a Sewar cross-dressing as a Badik?

[Sajen]

Clearly sewar!

[David]

That was my thought as well. Who implied that this might be a Badik to you?

[Moshah]

Originally Posted by David

That was my thought as well. Who implied that this might be a Badik to you?

The dress it comes with...

Still, with this cross-dressing, is this a good, average joe kinda sewar?

Pardon my knowledge, but is there anything clearer than the thick spine, to differentiate a sewar and a badik?

[David]

Both Badiks and Sewars come in a range of sheath styles. I see nothing in this sheath which would lead me to call this a cross-dressed sewar. The blade and hilt seem to clearly ID this as a sewar.

[Sajen]

Hello Moshah, could be a Malay sewar IMHO. Will post pictures of my sewar collection and as well from my badik collection that you can see the differents.

Regards,

Detlef

[Moshah]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hello Moshah, could be a Malay sewar IMHO. Will post pictures of my sewar collection and as well from my badik collection that you can see the differents.

I'd be honored to, Detlef...Thanks for the kind gestures...

[Moshah]

Originally Posted by David

Both Badiks and Sewars come in a range of sheath styles. I see nothing in this sheath which would lead me to call this a cross-dressed sewar. The blade and hilt seem to clearly ID this as a sewar.

I was told that the sheath was not original to the blade. And usually for this kind of sheath it was supposed to be for badik. It could be my misunderstanding, and it could also be that the classification of badik over here in W Malaysia would slightly differs from its other neighboring cultures.

Since David has mentioned about the broader range of sheath styles, I think we can already conclude it is a sewar all right. However, this is what I initially thought on how a sewar's sheath would be...

[David]

Originally Posted by Moshah

Since David has mentioned about the broader range of sheath styles, I think we can already conclude it is a sewar all right. However, this is what I initially thought on how a sewar's sheath would be...

That would indeed be just one style Moshah. Try the search function here or do a google image search under "sewar knife" and you will encounter many more variations and styles.

[Moshah]

I've just did that, David. I've seen a lot of styles...

But if we google "badik kelantan", you'll find these style of sheath aplenty.

Or it could even what they called a sewar is, back there...that was really confusing...

[kai]

Hello Moshah,

Pardon my knowledge, but is there anything clearer than the thick spine, to differentiate a sewar and a badik?

IMHO the thick integral bolster is a prominent but not sufficient requirement for something being a sewar/sewaih.

Your blade does seem to be a genuine antique sewar. To be frank, the heavy pitting seems to be from excessive etching (and/or neglect). If it were not looking like a pretty much lost case, I would think about reworking/repolishing/staining the blade. I don't think this is feasible with this piece though.

The fittings (including the hilt) look newly crafted to me and may well be Malay "repair" attempts.

Regards,
Kai

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by kai

Your blade does seem to be a genuine antique sewar. To be frank, the heavy pitting seems to be from excessive etching (and/or neglect). If it were not looking like a pretty much lost case, I would think about reworking/repolishing/staining the blade. I don't think this is feasible with this piece though.

Agree, I also would repolishing the blade, it will look much better after this.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by kai

Your blade does seem to be a genuine antique sewar. To be frank, the heavy pitting seems to be from excessive etching (and/or neglect). If it were not looking like a pretty much lost case, I would think about reworking/repolishing/staining the blade. I don't think this is feasible with this piece though.

Agree, I also would repolishing the blade, it will look much better after this.

[Moshah]

Originally Posted by kai

Your blade does seem to be a genuine antique sewar. To be frank, the heavy pitting seems to be from excessive etching (and/or neglect). If it were not looking like a pretty much lost case, I would think about reworking/repolishing/staining the blade. I don't think this is feasible with this piece though.

The fittings (including the hilt) look newly crafted to me and may well be Malay "repair" attempts.

Regards,
Kai

Dear Kai,

Now I think I've got it right already.

Looking at it, definitely the edge was heavily corroded. To commissioned a reworking is a futile effort, I afraid, as the sewar's edge would be taken away too much from its original body, and that would not proportioned with the thick spine.

The hilt, FYI, was a white akar bahar. And I am also in the thinking that it is new and I believe you are right.

But then again I would like to ask, is the polished form (the clean, steel looks) is really a desirable state on any sewar? I've seen numerous examples on the net was in that state...

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Moshah

Looking at it, definitely the edge was heavily corroded. To commissioned a reworking is a futile effort, I afraid, as the sewar's edge would be taken away too much from its original body, and that would not proportioned with the thick spine.

The hilt, FYI, was a white akar bahar. And I am also in the thinking that it is new and I believe you are right.

But then again I would like to ask, is the polished form (the clean, steel looks) is really a desirable state on any sewar? I've seen numerous examples on the net was in that state...

Hello Moshah,

don't be afraid to do it byself, I have done it several times. Use sandpaper, first maybe 400 and go down to 1000 but do it with oil, you only get dirty fingers by this. After you have removed the corrosion etch it with hot vinegar. The complete procedure will take some time but is worth the effort. By this you can carefully reshape the edge also.

Regarding the hilt material I would say what I can see by your pictures that t is molar and not akar bahar.

Regards,

Detlef

[Moshah]

Originally Posted by Sajen

don't be afraid to do it byself, I have done it several times...

Regarding the hilt material I would say what I can see by your pictures that t is molar and not akar bahar.

Hi Detlef,

Thanks for the tips.

Well, the hilt looks like molar but it is akar bahar indeed. It is light, and there is a small hole on top which nesting some jagged thick, hairy-kind of material like braided ropes. I don't think molar would produce this.

White akar bahar was indeed even harder to find than sea ivory IMHO. It could be a pleasant surprise if it was an older hilt. Since it was brand new, it would be less valuable and "inanimate" - in terms of the Malay folks belief of it's otherworldly perks...