S.E.A.? sword for identification
 

I can't seem to find any pictures of this type of sword anywhere that I've looked, at least in my limited library. I'm sure that it's Indonesian, possibly from the eastern part of the islands. The blade is heavy, 20 inches long, 27 inches overall, and a little less than 1/2 inch thick at the base. No scabbard Borneo also comes to mind as a potential area. Anyone seen one like this before..........Dave.

S.E.A? sword
 

Forgot to include this picture......Dave

Yes this is Indonesian but I forget the blade type.

I merged threads together for you.

Thanks Jose........Dave

First Port-of-Call
 

Hullo everybody! :)

As an initial foray, try: Klewang Maluku/Moluccas. It may also be referred to as a parang, locally named Semarang.
Just for additional info: Sometimes wrongly called Parang Salawaku.
Parang Salawaku refers to a complete set, a Parang (humaranga) and a shield (Salawaku/dadatoko).

Best,

My bet would be around the Moluccas as well. AFAIK it is also referred to as a 'Pade'. - awesome choppers!

Cheers, - Thor

Yes, it is a pade.
Yours seems to maybe be slightly later (based on the handle and the lack of laminations in the blade) than those variations found in this thread
It is more of a tribal (Alfur) than a geographical sword (resembling how the kampilan is also found in several places but always connected to the same people).

Michael

Yes, it's a pade. Michael, I see lamination near the handle at the last picture of post #1? But Dave will be able to confirm or negate it.
Semarang is a different sword to my knowledge, see here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=semarang
Dave, you a have a rare sword but a simple execution, a collector friend have a very similar one. This one have lamination for sure.
A pade don't have a scabbard! :)
I have some more pade in the meanwhile like shown in the thread Michael have posted, when I have time I will show them side by side in this thread.

Regards,
Detlef

Hello Dave,

I'm with Detlef, your's is definitely laminated - old blade.

Any old patching at the flat pommel side? I'm curious wether this really is a simple hilt style or just got shortened during its service time...

Regards,
Kai

Hello Kai,

I had a similar pade like Dave's. Looking at the blade (which is a bit more simple as the pade blades from Celebes) I would guess there is a good possibility that Dave's indeed is a mollucan sword instead of a Celebes sword.
These also had more simple handles IMO, like the one I once owned.
Mine was definately made like that, and not shortened.

Regards,
Maurice

Here are two more examples, just for comparison. One has a quite unique hand guard made from horn added on to the hilt and attached with woven rattan. It likely had an additional pommel that is missing.

I hadn't really noticed until last night that there were laminations near the handle. Usually that's the first thing that I look for but this time I must have overlooked them. There is no indication that the handle was ever shortened......Dave.

Hi Maurice,

this is the one which is now in possession of my friend! ;) :D

Regards,
Detlef

Wow Charles, two beautiful examples!

Hi Detlef,

Yes I remember. :-)

Kind regards,
Maurice

Nice examples Charles!
I think these are the Celebes types.

Kind regards,
Maurice

Hello, here my honest collection of pade, the second one from up is for sure from Ceram, so I doubt that we can give a clear indication of the origin from the form of the handle.

The first one I have get from Arjan and when I remember correct he have had the opinion that this one is from Ceram as well.

The second one I have bought from a netherland friend and he get it on Ceram from the family of his wife.

The third one I get via ebay from Royston and I don't know something more about this one, maybe Royston can tell more?

The last one I get from Willem and here I also don't know more, maybe Willem?

Regards,

Detlef

I agree but not fully. I think the handles could be from Celebes or the Moluccas, but the more plain ones like Daves and the one I owned, possibly are from the Moluccan.

Also the pade you bought from Willem has a better blade as the others, which also indicates (IMO) that the last one is from Celebes. The other three blades are much more simple forged as the last one you have.

Nice collection of pades by the way!

At the other hand it would be hard to place them to a certain region, as it's the Celebes or Moluccan Alfur's who used them.


Maurice

Hi Maurice,

yes good possible! And you are correct, the blade from the pade I have from Willem is without doubt the heaviest and the best executed one. (It still need a good cleaning) To bad that we don't know from where this one coming. Willem?? ;) :D
And to bad that so less is known about this type of sword. Maybe worth a deeper research from a person who is used to do something like this!? ;)

Best regards,

Detlef