Michael,

I am glad I do not have to make a choice here, both examples are really superb! Thanks for sharing!

Erik

I truly love these rencong with gold crowns - if anyone wants to throw one away (or willing to sell) please let me know. :D

My sikin with goldwork inlay clearly had a crown of the gloepa type, most likely a triple crown at that.
I recently have seen a great example with the same inlay type but also the crown still there! A "brother" of my sikin so to say.

Regards, Erik[/QUOTE]


You do mean this one Erik

It is reserverd for Richard

Ben

I cannot take credit for most of what I shared. I did stumble on some of it on my own but the vast majority came from folks here on this forum that were willing so share with me. So I am just carrying on the tradition they started.

RhysMichael, thanks very much indeed for the compilation of the images and info!

I love the collage on the various hilts, as I'm presently on a quest trying to find out what specifically the sword was, in the 16th century Boxer Codex image below of a Luzon noble.

The discussion by the way where that image popped up is in this thread: Origin of the kampilan?.

Thanks again for all the info :)

Michael,
Very nice rencong, lovely patinated hilt.
How is the bottom part of the scabbard ? These are often pieces of art too.

It's also nice. But the discussion was on the crown variations...

Michael

Thanks for sharing these photo's Ben
 

Indeed Ben,

That is the one I meant. A great example and indeed I heard Richard intended to buy it. It's nice to know what mine looked like before a Dutch soldier decided to harvest the gold....

By the way mine came with some other nice Atjeh weapons from the collection of a former KNIL general who served in the Atjeh region.
The heirs sold all items to a dealer I know from whom I could buy some nice pieces...

The best that I know in private hands .



Ben

Of course there is this one in gold (scroll down for pictures):

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=gold+rencong

*sigh* :(

I am noticing that the gold on more of these Aceh pieces are gilded silver or brass and not sheet gold. Are my observations correct?

Gold
 

Battara, there is always the question what to call gold...
In the Netherlands e.g. it can only be called gold from 14k upwards.
On the Aceh pieces I have seen (and have myself) the gold content is lower in my opinion. From what I have read on this forum it is about 10K which is more practical on a weapon anyway I would say. I have not seen gilded silver on an Aceh fighting knife (Sikin or Rencong) yet.
Also you can see on the forum quite a few ferrule's missing from high quality pieces. My guess is still they were harvested for the gold content by Dutch soldiers...

Nothing scientific here just my guesswork, Erik
Any other opinions?

I did not know that they counted gold 14k and above. Yes, 10k is sturdier than 14k. Swaasa is 7-9k.


Anyway, I have heard of and will be getting within the next couple of months a once guilded silver rencong (see pictures below). I agree so far that I have not seen any sikim with gilded silver.

I have seen a rencong with traces of gold for sale some months ago in the Netherlands.
It was also a rather small rencong, same as this one.

Could they be of later date that the bigger examples that are often solid gold. and maybe more made for display / status. no longer a weapon ? :shrug:

I am travelling at the moment but the answer is in the book of Barbara Leigh, Hands of Time. Maybe an other forumite can add her description of both how the weapons are made and the formula for the Aceh gold mix?
On those Rencong, Aceh Sewar etc. I have seen I have the impression that it's gold on, usually, silver.
The gold being thicker on the crowns than at the hilt.
Maybe because there are more details on the crown?

Michael

I was offered one rencong I realized with thin gold sheet on the handle - a small part of it was missing and you could see the core.

I guess it could be both sheet and gold over silver sheet. :shrug: