Interesting Piso Podang With Chinese Style Blade

[CharlesS]

Piso podangs with straight blades tend to be a little harder to come by, but this one struck me as especially unique owing to the somewhat unusually long length and style of the blade.

It is either a crudish Chinese jian blade, or more likely a Batak attempt to mimic one. The pattern welding technique is not unknown among piso podangs, but this one appears quite well done by comparison.

[RSWORD]

Could you get some better pics of the blade? :p A very nice podang indeed. I like the jian-like blade and the lamination is quite interesting. I wouldn't rule out an Indian origin for the blade. Straight, double-edged blades are not unknown there and I have seen many tulwar blades that were forged with a high carbon edge plate with pattern welded cheeks. So the forging technique is there also and we know India has had long time trading routes established with Sumatra.

[CharlesS]

Perhaps a combination of Indian style forging on a Chinese style blade...if it was, indeed, Batak made???

I have seen some Indian blades straight in form and even with diamond sectioned blades, but never an Indian one quite so "jian-like". :shrug:

The Chinese had also established trading communities throughout the archipelago.

[VVV]

Charles,

I think yours is an extraordinary Peninsular Malay chenangkas.
The reason why is in your mailbox now...

Michael

[CharlesS]

Thanks Michael, and excellent info.