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aimforthemedic
04-06-2008, 02:27 AM
So I've got this sword back home that I cannot identify. Can't find the anything on the apparent maker (N.H. & Fils) shown in the pic, don't know the type of writing or anything...can anyone halp on this? The sheath is apparently made of elephant hide and it was acquire in africa back in the 1950-60s time frame.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/PaintballLord99/4-.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/PaintballLord99/3-.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/PaintballLord99/2-.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/PaintballLord99/1-.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/PaintballLord99/10.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/PaintballLord99/9.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/PaintballLord99/8.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/PaintballLord99/7.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/PaintballLord99/6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/PaintballLord99/5.jpg
thanks,
James
dubrat
04-06-2008, 03:05 AM
try your luck here

http://forums.swordforum.com/
dubrat
04-06-2008, 03:07 AM
Fils means and sons in French i believe
Waner
04-06-2008, 09:11 AM
The engravings on the blade look ethiopian to me, the lion on the hllt is clearly the lion of juda symbol of the kingdom of ethiopia...

Hope this helps
bigvig
04-06-2008, 11:44 AM
Looks like a typical European cavalry sword. The above poster is right, its probably from Ethiopia.
gaijinsamurai
04-06-2008, 02:12 PM
X3, Ethiopia.
nemowork
04-06-2008, 03:36 PM
http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/Flags/et_e.html

The crowned lion of Judea carrying a christian cross was the flag of Ethiopia during the Haile Selassie period, changed to an uncrowned lion carrying a spear after his death.
aimforthemedic
04-09-2008, 07:34 PM
anybody think its worth a damn? i reasearched a little about the period from which it was from.
Mr.Flint
04-09-2008, 08:52 PM
Ethiopian Imperial Guard Sword?
asmara
03-21-2009, 01:31 AM
Hi. As a collector of Etrhiopian swords for the past 30 years, here is what I know. German blade. Sword dates to Menelik II's time, that is to say about 1890. The writing on the blade is in Amharic and it says MENELIK on one side and KUDDUS GHIORGHIS (Saint George) on the other. Saint George being the patron saint of Ethiopia. The writing at the ricasso says NIKOLA SUPPLIER TO THE EMPEROR. He was most likely one of the several Russian or Armenian merchants who did business with the Emperor. The scabbard is not elephant hide. It would be too thick for the purpose. This style of swords is usually referred to as an officer sword. I tend to disagree as there are quite a few of these floating around. Rather, I would say that it was issued to the Imperial Guard. In terms of value I would say about 250/300 dollars. Cheers, RON