Nice little Sumatran (?) dagger for sharing & comment

[Sajen]

Hello dear members,

I got this little dagger in a trade with a friend not long ago. I think that it is Sumatran in origin but could also be Malay, I am a little bit unsure.
Handle and scabbard are from wood and it's delicately carved, the blade is laminated and shows a batu lapak motif at the base.

26,5 cm inside scabbard, 23 cm without, blade 16 cm, 6 mm thick at the spine behind the bolster.

[A. G. Maisey]

Nice.

[Sajen]

Hello Alan,

Thanks and I agree! :D

Regards,
Detlef

[Pendita65]

Nice one Detlef,

this one has a similar feel to it :

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/price-result/rare-sewar-dagger-from-sumatra/

[kino]

Love that blade.
What does “batu lapak” mean?
Thanks for sharing

[Sajen]

Nice one Detlef,

this one has a similar feel to it :

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/price-result/rare-sewar-dagger-from-sumatra/

Hi Martin,

The dagger in the link is a sewar while I can't name the knife in question!;)

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Love that blade.
What does “batu lapak” mean?
Thanks for sharing

Hello Albert,

Batu lapak is called the curl pamor at the base of the blade. "Batu" means stone/rock but I sadly can't translate "lapak".

Regards,
Detlef

[David]

Nice one! Love the batu lapak. Always a favourite pamor motif of mine. :)

[A. G. Maisey]

The word "lapak" is Javanese, it carries the meaning of "saddle" in the Ngoko level of this language; the Krama Inggil level is "kambil".

I am not inclined to give this motif shown as Batu Lapak, BL is not a full circle, it is like this pamor but has a part of the circle of swirls cut off to produce a flat base that ends at the blade base. In many, if not all, examples of BL that I have seen the BL has been produced by the pesi being welded to the body of the blade.

I would give this present pamor as Kul Buntet, this pamor is not encountered as often as BL, it is regarded by most people as being a more esoterically powerful pamor and of higher status.

The esoteric value of KB is taken to be the same as BL, but more powerful, these values are that those who carry this pamor will become powerful & rich, they will have a great number of beautiful women & they will live in a peaceful home. It is a royal pamor and should be treated as having the nature of a pusaka.

All this esoteric value relates to KB being located in a Javanese keris, I do not know the esoteric value if it is found in anything other than a Javanese keris.

So --- congratulations Detlef, you might be about to become incredibly wealthy and have more women than you know what to do with.

[Sajen]

The word "lapak" is Javanese, it carries the meaning of "saddle" in the Ngoko level of this language; the Krama Inggil level is "kambil".

I am not inclined to give this motif shown as Batu Lapak, BL is not a full circle, it is like this pamor but has a part of the circle of swirls cut off to produce a flat base that ends at the blade base. In many, if not all, examples of BL that I have seen the BL has been produced by the pesi being welded to the body of the blade.

I would give this present pamor as Kul Buntet, this pamor is not encountered as often as BL, it is regarded by most people as being a more esoterically powerful pamor and of higher status.

The esoteric value of KB is taken to be the same as KB, but more powerful, these values are that those who carry this pamor will become powerful & rich, they will have a great number of beautiful women & they will live in a peaceful home. It is a royal pamor and should be treated as having the nature of a pusaka.

All this esoteric value relates to KB being located in a Javanese keris, I do not know the esoteric value if it is found in anything other than a Javanese keris.

So --- congratulations Detlef, you might be about to become incredibly wealthy and have more women than you know what to do with.

Hello Alan,

I strongly doubt that I will become very wealthy in my life and I have my reasonable doubt that I am able to handle at my age more as one woman! :D:D

And thank you for the translation, now I understand the meaning, the stone saddle for the pesi! ;)

And I should have known the difference between "Batu Lapak" and "Kul Buntet".

The first and second picture show a "BL" and the third some sort of "KB"!

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Nice one! Love the batu lapak. Always a favourite pamor motif of mine. :)

Thanks David!

[werecow]

Nice one Detlef,

this one has a similar feel to it :

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/price-result/rare-sewar-dagger-from-sumatra/

Since these links tend to disappear, for posterity.

Item Details
Description
This is a very rare Bird Head Sewar Dagger with a Crown & Floral Crest Bolster , Malay Tribe early to mid 20th century, Northern Sumatra. Sturdy traditional folded forged blade, single sharped edge and a inward curving to end tips. Original sheath. The dagger or Kris knife Handle is carved wood in the shape a bayan bird head ( parrot head ) decorated with typical malay floral motifs. Such ornate craftsmanship indicated the owner was likely nobility or of a high social status. The Keris / Dagger measures 12.5 inches long in sheath.

[Ian]

Thanks for posting the pictures werecow.