Name that scabbard

[Matt Easton]

Aha! Many thanks all - one of those Sumatran pedang scabbards looks very close. Dimensions won't really help in this case, as it is a 32 inch custom-made example for a European sword. I'm trying to pin down where the colonial officer may have been when the scabbard was made for him.
Further opinions and examples much appreciated.
Matt

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo again Matt,

Here is a foto of some GOLOK SOENDA I happen to have handy.
Apologies for the poor quality. It was taken with a 5yr-old phone.
Note the 'sock's/toe-caps.
Goloks and swords came in a variety of similar sheaths, depending on owner.
You mentioned 'colonial officer', so I would look at circa 19thC Java, West Java in particular, as that was where all 'the heavies' were located. European swords in local sheaths were not so unusual, as European sheaths were usually metal and rusted easily as well as being 'noisy'. Leather sheaths didn't last too long either.

Regards to Ol' Blighty,

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by Matt Easton

Aha! Many thanks all - one of those Sumatran pedang scabbards looks very close. Dimensions won't really help in this case, as it is a 32 inch custom-made example for a European sword. I'm trying to pin down where the colonial officer may have been when the scabbard was made for him.
Further opinions and examples much appreciated.
Matt

Hi Matt,

The devil is in the detail. The flower in the scabbard throat may add more to the discussion and the four petals sprouting from it. There appears to be more detail just above the flower, in the next section towards the throat opening. I have attached a detailed photo of this area that may also help others discuss this sword for your understanding.

To my eye, the small flower is seen on Burmese swords but not the 4 large outside leaves. I have a Burmese blade here the same flower on the spine and the binding on the scabbrd is typical of the region, a region that was British occupied....but....the scabbard end, it however A-typical of Burmese sword scabbards to my knowledge, which by design points back to the Sumatran swords mentioned above, a region that also uses this flower like motif and shares the same binding method more so than a Dha.

I recall seeing the flower and four large leaves on some Philippine weapons too.

An interesting pickup.

Gavin

[Matt Easton]

Many thanks Amuk and Gavin, this is all great info. And yes that's the sword that Gavin posted above .

To add more grist to the mill, this sword also bears a Latin motto - that of Sarawak as it happens - 'Dum Spiro Spero' (Whilst I breath, I hope).

This motto is carried around a stylised letter S. The S could stand for Sarawak, but if so, I have never found any other Sarawak emblem like that.

Perhaps the S stands for a region of Sarawak, or somewhere else entirely... such as Sumatra.

I initially assumed that this sword was that of a British officer serving under the White Rajahs (Charles Brooke to be precise), but I am now less sure.

The Java examples posted by Amuk above certainly seem to match very closely.

Thanks,
Matt

[Gavin Nugent]

An interesting motto Matt.

The scabbard end and type of silver fitting manufacture has been seen on Piso Podangs.

Having this motto along with the design of the scabbard's silver dress, it is possible to be from the English residents of Sarawak.

Attached is an image from the Dr. Anton Willem Nieuwenhuis collection, presented as a stylistic reference for the scabbard end angle, second item from the left.

Thanks for the extra information.

Gavin

[Matt Easton]

Thanks Gavin. I think the trail will lead back to Sarawak, but I want to approach this with an open mind at this stage, especially as I can only match the motto to Sarawak, not the emblem.
My current understanding of the military forces serving the Rajah of Sarawak is that they had quite a far-ranging role, including tracking down and killing/capturing pirates*, so I think it is entirely possible that this scabbard could have been made in a neighbouring area, rather than strictly only in Sarawak.

*Especially important to note is that this hilt is a hybrid of the 1822 infantry officer's hilt and the 1827 naval officer's hilt... so we're probably looking at some kind of marine force.

Cheers,
Matt

[Gavin Nugent]

Hi Matt.

I look forward to seeing some detailed photos of the sword, motto and emblems when you can.

Gavin

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody!

Matt,

If my description below fits the bill, then fine; if not, then my apologies.

Solid etched wedge-shaped blade including the letter S (SARAWAK) within Brooke motto (DUM SPIRO SPERO), the reverse with S within a wreath of oak leaves, panels of floral scrolls.
Solid brass gothic-style half-basket hilt, also with S within motto surrounded by oak leaves, in low relief; fish-skin covering.
Brass-mounted black leather scabbard. Chape.
83.2cm; 32 3/4in blade.

It was made for Meyer & Mortimer.

Best,