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.

Amuk Murugul · 19th November 2021, 10:40 AM

Hullo gp,

This may help:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...44&postcount=1

Best,

gp · 19th November 2021, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amuk Murugul

Hullo gp,

This may help:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...44&postcount=1

Best,

terima kasih !

gp · 19th November 2021, 06:45 PM

a few more pics

gp · 19th November 2021, 07:18 PM

today I felt lucky and happy!
Bought a dagger with a bone as handle on the internet...
description : "trench art 1916"
no scabbard... perhaps it never had one at all
although the blade was quite dirty...
and the bone as well...
and my Bouvier the Flandres not with me anymore for some years...(passed away after 13 years)
so no danger for the handle "disappearing"...

the lettering of 1916...although difficult to read
made me think...
and I placed a bid and got it !
Today it arrived...
some virgin olive oil did do the job...
and indeed: what I suspected came through or became true !
a Tjikeroeh
perhaps not the fanciest but still one of my "treasured"ones.

Your thoughts please...

ausjulius · 19th November 2021, 11:33 PM

the markings are talismanic, and can be taken with a grain of salt,
they are markings mimicing various dutch weapons local blacksmiths inspected.. dutch colonial officials were issued with european made modern weapons,
indonesian people wanted to emulate dutch fashion and style.. additional the dutch colonies there had a rather large european population who would be active customers buying souvineers or a knife to use locally. but for the most part these were made for the indonesia population. there probably examples of dutch aquiring local blades in situaitons when it was expediant but this was not the norm.
these european-malay hybrid knives and swords are far more common in indonesia than they are in holland, i have collected a good number over the years when travelling there.. including a copy of one of those german checkered handled "machetes" used in aircraft in ww2 which makes me think those wer eprobably a colonial product destined for the far east or another region that were pressed into service.

19th November 2021, 06:45 PM	#4
gp Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 823	a few more pics Attached Images

19th November 2021, 07:18 PM	#5
gp Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 823	today I felt lucky and happy! Bought a dagger with a bone as handle on the internet... description : "trench art 1916" no scabbard... perhaps it never had one at all although the blade was quite dirty... and the bone as well... and my Bouvier the Flandres not with me anymore for some years...(passed away after 13 years) so no danger for the handle "disappearing"... the lettering of 1916...although difficult to read made me think... and I placed a bid and got it ! Today it arrived... some virgin olive oil did do the job... and indeed: what I suspected came through or became true ! a Tjikeroeh perhaps not the fanciest but still one of my "treasured"ones. Your thoughts please... Attached Images Last edited by gp; 19th November 2021 at 09:23 PM.

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19th November 2021, 08:22 AM	#1
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.

19th November 2021, 10:40 AM	#2
Amuk Murugul Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kaboejoetan Galoenggoeng Mélben Posts: 472	Hullo gp, This may help: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...44&postcount=1 Best,

19th November 2021, 11:33 PM	#6
ausjulius Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: musorian territory Posts: 439	the markings are talismanic, and can be taken with a grain of salt, they are markings mimicing various dutch weapons local blacksmiths inspected.. dutch colonial officials were issued with european made modern weapons, indonesian people wanted to emulate dutch fashion and style.. additional the dutch colonies there had a rather large european population who would be active customers buying souvineers or a knife to use locally. but for the most part these were made for the indonesia population. there probably examples of dutch aquiring local blades in situaitons when it was expediant but this was not the norm. these european-malay hybrid knives and swords are far more common in indonesia than they are in holland, i have collected a good number over the years when travelling there.. including a copy of one of those german checkered handled "machetes" used in aircraft in ww2 which makes me think those wer eprobably a colonial product destined for the far east or another region that were pressed into service.