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View Full Version : BORNEO SUMPITAN /LAMINATED/WATERED BLADE


asomotif
12th February 2009, 12:31 PM
I picked up this old sumpitan.
The provenance goes back to 1950's but exact age is difficult to say for me.

The blade is laminated / watered steel.
It is pretty thin material and it has some slight bends.
The rattan binding is still firm and the wooden shaft is still amazingly straight.
Total length is 206 cms incl blade.

Does anybody have examples of similar blades for comparison ?
(May also be Philipines or any other region)

The only other thread with nice pictures that I found is this one.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5939&highlight=sumpitan

Nonoy Tan
12th February 2009, 01:54 PM
I do not think that it is from the Philippines.

Nonoy

asomotif
12th February 2009, 04:11 PM
I do not think that it is from the Philippines.

No, I am quite sure this one is from Borneo.
But I meant that if anyone has a similar blade from another origin it would be interesting for comparison.

Best regards,
Willem

Rick
12th February 2009, 04:52 PM
Willem, am I seeing mixed metals in the blade ?

Henk
12th February 2009, 05:43 PM
Willem,

I don't think you will easily find a similar blade. I suppose you already noticed that your blade is a javanese tombak. Quite rare I suppose.

Flavio
12th February 2009, 06:17 PM
Beautiful Willem, congrats :)

Rick
12th February 2009, 06:21 PM
It looks Indonesian, but I don't think it is a tombak .
It looks purpose made .
These certainly would be worthy trade items for the tribes .
I just wonder, is that pamor or just stringy iron with a patina . :confused:

asomotif
12th February 2009, 10:06 PM
pamor or just stringy iron with a patina
Rick,
I think it is stringy iron with patina. It is really roughly made.

a javanese tombak
Henk,
The shape does not feel javanese, and has a lot of similarity with some other sumpitan blades that are pictured in this thread. (Scroll down beyond the dart quivers.) http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showt...hlight=sumpitan

Sajen
13th February 2009, 12:26 AM
Hi Willem,
I am nearly sure that it is not a javanese tombak and it is made for a sumpitan.
Very nice aquisition.
Regards,
Detlef

Rick
13th February 2009, 12:40 AM
Always wanted one ..... :)
Lovely .