What did I buy?
 

Found this little dagger on Ebay. It's a little over 10" long, with what looks like a silver scabbard and hilt. The guard and hilt are horn. The blade was either poorly finished, or had been ground. It showed signs of pattern welding so I polished it (a lot) and etched it. It is indeed pattern welded. I don't have a feel for where it's from. Friends from here suggested either Bhutan or Indonesia, from the poor Ebay pics. I'd love your opinions with better pictures.
Thanks,
Steve

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...11-overall.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...n-scabbard.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...1-scabbard.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...2011-blade.jpg

Steve

The hilt and silver work looks Indonesian to me. Whatever it is I really like it. :) Compare silver work to this keris.

Here's the ebay picture.

The okir on it could be modern Maranao from Marawi City. Or yes possibly modern Indonesia. Little hard to tell but I am leaning toward the Moro at the moment (I may change my mind, I may not :D ).

Beautiful knife Steve. Like Jose I love things covered in silver. It looks like the hilt is carved where it meets the guard, could you post a close-up of that area? Again a very nice piece. Congratulations.

Robert

Hullo everybody!

Looking at the overall piece and if the actual blade were double-edged and about 20+something cm., I'd call it a 'peso teundeut' (loosely, stabbing-knife/push-knife).
Part of the quintessential accoutrements of the Soenda warrior-class of yesteryear.:)

Best,

Nice work on the clean up! Dosen't even look like the same piece! Talk about a diamond in the rough.

All I can say is: Nice find!

Thanks Gentlemen. So the votes so far are Indonesian, and Philippine. :shrug:

The blade was really roughly finished. I had to start with 150 grit sanding belts just to get the deep grinder gouges out of it. Went from there to 220, 45 micron,30 micron, then hand sanding. It's a pretty, if low contrast, pattern.

Steve

Hello Steve,

very nice dagger. Here a second vote for Indonesian. The complete style let me think direct that it is from there but frankly said i have never seen something similar. :shrug:

Regards,

Detlef

The style does look Indonesian. The okir could go either way. :shrug: