Piso Gading

[Emanuel]

Haven't seen too many of these in the archives, a piso gading from the Batak. I just got this one, 19" blade 23 1/4" total. Blade is 1/2" thick at the hilt. It seems to be missing the Dutch coin on the pommel and the scabbard.

It looks much better than the tourist version I got years ago.

I've seen a number of these discussed over the years but I've never seen this kind of antler handle. How common are they? Oriental Arms have an identical one with scabbard in their catalogue.
Emanuel

[Emanuel]

Tourist one for comparison...

[Henk]

Emanuel,

Looks to me as a very nice piso.

Why do you think a Dutch coin is missing on the pommel? Such a coin is not a necesarry atribute on the pommel.

[Emanuel]

Hello Henk,

I thought a Dutch coin might fit there simply because a similar piso posted by Charles S had one http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1342
and a similar albeit none-piso sword also has an ornament on the butt of the hilt http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1907

The hilt on my piso has a hole on the end so meybe something was inserted there. I guess anything could fit there.

Emanuel

[Henk]

Hello Emanuel,

I do understand your thought, and probably a pommel cap is missing indeed. But a Dutch coin is not by definition used as a pommel cap and are seldom seen as such.

[VVV]

It's not that common with coins on these piso. I think it's supposed to look just like it is.
It's not a Piso Gading (gading is ivory) but a nice Piso Halasan - congratulations!

Michael

[Emanuel]

That's fair Henk :) I'll keep it as it is.

Thanks Michael for the differentiation. Does Halasan refer specifically to the antler hilt?

Emanuel