A Lovely, Quality Javanese Parang
 

I recently purchased this lovely Javanese sword/parang from one of our members, Arjan, at My Tribal World, and I am so impressed with it. I believe is is the best quality Javanese sword I have handled.

The hilt is nicely carved, but it is really the quality of the blade and the silver work that is eye popping. I hope you can see the very fine pamor in the blade as my pics are not great. Note also the unusual chisled(into the blade) bolster at the forte. The silver ferrule is a custom fit to the scabbard locket, and all the silver fitting are subtley engraved with floral motifs down the outer sides.

The sword is dated 1827 on the scabbard locket, and is from deacquisitioned from the TropenMuseum in the Netherlands.

This one is all the things I love in a sword combined...elegant functionality, and quality throughout.

My thanks to Arjan!

Dimensions:
Overall: 27in.
Blade length: 21.5in.
Blade width at the widest point: 1.25in.

Hello Charles,

what a beautiful pedang, great blade! :eek:

Best regards,
Detlef

A magnificent example with the blade being of a quality I have never seen on one of these before. My congratulations (and envy) on your new acquisition.

Best,
Robert

Thanks guys.

Robert, I agree the blade is just amazing, even better then I could have imagined from the original pictures.

Being a former Silat practitioner, I love Parangs and things of the like but I have rarely seen an old example in person due to both my priority in collecting Moro pieces and my slowing down of collecting as of recent. Of modern-made pieces, however, I do find Javanese blades to handle particularly well. I have owned several Goloks and they are heavy but move beautifully when in hand.

One thing you don't get with the pictures is a feel for how they handle. I love the very old pieces because they're always balanced so beautifully.

How would you say this one feels in-hand, Charles?

EDIT: I forgot to add: This piece is beautiful!

Just as you suspected, it does handle very nicely, really very well balanced.