Very good 19 C. Ethiopian Gurade Sword

The "Gurade" is the Ethiopian fighting sword / saber. It was introduced in the 19th century, probably developed and adapted to a more modern warfare from the earlier shotel, a longer and deeply curved sword. It is in the style of European sabers with a single edge blade. Many Gurade sabers have European made blades.

The very good Gurade offered here has a long blade of European origin, probably German, signed M.K. The blade fullers are etched with Amharic inscriptions on one face and dense vegetation on the other face of the blade. The hilt is of classical form made from large two sectors of black horn, with an old Maria Theresa silver Thaler used as a large rosette to fix the tang tip onto the pommel top.

Blade 34 1/2 inches (88 cm). Total length 40 inches (102 cm).  Very good condition. Old authentic Gurade sword.

The M.K mark in a circle stamped on the blade forte is most probably the mark of Matig Kevorkoff, an Armenian merchant and importer of European blades to Ethiopia that lived in Harar in the late 19 – early 20 C.