Unusual grip solution on a klewang

[Battara]

Well that's different.

I can see better grip, but limited in movement with the wrist.

[asomotif]

Wow. pretty unique feature.

I have never seen anything similar which is so clearly additional grip for one hand use. (on ethnographic weapons that is. On new fantasy knives it looks more like a standard to have such protrusions )

I can see better grip, but limited in movement with the wrist.

Maybe this is more a tool than a weapon and therefore comfort was more important than free movement...?

Best regards,
Willem

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by Battara

Well that's different.

I can see better grip, but limited in movement with the wrist.

How is this limiting Battara?

A very interesting piece Michael.

[Battara]

Hard to describe in writing. The finger hold would catch when making some wrist movements with this piece. Not saying that it would be impossible to use, just a little limiting. However, I am not as familiar with Indonesian silat forms as I am with Filipino forms.

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by Battara

Hard to describe in writing. The finger hold would catch when making some wrist movements with this piece. Not saying that it would be impossible to use, just a little limiting. However, I am not as familiar with Indonesian silat forms as I am with Filipino forms.

I beg to differ, when looking at biomechanics, I do not think it will have any effect on wrist movement at all.
Put on a thick chunky ring on your forefinger if you like (for effect ) and grab a guardless sword off the wall. Grip your fist tight around the hilt and rotate your wrist at every possible extreme angle and you'll see your fingers do not move at all, I don't understand what it could catch on?

I do think it is an ingenious addition that offers a sort of a rest function.

As these pieces were not always a weapon but doubled as a weapon and a machete, I know if I was holding it and chopping for hours whilst beating down new path in the jungles, my hand, wrist and forearm would want a break now and then between stikes.
I feel the ring hook offers at any point in time, a relaxed grip with the natural position of the forefinger, thumb and gravity allowing it to be held loosely in your hand and not falling to the ground.
Certainly in combat too, like hollywood movies, persons have dropped blades due to hard and well placed stikes, having this catch point where it is offers some chance of instant recovery rather than dropping the piece.

""I might add too, that in relation to a sweating hand and having this hook in place, it always keeps the hand in the correct place on the hilt in relation to the cutting edge.""

My $1.95.

Gav

[David]

Originally Posted by freebooter

I beg to differ, when looking at biomechanics, I do not think it will have any effect on wrist movement at all.
Put on a thick chunky ring on your forefinger if you like (for effect ) and grab a guardless sword off the wall. Grip your fist tight around the hilt and rotate your wrist at every possible extreme angle and you'll see your fingers do not move at all, I don't understand what it could catch on?

I do think it is an ingenious addition that offers a sort of a rest function.

As these pieces were not always a weapon but doubled as a weapon and a machete, I know if I was holding it and chopping for hours whilst beating down new path in the jungles, my hand, wrist and forearm would want a break now and then between stikes.
I feel the ring hook offers at any point in time, a relaxed grip with the natural position of the forefinger, thumb and gravity allowing it to be held loosely in your hand and not falling to the ground.
Certainly in combat too, like hollywood movies, persons have dropped blades due to hard and well placed stikes, having this catch point where it is offers some chance of instant recovery rather than dropping the piece.

""I might add too, that in relation to a sweating hand and having this hook in place, it always keeps the hand in the correct place on the hilt in relation to the cutting edge.""

My $1.95.

Gav

What he said...
I don't think this finger hook would be limiting at all and in fact it would give you more control of the blade...

[ThePepperSkull]

When comparing FMA to Indonesian silat, many forms and movements are similar (I see many similarities in the footwork. Though the noticable difference is the european influence in FMA footwork. Triangle movements are a major similarity between FMA and Indonesian Silat however), but as a practitioner of both I would say a major difference would be movement of the blade in-hand.

In this respect I think Jose is correct. Those of us who practice FMA knows that it involves a lot of rapid movements and slashes involving deceptive redirections in order to 'fake-out' your opponent. When the checking hand is involved, there is more of a necessity to control and manipulate the swing of the bladed hand as well in order to avoid cutting one's own hand. In these aspects, the trigger-like guard may hinder or provide discomfort to the practitioner who likes to use such movements.

As a practitioner of Mande Muda Silat, however, I would say that this would be an acceptable design feaure in terms of movement, which in general involves 'larger' and more sweeping slashes in comparison to filipino martial arts.

[tom hyle]

PS I love that outline forged integral bolster!

[Battara]

The Pepperskull, that is helpful. I was not as sure about the silat forms and if what you say is true then this would make sense of having the hook on the hilt. I would only wonder why this was not common on these, but it would be helpful for longer slashing movements.