Indonesian jambiya

[Marcus]

Artzi of Oriental Arms described this as:
“This Indonesian dagger in the style of an Arab Jambiya is likely to have come from Sumatra or Mentawi islands. This style of dagger is sometimes referred to as a Beladau.”


Comments?

Guesses on whether it would have been made for a native or someone originally from Arabia?

Guesses on age?

Marcus

[Sajen]

Hello Marcus,

I've seen this handle style by blades from the lesser Sunda islands like Lombok and Sumbawa. :shrug: I doubt that it is a Mentawai dagger.

Regards,
Detlef

[A. G. Maisey]

Jambiyo are known in Indonesia, I have two of them, one quite small and rather rough, the other large and of fine quality.

The small one is probably from Sumatera, the large one probably from Jawa.

[Marcus]

I've seen this handle style by blades from the lesser Sunda islands like Lombok and Sumbawa....

With what style of blade?

[Sajen]

With what style of blade?

I've seen this sort of hilt with short pedang blades. I have a hilt in similar style in my collection but without blade. Will post some pictures later.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Here my handle, approx. 14 cm high.

[Marcus]

I see the similarity in the hilt of course, but to me the interesting question is whether the jambiya-like blade is indicative of a cross cultural effect.

[blue lander]

I recently saw a similar jambiya but I can't post the URL because its ongoing. It's completely unadorned and undecorated. The scabbard looks like someone cut a cows horn lengthwise and the hilt is likewise just a horn knob. The blade is jambiya shaped but it has no "spine".

[Marcus]

More differences than similarities in my opinion. BTW the scabbard on mine is wood.

[Marcus]

Hello Marcus,

I've seen this handle style by blades from the lesser Sunda islands like Lombok and Sumbawa. :shrug: I doubt that it is a Mentawai dagger.

Regards,
Detlef

There is indeed a picture of a sword from Sumbawa with a similar hilt on page 135 of the Van Zonneveld book.