[Rick]

Originally Posted by Radboud

When my family travelled to Bali in the 1980's these 'shaver cool' swords were available in every second tourist junk shop we wandered into. They'd be stacked up alongside fake Kris, katanas and other paraphernalia.

They were all cheaply made, with mild steel blades and thin brass guards. We brought one home, along with a couple of 'katanas' and a Kris, but they all ended up in the tip (ironically 6months before I discovered the 'shaver cool' phenomenon).

Personally I believe that these swords are actually modelled on the dress sword for Indoneasian navy officers which features the same Garuda head pommel, bone handle and feathered backstrap. That in itself dates them to no earlier than the mid 20th Century.

An eyewitness at last, Jîm!