Sumatra sword , sikin parang

[tom22]

H

[David R]

Nice, thanks for posting.

[Sajen]

H

I saw your thread two days ago but hadn't the time to comment and just wanted to do it but you have removed the pictures! :confused:

Sometimes you need a little bit of patience, the interest you can see by the views! ;)

[Sajen]

I've noticed that some people don't show patience when they post their items and show disappointment afterwards when their posts don't get comments.
I know this from myself, see for example here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=29709&highlight=alor
I've posted the shield in March and got until now not one single comment but over 2000 views, so it seems that there is some interest.
But why did it receive no comments? By my shield maybe because it's a rare item and most of the people never have seen such a shield before!?
But why don't get this nice sikin (so far I remember) no comments? Maybe because there was no question added and we have seen some others before? I only can advise to show a little bit of patience when new members post their items! :)

[JeffS]

I think patience is needed. This is not a huge nor highly active forum and members come and go. Also, the knowlege is highly specialized so many members may not have anwers or even educated comments, they are here to learn. I often read and appreciate posts but have nothing to add. On some, I make a mental note to come back and add my example when I photograph it. I see posts with no response get picked up after a long time when another member finds it on a search. If keen to get a comment, bumping also works well. This forum format works at a different pace than most other social media that may have more immediate response and activity but provides little to no archival value nor captures comments across a long period of time. I hope frequent posters do not get discouraged by lack of immediate feedback. Too bad there isn't a "like" button so at least people can flag appreciation even if they don't have anything to say.

[tom22]

Sorry all , I guess I've been too impatient , I havnt posted many pieces on here ,in fact only one post , I saw there had been alot of views and no comments ,so I guessed it wasn't much interest to anyone , will see if I can upload pics again :)

[Battara]

You could repost. Some folks have no idea what to say too.

[Sajen]

Sorry all , I guess I've been too impatient , I havnt posted many pieces on here ,in fact only one post , I saw there had been alot of views and no comments ,so I guessed it wasn't much interest to anyone , will see if I can upload pics again :)

It would be great when you share pictures of your sikin panjang again! ;)

I have in my collection two of these type, you can them see here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=30058&highlight=sikin+panjang

Regards,
Detlef

[DaveF]

Here are my three Northern Sumatra/Aceh swords. From the top:

1. Co Jang
2. Sikin Panjang
3. Amanremu

The co jang and sikin panjang are laminated while the amanremu appears not to be, with an edge that seems differentially hardened. No scabbards unfortunately, though I believe the co jangs traditionally weren't in a scabbard. None of them feel cumbersome in the hand, though the co jang has a bit more heft to it.

It would be nice to see how the sikin panjang compares to Tom22's.

[Pendita65]

Hi Dave,

some really nice swords you have, and how are the hilts, No dry cracks?

Regards, Martin

[DaveF]

Hi Dave,

some really nice swords you have, and how are the hilts, No dry cracks?

Regards, Martin

I'm afraid they've all got a crack, Martin. They're not too bad and I've not tried to treat them other than regular rubs with raw lanolin in the hope that it'll reduce the chance of the cracks worsening. I must have read somewhere that that helps. I've just seen soaking in baby oil recommended as a lengthy treatment. ( http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12008 ) . Any suggestions?

[kronckew]

My sikin, modern made by one of the few remaining smiths in the mountains near the Aceh area for a local dealer I have bought a few other items from. He was reducing his own collection and offered/sold me this one. Sadly haven't heard from him since the tsunami.

[Ian]

My examples are shown here (http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=23530)

[JeffS]

Photo of mine from my database.

[Maurice]

I'm afraid they've all got a crack, Martin. They're not too bad and I've not tried to treat them other than regular rubs with raw lanolin in the hope that it'll reduce the chance of the cracks worsening. I must have read somewhere that that helps. I've just seen soaking in baby oil recommended as a lengthy treatment. ( http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12008 ) . Any suggestions?

No worries, I've never seen old ones like these with no age cracks. Nice group of swords!

Regards,
Maurice

[Maurice]

Sorry all , I guess I've been too impatient , I havnt posted many pieces on here ,in fact only one post , I saw there had been alot of views and no comments ,so I guessed it wasn't much interest to anyone , will see if I can upload pics again :)

Thank you Tom, would be nice to have a look at your find!

Regards,
Maurice

[Sajen]

Hello Tom,

Please repost your nice sword! :)

Regards,
Detlef

[DaveF]

No worries, I've never seen old ones like these with no age cracks. Nice group of swords!

Regards,
Maurice

Thanks, Maurice. I've a couple of swords with black horn hilts that haven't cracked. Maybe they're not as old, or do some types of horn crack more readily than others?

[Maurice]

Thanks, Maurice. I've a couple of swords with black horn hilts that haven't cracked. Maybe they're not as old, or do some types of horn crack more readily than others?

Most of the Achenese gliwangs I have seen had age cracks (some cracks larger and wider than others).
Probably, because of the heavy and thick blades, these types often have larger cracks than other Indonesion swords with horn hilts.
Some cracks are filled with some kind of substance (wax or other material in the same colour as the hilt), put in there by collectors or dealers to mask the crack.

[Maurice]

Some have large cracks, some have minor cracks and some have no cracks or filled cracks.

