Parang? Java? Bali?

[Jerseyman]

A small Indonesian blade - parang? I would welcome input for a proper identification.

A very nice laminated blade - badly over-cleaned by a previous owner - but at least it makes the blade structure very clear - much more so than is apparent in the photos. In fact it made it very difficult to photograph as it reflected too much. Very reminiscent of the Himalayan hairpin blades (without the bend of course).

Tangent - I've heard pamor used to describe laminated blades from this part of the world generally. Would that be incorrect? A Malay term used to describe two different metals together I believed. Not a term for Indonesian blades or simple laminated blades? Happy to be corrected.

Back to the weapon - hilt carved of buffalo horn I think. Three small losses. I find it quite amazing that the little duck-bill nose has survived intact. The eye inlays seem to be bone and a black wood. This face reminds me very strongly of Balinese shadow puppets. Not personally come across a face like this on a hilt, though I'm sure others exist.

All thoughts welcome.

Dimensions

Length - 22.8"/579mm
Blade length - 17.5"/445mm
Hilt length - 5.3"/135mm
Blade depth (narrowest) - 0.85"/22mm
Blade depth (widest) - 1.1"/28mm
Blade width (hilt) - 0.25"/6mm
Blade width (tip) - 0.08"/2mm

[Jerseyman]

More pics

[Battara]

I think this is Javanese.

[Maurice]

I think this is Javanese.
Yes it is Javanese.
I had one with a thick brass ring through the holes in the hilt.

Regards,
Maurice

[A. G. Maisey]

I tend to think that this is Sunda, rather than Jawa.

[Sajen]

Agree with Alan, Sundanese, could be also from Cirebon. In my opinion isn't the blade overcleaned. I personally would remove the remaining rust and would give the blade an etch to highlight the lamination.
To bad that you don't have the scabbard. Nice piece, congrats.

Regards,
Detlef

[Battara]

Detlef makes a good point on re-etching the blade.

[Jerseyman]

Thanks all for the input.

Regarding the blade there isn't actually any rust at all. What you're seeing is an artefact of the light and the camera. Those areas of black are only the very faintest shadows of former corrosion - barely visible to the eye, but for some reason glaringly obvious in the photos. The blade is so polished I can see my reflection in it - it's actually much cleaner than I like my blades. My personal preference is to see the patination the material has built up over time - although clean of course.

Explain to me why you would etch the blade? If you look at the eighth picture you should be able to see that the lamination is very prominent. If you run your fingernail across the blade it feels like a ploughed field. To the fingertip the blade feels ridged all the way down. Would etching make the lamination visually clearer? Again I have to say it's actually very obvious to the eye - perhaps not coming across in the photos.

Can anyone clarify for me the use of the term pamor? Only used when two or more types of metal are mixed? Only used for Malaysian blades?

All thoughts welcomed.

[Maurice]

This one in similar style as yours in a scabbard which is typically seen in Bandung during the early 1800's is in the Leiden museum.

I thought it would be nice to post in this thread, to compare the "old style" hilts with the more recent one.

[Maurice]

And an old drawing of such (old style) hilt, also in the Leiden museum collection.

[Rick]

Pamor means layers in the simplest definition in Indonesian.
It also refers to the patterns seen; sometimes planned sometimes not.
I think if you etched that blade you might well find contrasting colors of metal; of course you might not, but I think that's why most are encouraging you to do so.