Batak Sword - metal handle - More info?
 

Though I have slown (slowed down) collecting, but was walking through a flea market and saw this Batak sword in a pile of junk. The seller offered a very low price and I took it home with me.

For your perusal and opinions?

Not my cup of tea, but both are undeniably very pretty.

Very nice...pretty enough to be your new avatar.

Thanks, Ariel. What are your favorites, maybe I might have one to post. Bill

Hello Bill,

It's a kalasan from the Toba Bataks.

Regards,
Detlef

Thank you Detlef. It is good to put a name to it!

It seems quite authentic. Your opinion?

Hello Bill,

Blade stats would be great!

As in the companion thread I'd agree with this being clearly Toba style while steering away from calling it a kalasan.

If we go with the common collectors' terminology, I'd tend toward tagging this as a rather longish piso ni datu even if this stretches things a bit.

Age is tough to impossible to assess from pics. If pressed for a guesstimate, I'd tend towards the first half of 20th c. (or later).

Regards,
Kai

Hello Bill,

I just saw that we crossed posts.


Maybe I'm a bit too cautious - the craftsmanship is above average for the period and warrants close study (the black painted scabbard may be a later "restoration" attempt...)

BTW, for a piece with resembling motifs cp. Fig. viii.16 in Sibeth & Carpenter (2007).

Regards,
Kai

Yes Bill, I think as well that it's an authentic piece, would be glad to have such a Toba sword in my own collection. End of 19th to early 20th century would be my guess.

Regards,
Detlef

very nice :)

Hello Kai,

yes agree with you that it isn't correct to call it kalasan, piso ni datu would be a better description. ;)

Regards,
Detlef

What is the material covering the scabbard...tar/paint/resin of some sort? I am surprised it also extends to the fittings.

I will have a closer look. I usually try to keep 'em like I find 'em. But stop rust or degradation. I have over cleaned in the past.