Identifying an Indonesian Dagger

[CharlesS]

Here is an interesting Indonesian dagger. The blade is likely early 20th Cent., while the dress is later. The quality curved pamor blade, featuring a wide fuller, is the primary point of interest.

At first glance one is tempted to call it a "badik"/"badek", but I am not so sure it really meets the requirements to be a badik. In many ways it handles and feels more like a jambiya, with a curved, heavy blade, and a much more shallow curve to the hilt than is typical of a badik. It is held as comfortably with the bottom edge out, like a jambiya, as it is with bottom edge down. This feature certainly is not characteristic of a badik.

Any comments, suggestions, or references to a more correct name for this piece would be much appreciated.

[Rick]

The blade resembles a certain type of gunong blade; just stretched a bit .

The silver reminds me of Malay/Bugis work .

I have a feeling the handle is of a very special material; Akar Bahar perhaps ?

[Sajen]

Hi Charles,
I would call it a atypical badik. Maybe someone reshaped a badik blade and give the dagger a new dress.:shrug: It's a very nice item. What do you think which material is the handle?

sajen

[CharlesS]

Beyond just saying "horn", I don't know much about the hilt. I had assumed it was water buffalo, but now that you mention it, it does not have that look really. It is darker with some white-ish lines..

[tunggulametung]

.....with some white-ish lines..On the other hand, this could be a good indication of buffalo horn http://vikingsword.com/vb/images/smilies/shrug.gif

[Battara]

I agree with tunggulamentung. I have seen some buffalo horn with whitish streaks before. This looks water buffalo to me.

[CharlesS]

Thanks guys.