Another siraui

[Freddy]

Again an Indonesian piece : a siraui. I believe these were discussed not so long ago.

At first glance, it looks like a keris. But in fact it's a simple knife with a keris dress. Comes from Sumatra. It has a no nonsense blade which is very sturdy and sharp.

I don't think they were ceremonial, like most keris. Does anyone know how they were used ? When I hold this knife in my hand, the edge is turned upwards.

Another nice feature of this piece is that it has several bindings to keep the sheath together. At first, I thought they were made of rattan, but in fact the material used seems to be horn. :confused:
Anyone seen this before ?

Total length : 36 cm
Length of blade : 20 cm
width of blade (near the hilt) : 2,8 cm.
At the base, this blade is about 0,5 cm thick.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding017.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding019-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding020-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding022-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding023-2.jpg

[t_c]

Nice piece! I like these little guys. I haven't had any formal training with one, but I play with my repro from time to time. My (imperfect) understanding with edge up applications (or edge in for reverse grip) is that you cut on the retraction and not on extension (cutting wiht your arms extension is how you would use a regular knife). A compound idea: (in forehand grip) thrust low (lower abdomen) - drop wrist - pull out. I generally think of using a regular knife as falling circles, and think of edge up blades as rising circles. Some food for thought for you. Have fun!

[Lew]

Nice example Freddy.

Here are two from my collection.

[asomotif]

the material used seems to be horn.
Anyone seen this before ?

Hello Freddy,

Yes, I do see them now and than on javanese golok scabbards.
I believe the the horn is boiled in order to get it supple and to be able to bend it. Seems like a difficult technique to me.
But than again, rattan weaving seems difficult to me too. :shrug:

[Gonzalo G]

Horn is usually boiled on kitchen oil in some countries to be manipulated. Not a too difficult technique, but to handle the hot material.

[Freddy]

Hi Lew,

Can you give us the size of your pieces. The bottom one looks tiny.