| feinejagdwaffen |
| (.224 member) |
| 10/02/14 09:48 PM |
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unique commercial mauser from king Menlik of Ethiopia
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for thos who are interested in scarce commercial mauser - please find attached some
fotos of a typ B sporter built in 1911 in cal. 8x57I. its an intermediate action
sporter.
serial nr.: 49625 built around 1911-12 with carved and inlaid stock. inlaid with
silver, ivory and mother of pearl.
king menlik was a great fan of mauser sporting rifles. his son emperor heili selassi
1892-1975 was the last emperor of ethiopia. on the receiver ring you can see the
engraved Royal Lion of Judah.
you can find this rifle in Jon Speed's book "Archives" on page 78/79.
| Igorrock |
| (.400 member) |
| 10/02/14 10:03 PM |
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Re: unique commercial mauser from king Menlik of Ethiopia
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Very special rifle, there is one or two same kind of rifle in sweden. There was an article in swedish gunpaper.
| feinejagdwaffen |
| (.224 member) |
| 10/02/14 10:05 PM |
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Re: unique commercial mauser from king Menlik of Ethiopia
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would be great to get a link or see some fotos.
thanks in advance
norbert
| Igorrock |
| (.400 member) |
| 10/02/14 10:38 PM |
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Re: unique commercial mauser from king Menlik of Ethiopia
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I´m sorry but do not have any.
| Old_Glass |
| (.300 member) |
| 23/02/15 04:49 PM |
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Re: unique commercial mauser from king Menlik of Ethiopia
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The scope appears to date to the 1930s, ditto the mounts.
| Ash |
| (.400 member) |
| 25/02/15 10:39 PM |
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Re: unique commercial mauser from king Menlik of Ethiopia
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How do they do this? (apart from the obvious carving), to get the finish?
NitroX
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| (.700 member) |
| 04/03/15 09:18 PM |
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Re: unique commercial mauser from king Menlik of Ethiopia
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Looks like mother of pearl inlay maybe with silver or other inlay ie the border line.
| Ash |
| (.400 member) |
| 04/03/15 11:56 PM |
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Re: unique commercial mauser from king Menlik of Ethiopia
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I mean the black finish on the carving, but thanks for explaining the outline, John
| Old_Glass |
| (.300 member) |
| 30/06/15 02:12 AM |
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Re: unique commercial mauser from king Menlik of Ethiopia
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Any recessed area collects dirt and oils over time: cracked and crevices in antique furniture for example. The recessed area may have been stained of course.
The "lion passant with a cross royalty" is an interesting heraldic device. It looks more European than East African. A variation on the Lamb of God motif?
| kuduae |
| (.400 member) |
| 30/06/15 07:44 PM |
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Re: unique commercial mauser from king Menlik of Ethiopia
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The crowned Lion Holding a cross is the "Lion of Judah", the Symbol of the Etiopean Emperor.
Until the revolution which overthrew the last Emperor Haile Selassie it also appeared on the flag and coins.
The black coloring of carvings was usually done by painting with a solution of Asphalt aka Japan black.
| Old_Glass |
| (.300 member) |
| 01/07/15 06:03 AM |
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Re: unique commercial mauser from king Menlik of Ethiopia
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Except that there are two: the Jewish symbol without crown or cross and the Christian one. It remains curiously European as a heraldic device in Africa. Walnut husks make a very good black dye too, probably betel nut as well, seeing what it does to teeth.
| JabaliHunter |
| (.400 member) |
| 02/07/15 07:09 AM |
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Re: unique commercial mauser from king Menlik of Ethiopia
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I guess the context is that Ethiopia was one of the first countries to adopt Christianity, in the 3rd or 4th century I think. Before that, the lion of Judah was the symbol of the Jewish tribe of Judah, and Ethiopian Jews are thought to be one of the lost tribes of Israel. I think Jesus was referred to in the bible as the lion of the tribe of Judah too. Then later the Emperor Haile Selassie also became known as the lion of Judah as the Rastafarians believed him to be the human incarnation of God, i.e. Jesus.
So much of the history of Ethiopia is contained in the symbols carved onto this rifle...
| kuduae |
| (.400 member) |
| 02/07/15 07:34 AM |
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Re: unique commercial mauser from king Menlik of Ethiopia
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The family of the kings, later emperors of Ethiopia, including Menelik II, claimed descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. According to a legend Solomon and the Queen of Sheba had a son who became Menelik I of Ethiopia. So the family, rather clan, called themselves "House of Solomon". As they were christians since the 4th century, they added the cross and the crown to the lion.