Unknown Ethnic Knife

[Daniel]

Does anyone know what this might be?

Thanks,

DD

[David]

It looks like an Indonesian parang to me, though it's rather short for that. Is the hilt all brass? The hilt doesn't seem large enough for a good adult grip, so maybe either for a small boy or a tourist token... :shrug:

[ronpakis]

reminds me of nias knives. age??

regards ron

[Sajen]

Yes, I agree with Ronpakis, it seems to be a Nias knife/dagger called Si euli. The blade form and also the brass handle is typical. BTW, it's a very rare dagger. :) Is there a sheath as well?
Sometimes this daggers are called Nias keris because some sheath's remember to keris sheath's.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12154&page=2&pp=30&highlight=nias

Regards,

Detlef

[Daniel]

Thank you all for your insights. Yes, the handle is solid brass, and the knife was found with no sheath.

Any thoughts as to age?

Thanks,

DD

[Sajen]

Thank you all for your insights. Yes, the handle is solid brass, and the knife was found with no sheath.

Any thoughts as to age?

Thanks,

DD

Difficult to say but that there is no sheat seems IMO a good sign since nobody would make a fake/copy without sheat. :shrug: So my estimated guess around end of 19th century or older. But please take it careful others may think different. ;)

Regards,

Detlef

[Daniel]

So my estimated guess around end of 19th century or older. But please take it careful others may think different. ;)


I appreciate your educated guess. And I promise not to hold you to it. ;)

I can't decide if the pommel is simply an abstract design, or if it might depict a fish swallowing a smaller fish swallowing a smaller fish. Curious.

DD

[Sajen]

I appreciate your educated guess. And I promise not to hold you to it. ;)

I can't decide if the pommel is simply an abstract design, or if it might depict a fish swallowing a smaller fish swallowing a smaller fish. Curious.

DD

Thank's, that is very kind! ;) :D

It look like the second version with the two fishes, I have seen something similar before.
Like I write before, it is a rare dagger but it's a shame that the sheath is missing.

Detlef

[ronpakis]

to compare...

regards ron

[Sajen]

to compare...

regards ron

Is it your's? Very nice example! :)

[tom hyle]

The items hanging from the sheath seem to be tools for personal grooming and/or drug use? 2 tweezers, a spatula(?) and ??

[ronpakis]

it was for sale some time ago on ebay. but im not insane... asking prices for these pieces are high, very high. collecting this stuff is, imo, only a 'sport' when you can buy nice pieces for nice prices. With money everything is for sale...

Regards Ron

[Sajen]

Are not we all a little crazy? :D :D

Sometimes I've bought or get things for many more less as the real value, this are the highligths of collecting. ;) And I have the feeling that Daniel get this dagger also like this, of course without the sheat.

Regards,

Detlef

[Daniel]

I have the feeling that Daniel get this dagger also like this, of course without the sheat.

About the price of a happy meal at McDonalds. In fact I only bought it as a cheap curiosity I thought might make for an interesting discussion on BladeForums. Someone there recommended I come here for an ID. This type of knife is completely out of my area of knowledge.

With most knives I deal in, rarity can be the kiss of death when it comes to value. If an item is too rare, nobody is looking for one. The expensive knives tend to be the ones that everybody recognizes and wants.

Ron--Is your blade of similar size to mine?

DD

[VVV]

Double posting, please delete.

[VVV]

The regular size of the Nias dagger's blades are around 9,5" but I have an old one that is 7,5".
I am sorry to bring out the bad news but that hilt isn't a traditional one and it seems to be made for people that enjoy travelling. For especially Nias and Batak there has been an active souvenir industry for a very long time.

Michael

[Sajen]

Hello Michael,

I know why I have been careful with my guess about the age before but that the dagger come without a sheath have let me think that it perhaps an old one. But a sheath can be lost as well by a copy. Since I know that you own several of this kind of daggers and you will have some old references as well I am sure that you are correct. But on the other hand I have to say that the Dagger from Daniel shows a good patination at the brass handle what show me again to be very careful by casted brass since it seems easy to let look it old. :eek:

Best regards,

Detlef

[ronpakis]

Are not we all a little crazy? :D :D

Sometimes I've bought or get things for many more less as the real value, this are the highligths of collecting. ;) And I have the feeling that Daniel get this dagger also like this, of course without the sheat.

Regards,

Detlef

that is so true, but in time i got wiser. 2 kids are also expensive!! but i totaly understand what you mean.

greetings ron

[VVV]

Hello Michael,

[snip] you will have some old references as well [snip]

Hello Detlef,

One of the best references is Modigliani and several of his hilt-drawings are reprinted in van Z's book.

Michael

[David]

The regular size of the Nias dagger's blades are around 9,5" but I have an old one that is 7,5".
I am sorry to bring out the bad news but that hilt isn't a traditional one and it seems to be made for people that enjoy travelling. For especially Nias and Batak there has been an active souvenir industry for a very long time.
This is what i was trying to point out at the start of this thread. The gripping area of this hilt seems to be at best less than 2.5 inches long. That hardly seems long enough for practical use... :shrug:

[Sajen]

Hello Detlef,

One of the best references is Modigliani and several of his hilt-drawings are reprinted in van Z's book.

Michael

Hello Michael,

thank you, will look by time for this. Still to get?

Regards,

Detlef

[Sajen]

that is so true, but in time i got wiser. 2 kids are also expensive!! but i totaly understand what you mean.

greetings ron

And I understand very good what you mean since I also have two kids! And they are of course the important duty. :) ;)

Regards,

Detlef