Here an amanermoe in my collection with a minor crack.

[Maurice]

And one of my Roedoïh oelèë Tjangge with minor crack.

[Maurice]

Sikin Peusangan with hilt crack

[tom22]

Hi again , I have uploaded some pics of my sikin parang sword .
Apologies for being too impatient last time when I posted the sword,
I would be interested to know what you think about it regarding age etc ,
It's the first one of these swords I've owned and have really fallen in love with it ,
It has a heavy blade and very sharp
Thanks

[kronckew]

Cool scabbard. Excellent blade, looks laminated.

[Sajen]

Hello Tom,

It's a real beauty, the handle is nicely carved and seems not splitted, it has a very nice brass crown and the scabbard with its ivory mouth is complete and undamaged. Congrats for a beautiful sikin panjang.
They are called "sikin panjang", by using this term you will find several other examples here.
Why have you started a new thread? I would suggest conglomerateing the two threads from you, maybe a mod can arrange that?

Attached pics from my examples.

Regards,
Detlef

[Ian]

Threads have been merged, as suggested.

[tom22]

Threads have been merged, as suggested.
Thanks for merging the thread , i didnt know how to put the pics back on the old thread , im not very good with computers , thanks

[Sajen]

Threads have been merged, as suggested.

Thank you Ian! :)

[tom22]

Hello Tom,

It's a real beauty, the handle is nicely carved and seems not splitted, it has a very nice brass crown and the scabbard with its ivory mouth is complete and undamaged. Congrats for a beautiful sikin panjang.
They are called "sikin panjang", by using this term you will find several other examples here.
Why have you started a new thread? I would suggest conglomerateing the two threads from you, maybe a mod can arrange that?

Attached pics from my examples.

Regards,
Detlef
Hi Detlef , thanks for your input , i tried posting pics on my old thread but couldnt seem to get my head round how to do it and so opened a new one ,Anyway it doesnt matter now as ian has sorted it out , im glad you think its a good example ,its the first one of these ive had and when i saw at a local fair i just had to have it , i dont know alot about these but have been looking at a few threads on here which has been helpfull

[JeffS]

Really nice, glad you posted again. Love the gold double crown.

[Maurice]

Hello Tom,

a beautiful sikin panjang with a so called 'peusangan' hilt.
The brass lobes are also very nice. Wonderful complete piece, in perfect condition considering its age. A very nice 19thC sikin.

These kind of hilts (hulu), with the 'broader' beaks, are called hulu 'peusangan'.
'Peusangan' is a district, located around the 'Peusangan' river in the northern part of Aceh.
Probably these kind of sikin panjangs 'peusangan' are from that region, and differ with the 'normal style' of sikin panjangs with their broad beaked hilts, and the crosspiece on top of the scabbardmouths (made from different materials, such as wood, horn or, like yours, from ivory).

I've added two drawings with sikin panjang Peusangan.
One is from the Fischer catalogue, and the other one is from Kreemer.

[Maurice]

I owned a very similar one.
Still regret I let it go. To compare I will post some photos.

[tom22]

Hello Tom,

a beautiful sikin panjang with a so called 'peusangan' hilt.
The brass lobes are also very nice. Wonderful complete piece, in perfect condition considering its age. A very nice 19thC sikin.

These kind of hilts (hulu), with the 'broader' beaks, are called hulu 'peusangan'.
'Peusangan' is a district, located around the 'Peusangan' river in the northern part of Aceh.
Probably these kind of sikin panjangs 'peusangan' are from that region, and differ with the 'normal style' of sikin panjangs with their broad beaked hilts, and the crosspiece on top of the scabbardmouths (made from different materials, such as wood, horn or, like yours, from ivory).

I've added two drawings with sikin panjang Peusangan.
One is from the Fischer catalogue, and the other one is from Kreemer.
Hi Maurice , Thanks so much for your info and drawing on this sword,
Were these type with the ivory and brass crown a weapon of a standard fighter or more a higher ranking person ?
Also when looking closely at the blade you can see lots of pattern i guess this is what is classed as a laminated blade ,im quite a novice but i guess they were all folded laminated blades , Thanks again
Regard Tom

[tom22]

I owned a very similar one.
Still regret I let it go. To compare I will post some photos.
Oh wow that is a very similar example ,thanks for posting

[Sajen]

Interesting to compare the cross pieces!

[Maurice]

Nice idea Detlef to place them next to eachother for comparisson.

[Maurice]

.

[Maurice]

...

[Maurice]

And this one, which is/was not mine, but in the British museum collection (As1923,0410.3.a) with a scabbard mouthpiece of wood.

PS I like the colour / patina of the hilt of this one.

[Maurice]

And an Achenese with a sikin 'Peusangan'.
Are there more photos I'm not aware of like these?

[Rick]

Here's another photo.
One on the right for sure, the one on the left I'm not sure about.
I think the young man is possibly holding a (Gasser?) revolver.

[Maurice]

Here's another photo.
One on the right for sure, the one on the left I'm not sure about.
I think the young man is possibly holding a (Gasser?) revolver.

Thank you for posting!
The person on the right however is wearing a sikin panjang with a hulu 'beunteuëng', and not a hulu 'Peusangan' (the one Tom initially posted).