OLD ANTIQUE VINTAGE LARGE AFRICAN ETHIOPIAN GILE SWORD OF THE AFAR TRIBE
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:30543553 | Tribe: Afar |
| Original/Reproduction: Original | Maker: Unknown |
| Color: Multi-Color | Material: Mixed Materials |
Being offered is a very nice and quite large Ethiopian Gile sword of the Afar tribe. This is one of the largest examples I have seen. It measures 24 1/8” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is wood with a bit of a rough finish. The pommel is wrapped in brass with nice decorations to the top. The grip is wrapped in a sheet of white metal. The front has 4 metal discs, two near the pommel and two near the blade with a diamond sha...ped piece of metal in the middle. Big ole blade. It gets to 2 3/4” width at its widest point. Has two long fullers on each side. Blade is very sharp the lower third and has a long verymsharp tip. Blade has a lot of scratch or grind marks. Was probably made from stock removal of an existing piece of metal but it has a pretty good finish to it. Very attractive scabbard. Has a leather belt loop with matching leather cover to scabbard. There are white metal mounts to top of scabbard. The scabbard tip is made from a white metal with very fine decorations particularly the up and down shaped metal wire running around the borders. The back of the scabbard with an animal hair attachment. Looks bovine. Most likely dates to the second half of the 20th century but a well made and attractive piece. Please e-mail with any questions. Please view my other auctions for a great variety of swords, daggers and tribal art.
