Horn grip?
 

This was billed as a horn-hilted klewang, but the hilt is very thin and translucent, looks kinda like tortise shell - how is tortise shell different from horn?

Hello Jeff,

It's an Alamang with a somewhat worn blade. This is one of the possible types of hilts associated with this Sulawesi weapon. The hilt and probably the scabbard could be later replacements though - can you post closeups from other angles?

BTW, it's most likely some kind of horn. There are blonde pieces which were often more valued than the regular, black waterbuffalo horn.

Regards,
Kai

Thanks, Kai :)
The handle has a grain that looks like horn, but the color is a fairly good match for the plastic we call 'tortise shell' so I was wondering what the real stuff is like, it's been years since I've seen any. The blade on this is a narrow wedge shape, nicely tapered along the length. The grip has a silver band and the scabbard is wrappped in copper, so they do seem to be made at different times.

Jeff,
the tortoise-shell i've seen was light coloured like this, but with dark, nearly black "splodges" here and there.
I don't know for sure, but think tortoise shell would be more brittle too, not flexible like horn.

Best wishes,
R.

Yes I'm with the horn camp. Tortoise shell has blotches in it.

Yep looks like nice varigated horn to me.

Spiral