Hullo everybody,

While this thread is still fresh, I thought I'd post pix of one of my blades. I got this one from Sarawak, supposedly 17th-18th C. Ideas?

Best,

Nice handle!

Nice example.

Are there any markings on the blade ?
Where is this age based on ?

Hullo Willem,

No markings on the blade. Just a False Edge(?) for the last 18cm. or so of the blade. Blade is a bit pitted towards the point.

Regarding the age, the seller told me it was around before Brookes' time. He said genuine artifacts from the interior were getting scarcer and he wouldn't be selling it if he weren't desperate. I told him that I wasn't really a collector of Borneo artifacts and besides, I didn't have anywhere near the money being asked.
He ended up giving it to me for what money I had, which amounted to about 1/3 of the original price. Now that, is suspicious.


Best,

Dear Amuk, (is that you first name?)

Pfew... before brookes time. depends on which Brooke. :D

There is not very much written about these swords.
The oldest picture that I know is from Quer Durch Borneo, so somewhere 1910 ?
Than I believe that I saw more pictures from around 1930' and of course you see very nice examples upto 2000, as on the front of Iban art.

For some reason I think that these swords will not be as old as 1800/1850,
Maybe more around 1900 but that is just a feeling. :shrug:

Best regards,
Willem

Hullo Willem,

Yes, Amuk is the first name.
The seller meant Brookes (plural) as in the dynasty i.e. before any Brooke.
1900 vintage will be fine by me. I'm just concerned that it's a fake i.e. a "more recent" piece (say, post 1945) artificially made to look older. I'm no metallurgist.
The rust/pitting seemed to be more concentrated towards the tip, as if it had been hanging in its scabbard for a long time (unfortunately, no original scabbard).
I haven't researched it but I have a sneaky feeling that this type of sword may have been around since about the 14thC (just a guess). Around that time, I think the Bataks already had a large Islamic kingdom which traded with India (and maybe traded/copied the tulwar). They had opened up Gajo etc. and were basically the catalyst for the rise of Atjeh in the 14thC.

Best,