Stick sword from Solor
 

Hello,

this stick sword from Solor I just traded with a friend from the Netherlands and want to share it with you. The tip of the blade is broken, maybe someone from you have a idea how I can repair it. And the end of the handle seems to my eyes not original, half of the handle seems to be missing. The pictures are from my friend.
Every comment is very appreciated.

sajen

Hi Sajen, yes, you're a half handle short .

I think that will be the bigger challenge than repair of the tip .

Looks like you've got the end cap at least .

Seems like a pretty fancy example . :)

Hi Rick,

thank's for comment. This is what I also think. The existing part of the handle seems to be from horn. The stick swords I have seen have a handle set together from three parts and the outer parts most of the time the same material. Now I have to know from which material is the part in the middle. So I hope that members who own such a sword would be so kind and tell me which material is used. Good luck that the end cap isn't missing.

Detlef

The center of mine, in fact probably most of the handle. is made from wood .
There should be a three inch section, either wood or covered wood (silver, cloth) then more horn veneer over wood to the end cap .

Where to get veneer of water buffalo ? :confused:

Do a search here , key word 'toa' and you will see my example . :)

Hmmm, key word brought up nothing ... :confused:

Ah, here it is :
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=solor

Seems very odd to me to have an original part that is clearly matching in finish and design to all other parts, to latter cut the handle down and stick the parts back together. I would suggest that the step down to the "end/butt cap" is completely intentional. Some good close up shots of this area might help? I can imagine that the weight of blade and length of handle are well balanced? It does not look fiddled with to me.

mid is wood also.....and horn,brass,translucent horn.

Any other examples out there ? :)

I wouldn't want to take on a full length Toa with Sajen's example . :eek:

Good point Rick.

What about long and short handle Philippine head axes? both would hurt a body.

Well, its style of use if a short handled version, would be very different; the Point of Balance would be totally different .

Might I suggest that the end cap is over a dowel to which the rest of the handle was attached . :shrug:

Thank you Rick, until now I don't have the sword in my hands so I can't say if the handle from massive horn or wood with horn veneer. :confused:

Hello Tim,

thank's for comment. It's also to me a mystery why the handle is cut down like this and the end cap set on again, maybe because the other half of the handle was broken? :shrug: I will take some more pictures when I received the sword.
Regards,

Detlef

Thank you Arjan, your sword let me hope to get a good restoration by the handle. I have seen the biggest problem to get such a large piece of horn. But when I can use wood and black/green and also translucent horn it seems more easy.

Regards,

Detlef

I'd be interested to see shots of the end ; maybe the cap can be removed to see what is underneath .

This is exactly what I also suppose. When I received the toa I will take some pictures from this area.

This is my one. Horna and silver.
Paolo

A nice example .
I'll bet Sajen's had a matching silver collar at one time .

Hello folks,

first of all thank you very much for the shown toas, all three are very nice examples, I hope in near future my will look nice like yours.
Today I received the sword and it is like we think, the handle is cut down and the material is like the one from Rick wood covered with horn veneer, a technic I have never seen before and it is a mystery to me how this is done. Good that my wife will fly to Indonesia next Monday, she have already my order to look for a large piece of black/green horn.

It would be nice when Rick, Arjan and Paolo can give the dimensions of the sections of their swords (blade, first-, middle- and last part of the handle) to manage a good restoration. The lenght of my blade is 35,3 cm and of the existing part of the handle without end cap is 22,5 cm.

Here two close ups from the end of the handle.

Detlef

You might be correct by this! ;)

Sajen here are dimensions of my one :
Blade 36,2 cm
First part of the handle 3,2 x 2,5 cm
Middle part 3,7 x 2,9
Last part 2,9 x 2,3
Paolo

Thank you very much Paolo, you can give also the length of the handle parts?

Detlef

My example is 34.5 inches overall with 20 inches of haft and 14.5 inches of heavy blade .
The handle pieces are ; first section (nearest blade) horn 7.75" . mid band 3" ,
The end is made from two overlapping sections of horn measuring 9.25". There is a small oval brass butt end plate held on by 2 nails .

Thank you very much Rick, this will be a good help!

Detlef

Glad to be of help . :)

hi Sajen
first section (nearest blade) horn 19,9 cm , mid band 8,2 cm
second section horn 7,9 cm, band 1 cm
last horn section 14 cm, end band 1 cm
regards
Paolo

Hey !!
Sajen, where are the pictures ?? :D

Sorry Rick,

I have thought I load them up! :eek: To much work in the moment.
Here it goes.

Thank you Paolo, it seems that they all similar by the measure.

Regards,

Detlef