View Full Version : Indonesian European style 'Falchion' for discussion
kronckew
10th August 2022, 02:58 PM
Picked this up at an auction today, more info/pics on arrival.
Appears to be from Tjikoreh (Chikorea, in the modern Indonesian), marking is a bit odd tho. Mis-spelling or alternate spelling "Tjiratiing"? Extensive punched decoration down the fuller.
1902 date. 51 cm. (20 in.) blade. Wood scabbard.
Thanks for your comments...
Interested Party
10th August 2022, 03:58 PM
Would this be classified as a Klewang?
gp
10th August 2022, 04:22 PM
It is a Tjikeroeh, they come in all sizes …
from dagger, golok, to klewang.
And a variety of spelling as well
See also:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=948&highlight=Tjikeroeh
http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5260
kronckew
10th August 2022, 06:16 PM
Would this be classified as a Klewang?
I'd class it as a klewang, these were made mostly for the dutch colonials/soldiers in the form of the 'familiar' (to them) hirshfanger/Hunting Sword/dagger, rather than the more local forms of klewang.
I called it a falchion as this one is more of a chopper than a stabber like most european hunting swords. I have a couple of them of more normal pointyness ;), including the ubiquitous Dutch Klewang/Cutlass used by the dutch/germans/americans. (as below) and by the japanese, after shortening the blade, and modifying the guard on a batch they captured.
I'm a sucker for stag antler grips...
drac2k
10th August 2022, 08:40 PM
Very nice sword. The scabbard looks like a Maasai sheath without the leather covering; do you think that it is original to the blade?
Albert
10th August 2022, 09:31 PM
Most swords of this kind were made in Tjikeroeh (Cikeruh).
Tjpatjing (Cipacing) is an other village on West-Java where this type of sword was made.
gp
10th August 2022, 09:39 PM
Very nice sword. The scabbard looks like a Maasai sheath without the leather covering; do you think that it is original to the blade?
these are originals: made for the Dutch military police and also used in Indonesia when it was part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Some were shortened by the Japanese during WW2
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=22233&highlight=klewang
drac2k
11th August 2022, 03:06 AM
Sorry if my post wasn't clearer; I was referring to the first picture with the wooden scabbard.
kronckew
11th August 2022, 09:40 AM
From pictures in the linked threads above, the wooden scabbards are fairly typical. there does seem to be a crack in the wood near the throat. Might be why the metal bands are there. I'll wick in some superglue when it arrives, justincase.
Coincidentally, the sword was listed with a decent Maasai seme & its red scabbard, which does look quite similar. It'll come with the klewang. Already have two, they seem to accumulate, like ex-wives...
Convergent evolution :D
kronckew
11th August 2022, 09:47 AM
Most swords of this kind were made in Tjikeroeh (Cikeruh).
Tjpatjing (Cipacing) is an other village on West-Java where this type of sword was made.
Cool info. i suspected it might be something like that, but couldn't google up that info. Thanks.
RobT
16th August 2022, 12:54 AM
kronckew,
I really like your sword. It looks something like a small da dao. I imagine that it could deal a heck of a blow, even in close quarters.
Sincerely,
RobT
David
16th August 2022, 04:12 PM
these are originals: made for the Dutch military police and also used in Indonesia when it was part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Some were shortened by the Japanese during WW2
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=22233&highlight=klewang
I have always been a bit confused why the Dutch chose to call these swords "Klewang". Obviously the word is original to the Indonesian weapons which really are a very different blade form, though i suppose the Dutch versions saw a lot of the same function as a jungle clearing tool/weapon. But these two types of klewang are shaped differently and weighed differently and i would image required somewhat different techniques to properly wield.
gp
16th August 2022, 07:02 PM
I have always been a bit confused why the Dutch chose to call these swords "Klewang". Obviously the word is original to the Indonesian weapons which really are a very different blade form, though i suppose the Dutch versions saw a lot of the same function as a jungle clearing tool/weapon. But these two types of klewang are shaped differently and weighed differently and i would image required somewhat different techniques to properly wield.
Here is a partial explanation: they took it from Indonesia, moreover Atjeh / Aceh.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klewang
In Dutch it became part of our language as we have an expression
“chase someone over the Klewang” …
Guess the meaning is quite obvious, as it is a quite rude way as well to express a deadly battle encounter / situation.
Became very fast integrated into the Dutch language: I recall my late father using it easily when describing the WWII encounters with the Japanese in the very few occasions he spoke about that time….
So it is very understandable the likes of Hembrug produced these klewangs
werecow
16th August 2022, 10:45 PM
Here is a partial explanation: they took it from Indonesia, moreover Atjeh / Aceh.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klewang
In Dutch it became part of our language as we have an expression
“chase someone over the Klewang” …
Are you sure you don't mean the kling (blade)? I've heard "over de kling jagen" but never "over de klewang".
gp
18th August 2022, 05:23 PM
Are you sure you don't mean the kling (blade)? I've heard "over de kling jagen" but never "over de klewang".
Correct “ over de kling jagen” or even “ over de kling springen” is the correct proverb, must be my father used it in a wide way of speaking to ventilate his feelings of the jungle encounters.
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