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: