · 21st October 2022, 04:51 PM

The SHOTEL (sickle form) is a widely used combat sword of Abyssina. There have been many postings and discussions about its form and use. Search the Forum under shotel. This particular shotel has a grip made of buffalo horn, hence the "circular hole" at the bottom (again, this has been part of previous discussions). The "cut" at the top of the scabbard (very nice conditions, by the way) is to allow the proper fitting of the curved blade. Scabbard with split top part are often found in indo-persian, arabian and even European swords with extreme curvature. Ethiopian scabbards are made of raw skin that shrink over time and become very tight for the blade. This problem can be "solved" by coating the blade with a lot of leather softener/conditioner. After many tries and applications it seems to work.

kronckew · 21st October 2022, 05:33 PM

I recall seeing an old early 20c B&W film clip on a website dealing with African weaponry that showed two unarmoured Abyssinian warriors with shotels and large thick oval hide centre grip shields, mostly used to hook around each other's shields similar to the first video above - but the shields were much larger. It may have been recorded during their war with Italy. Sadly can't find it now.

werecow · 21st October 2022, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roanoa

This particular shotel has a grip made of buffalo horn, hence the "circular hole" at the bottom (again, this has been part of previous discussions).

Ha, when searching for "the hole" I seem to have found an earlier discussion of the same gurade from before it was in my possession that I had previously overlooked. So I guess it's a naturally occurring phenomenon then. And actually the way it tapers and is not quite round and a bit tilted should've probably given it away. It gives me a glimpse of the tang.

Quote:

Originally Posted by roanoa

The "cut" at the top of the scabbard (very nice conditions, by the way) is to allow the proper fitting of the curved blade. Scabbard with split top part are often found in indo-persian, arabian and even European swords with extreme curvature.

I think the thing that throws me about the cutout in the sheath wrt helping with the flared tip and curvature is that, unlike in the case of Indo Persian and Arabian swords, the cutout does not extend all the way to the top.
Perhaps it's just me being clumsy, but the tip can sometimes get hung up on the cutout bit when inserting the sword into the scabbard (or, well, trying to do so, and getting stuck halfway through because it's too tight.

).

Quote:

Originally Posted by roanoa

Ethiopian scabbards are made of raw skin that shrink over time and become very tight for the blade. This problem can be "solved" by coating the blade with a lot of leather softener/conditioner. After many tries and applications it seems to work.

Thanks for the tip!

roanoa · 21st October 2022, 06:59 PM

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 · 21st October 2022, 07:27 PM

Quote:

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 · 21st October 2022, 07:38 PM

Shotel's scabbard. This one has some decorations.

werecow · 21st October 2022, 08:33 PM

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 · 21st October 2022, 09:38 PM

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.

21st October 2022, 07:38 PM	#6
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 435	Shotel's scabbard. This one has some decorations. Attached Images

21st October 2022, 08:33 PM	#7
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 435	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 Attached Images Last edited by werecow; 21st October 2022 at 09:10 PM.

21st October 2022, 04:51 PM	#1
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 230	The SHOTEL (sickle form) is a widely used combat sword of Abyssina. There have been many postings and discussions about its form and use. Search the Forum under shotel. This particular shotel has a grip made of buffalo horn, hence the "circular hole" at the bottom (again, this has been part of previous discussions). The "cut" at the top of the scabbard (very nice conditions, by the way) is to allow the proper fitting of the curved blade. Scabbard with split top part are often found in indo-persian, arabian and even European swords with extreme curvature. Ethiopian scabbards are made of raw skin that shrink over time and become very tight for the blade. This problem can be "solved" by coating the blade with a lot of leather softener/conditioner. After many tries and applications it seems to work.

21st October 2022, 05:33 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,152	I recall seeing an old early 20c B&W film clip on a website dealing with African weaponry that showed two unarmoured Abyssinian warriors with shotels and large thick oval hide centre grip shields, mostly used to hook around each other's shields similar to the first video above - but the shields were much larger. It may have been recorded during their war with Italy. Sadly can't find it now.

21st October 2022, 06:59 PM	#4
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 230	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.

21st October 2022, 09:38 PM	#8
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 836	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.