Identification of an indonesian dagger

A. G. Maisey · 24th June 2006, 10:17 AM

Thank you Henk.
I was hoping I would recognise embossing of one of the types I am familiar with, but I do not.
However, the construction of the pendok does look very Balinese; I am looking at the way the back panel of the pendok is folded up over the sides of the front panel.
Silver is very easy to test. You buy a bottle of silver test from a jeweller`s supplier. It is very cheap and lasts for years.

David, this is just one blade style amongst many. It is clearly a weapon, and was undoubtedly used as such.
Purpose?
Termination of human life.

The baton style dress is more recent, just as tombak have been dressed as daggers for the last 100 years or so. Even the one I saw dressed as a keris, although the dress was old, was probably only 100 or so years old. It would not have gone back to, say, 1750-1850.

Realistically, looking at Henk`s example it is probably a second half of the 20th century scabbard, the ivory somewhat older, and the blade much older. Who knows how many times the dress may have been changed or different styles used?

24th June 2006, 10:17 AM	#11
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,049	Thank you Henk. I was hoping I would recognise embossing of one of the types I am familiar with, but I do not. However, the construction of the pendok does look very Balinese; I am looking at the way the back panel of the pendok is folded up over the sides of the front panel. Silver is very easy to test. You buy a bottle of silver test from a jeweller`s supplier. It is very cheap and lasts for years. David, this is just one blade style amongst many. It is clearly a weapon, and was undoubtedly used as such. Purpose? Termination of human life. The baton style dress is more recent, just as tombak have been dressed as daggers for the last 100 years or so. Even the one I saw dressed as a keris, although the dress was old, was probably only 100 or so years old. It would not have gone back to, say, 1750-1850. Realistically, looking at Henk`s example it is probably a second half of the 20th century scabbard, the ivory somewhat older, and the blade much older. Who knows how many times the dress may have been changed or different styles used?