Demon Head Hilt Bhutan Sword

Lew · 8th November 2006, 07:15 PM

This just ended. Thought I would take a chance on it? Seems to be real.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=290048157496

Reminds me of this guy

Lew

VANDOO · 8th November 2006, 08:03 PM

CONGRADULATIONS! IT LOOKS GOOD TO ME , I KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT WEAPONS FROM THAT REGION BUT THE DEAMON HEAD IS UNUSUAL FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS. IF IT IS A OLD ONE THRUOUT WITH NOTHING ADDED LATER I THINK YOU GOT A GOOD DEAL. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TELL WHEN YOU GET IT IN HAND. GOOD LUCK

Nagawarrior · 8th November 2006, 11:35 PM

Killer sword Lew!
I've owned a few over the years.
Never with such an excellently carved handle.
Looks old too.
The blades on these are incredibly thick.
Way to go.
Stephen*

dennee · 9th November 2006, 12:18 AM

It's real, and it is unusual. Strikes me as fairly recent. It's a Lepcha (Rongpa) "ban" from Sikkim. (I think Stone made the original attribution to Bhutan. I think there may be a handful of Lepchas there.)

Lew · 9th November 2006, 12:50 AM

[QUOTE=dennee]It's real, and it is unusual. Strikes me as fairly recent.

Dennee

I really can't see this being recently made but it seems like it could be 1930-40s the patina is just too rich to be recent.

Lew

dennee · 9th November 2006, 01:46 AM

Sorry, when I say recent, I typically mean "not early twentieth century or older." I have a couple of bans and have seen a bunch more, and they are generally pretty much the same, usually with the exception of some variation in the level of decoration to the scabbard. (There was one with a fullered or fluted blade that looked something like a cut-down saber that I saw in Baltimore a year and a half ago, and it sold on eBay several months ago. Lack of patina suggested not terribly old.)

Your example is quite unusual in the carving, and I admit that I don't know if that means it is a traditional, rare variation or if it simply reflects more recent manufacture (I could certainly buy WWII vintage) as some were perhaps being manufactured not solely for utility use. (The Rongpas were reclusive valley dwellers and not very warlike. The ban was principally used as an axe-like utility knife, hence its heft.) It's also the presence of that brass band that is making me think it is a somewhat later example.

Overall, an interesting piece and worth the price.

8th November 2006, 07:15 PM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Demon Head Hilt Bhutan Sword This just ended. Thought I would take a chance on it? Seems to be real. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=290048157496 Reminds me of this guy Lew Attached Images Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 8th November 2006 at 10:50 PM.

8th November 2006, 08:03 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	CONGRADULATIONS! IT LOOKS GOOD TO ME , I KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT WEAPONS FROM THAT REGION BUT THE DEAMON HEAD IS UNUSUAL FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS. IF IT IS A OLD ONE THRUOUT WITH NOTHING ADDED LATER I THINK YOU GOT A GOOD DEAL. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TELL WHEN YOU GET IT IN HAND. GOOD LUCK

8th November 2006, 11:35 PM	#3
Nagawarrior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Inland Empire, Southern California USA Posts: 160	Killer sword Lew! I've owned a few over the years. Never with such an excellently carved handle. Looks old too. The blades on these are incredibly thick. Way to go. Stephen*

9th November 2006, 12:18 AM	#4
dennee Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: College Park, MD Posts: 186	It's real, and it is unusual. Strikes me as fairly recent. It's a Lepcha (Rongpa) "ban" from Sikkim. (I think Stone made the original attribution to Bhutan. I think there may be a handful of Lepchas there.)

9th November 2006, 12:50 AM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	[QUOTE=dennee]It's real, and it is unusual. Strikes me as fairly recent. Dennee I really can't see this being recently made but it seems like it could be 1930-40s the patina is just too rich to be recent. Lew

9th November 2006, 01:46 AM	#6
dennee Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: College Park, MD Posts: 186	Sorry, when I say recent, I typically mean "not early twentieth century or older." I have a couple of bans and have seen a bunch more, and they are generally pretty much the same, usually with the exception of some variation in the level of decoration to the scabbard. (There was one with a fullered or fluted blade that looked something like a cut-down saber that I saw in Baltimore a year and a half ago, and it sold on eBay several months ago. Lack of patina suggested not terribly old.) Your example is quite unusual in the carving, and I admit that I don't know if that means it is a traditional, rare variation or if it simply reflects more recent manufacture (I could certainly buy WWII vintage) as some were perhaps being manufactured not solely for utility use. (The Rongpas were reclusive valley dwellers and not very warlike. The ban was principally used as an axe-like utility knife, hence its heft.) It's also the presence of that brass band that is making me think it is a somewhat later example. Overall, an interesting piece and worth the price.