Indonesian( ?) short sword
 

Hello everybody,

I would like your opinion and knowledge about this item,
It's not my area but it seems quite old ( 19th ?) and an authentic tribal piece,
maybe indonesian ?

it was sold as a sword but I find its quite small, 53cm / less than 21 inches long
more a machete ?!?

The hilt is made of wood maybe of horn with silver inserts
( and silver on the scabbard ? )

There is I think a missing piece at the end of the hilt.

Glad if you help to fix it

Kind regards

Hello,

It's a Karo Batak kalasan! The missing piece at the handle would be a silver sheet. Nice piece with an unusual handle. :)

Regards,
Detlef

Hello,

Thank you for fix it !

Do you think the hilt is a later replacement ?

It seems horn but can be hard exotic wood

Yep, I do.

From what I can tell the Batak are mainly Christian/Muslim, yet the choil seems to be a shiva linga to me. Is there any more knowledgeable member out there able to amend my ignorance? Sorry for the pun.

Yes, it looks like the symbol often seen on kukri daggers...
a strange ? interesting mix ?...

Just found this one , same motif, sold as a karo batak kalasan too by specialists

... a mix of differents cultures/symbols ...

Hello Willem,

Why? I really think that the handle is original, the motif/ornament on it is typical a Karo Batak motif. I've never seen such an handle before but I have no doubt that it's original to the blade. :shrug:

Regards,
Detlef

Hello Detlef,

The hilt and scabbard are very different in style and craftmanship. So I think the handle was added later. Which is not a bad thing persé.

@ Francantolin, do you have a picture of the kalasan in the sheet, to see how the handle connects with the scabbard ?

Best regards,
Willem

Hello Willem,

I see what you mean. Maybe not the original scabbard?

Best regards,
Detlef

Hello,

Here some pics of the scabbard-blade,
( Not fast, time to receive it + problems with my login )

I see what you mean,
sure it's not the same style but it fits pretty good in

I have a second one and if I try to put it in the second scabbard it don't fit at all
even if this blade is smaller...

And the second kalasan ( now I know ;) ! Still thank you Sajen !!! )

Nice hilt, sold as wood but clearly light horn.

A ( nice ) classical model ??

Kind regards

A somewhat better example, the blade has an unusual shape and I like the very nice horn hilt!
Compare with my Batak knives.

Regards,
Detlef

Really nice items !!
How long is the bigger ?
( mine 60cm-23,6 inches long )

I find my ''second one'' looks like the last on your picture.

I have to clean ( not to much ) the silver parts
make it a little more shiny like yours :)

Thank you! :)


The one in up is 64 cm without scabbard.

Only the file work near the handle but the general blade shape is different and I doubt that this example from my collection can get called kalasan.

Batak silver seems to be very pure since it's get black again very fast. :(

Regards,
Detlef

Another Kalasan, horn grip, Aceh style. tight well fitted scabbard that matches the sword. 24in. blade.

Hello Wayne,

It's Batak style, the Aceh style is similar but different in fine nuance. ;)

Regards,
Detlef

Here the file work at my andar-andar, the example in down.

Thanks for the info.

Hi Wayne,

You can check it here by a drawing from Volz, tranlated from our member Roland.

Regards,
Detlef

Thank you for the informative picture with the differents models,

So what do you think of my first model ?

original piece looking like the number four with Tanke djembe hilt

or a composite weapon with his all silver covered hilt and his matching scabbard with really different decorations/patterns ?

Kind regards

Looking at the patination I would guess that it's original, maybe the hilt get renewed long time ago. I personally like it and would be glad to add it to my own collection! ;)

Regards,
Detlef

I agree with you 100% on all you said Detlef.

Thank You !!

( especially for all precious comments ! ;) )

Kind regards