Tjikeroeh swords

Peter Andeweg · 19th November 2021, 08:22 AM

Nice example Micheal,

The Tjikeroeh swords were made around 1870-1920 and were often made for KNIL soldiers as private purchase. These are in fact the first mass produced swords/knives from West Java. Earlier examples were often made in the region Tjiandjoer, nearby all near Bandung, but were different in shape and decoration.
The decoration pattern on yours is commonly seen on most Tjikeroe (Cikeruh) swords.

They had no military use, but were brought back to the Netherlands as reminder of their time in the Dutch East Indies.
These swords were not made for the East India company. I have seen a 19th century example which was marked VOC and dated 1698, but it was actually made in the 1840-1850's. It was probably ment as a tribute or perhaps talismanic.

Most of these swords are inspired by the German and Dutch 'hirshfanger' or the KNIL regulated Klewang models.

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19th November 2021, 08:22 AM	#19
Peter Andeweg Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Vlissingen, Netherlands Posts: 71	Nice example Micheal, The Tjikeroeh swords were made around 1870-1920 and were often made for KNIL soldiers as private purchase. These are in fact the first mass produced swords/knives from West Java. Earlier examples were often made in the region Tjiandjoer, nearby all near Bandung, but were different in shape and decoration. The decoration pattern on yours is commonly seen on most Tjikeroe (Cikeruh) swords. They had no military use, but were brought back to the Netherlands as reminder of their time in the Dutch East Indies. These swords were not made for the East India company. I have seen a 19th century example which was marked VOC and dated 1698, but it was actually made in the 1840-1850's. It was probably ment as a tribute or perhaps talismanic. Most of these swords are inspired by the German and Dutch 'hirshfanger' or the KNIL regulated Klewang models.