Share your miniature blades! - Page 3

ariel · 1st November 2021, 05:48 AM

European agents of serious swordmaking companies used to carry miniature copies of the real wares in their traveling cases. Prospective buyers could pick and choose. But dating them to the 1960s seems to exclude this possibility. The Bebut ( curved bladed kindjal) from the Osobist's collection carries a niello inscription on the scabbard "Kavkaz" written in the old Russian style: a local souvenir. I guess that the mini Nihonto examples were also souvenirs.
There is a Polish book of a Kris collector ( I vaguely remember he might have been an ambassador to Indonesia). His most important item was a very miniature Kris, gifted to him by Sukarno.
What was the purpose of the rest of Indonesian, Thai and Philippine mini daggers is a mystery to me. They would not have any practical value as self-defense weapons, so souvenirs is the first thing that comes into my mind.

Sajen · 1st November 2021, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

There is a Polish book of a Kris collector ( I vaguely remember he might have been an ambassador to Indonesia). His most important item was a very miniature Kris, gifted to him by Sukarno.
What was the purpose of the rest of Indonesian, Thai and Philippine mini daggers is a mystery to me. They would not have any practical value as self-defense weapons, so souvenirs is the first thing that comes into my mind.

Hello Ariel,

Small keris like the one shown in post #1 this thread are jimats.
I don't think it's easy like this, some of the ones from me showed SEA items have a practical value, but by others like the gunong I would agree.
The two mini swords from Willem and me are collector items, I hesitate to call them souvenirs.

Regards,
Detlef

asomotif · 1st November 2021, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

The two mini swords from Willem and me are collector items, I hesitate to call them souvenirs.

Regards,
Detlef

I have no problem calling my miniature jimpul a souvernir.
It is to small to be used as anything. Not even as letter opener.

kai · 2nd November 2021, 09:20 AM

These certainly were not cheap(ly made) souvenirs. However, they had no place in the originating cultures and were specifically made for selling to colonial "guests" - so, high-end souvenir might well be a reasonable description...

There are also those tiny jewellery blades, usually from silver and often made as brooches.

Regards,
Kai

Sajen · 3rd November 2021, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asomotif

I have no problem calling my miniature jimpul a souvernir.
It is to small to be used as anything. Not even as letter opener.

I am also not, but since they are worked from silver they are somewhat expensive souvenirs and special for collectors.

ariel · 3rd November 2021, 02:21 PM

I checked the internet.
Price of Sterling Silver ( 92.5%) is $20.11 per ounce or $0.71 per gram.
A McDonalds burger with small fries would cost more than the entire silver-cladding of a miniature kindjal ( scabbard and handle).

asomotif · 3rd November 2021, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

I checked the internet.
Price of Sterling Silver ( 92.5%) is $20.11 per ounce or $0.71 per gram.
A McDonalds burger with small fries would cost more than the entire silver-cladding of a miniature kindjal ( scabbard and handle).

I prefer the silver miniatures, and not just because they are cheaper.

Sajen · 7th November 2021, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

I checked the internet.
Price of Sterling Silver ( 92.5%) is $20.11 per ounce or $0.71 per gram.
A McDonalds burger with small fries would cost more than the entire silver-cladding of a miniature kindjal ( scabbard and handle).

Hi Ariel,

Like Willem I prefer the silver miniatures!

And don't forget that some work is involved to make such a miniature.

Regards,
Detlef

JeffS · 25th March 2022, 07:01 AM

I recently received this cute little guy, a bit over 7" in scabbard. The blade is actually sharp and has a nice profile and distal taper. Would this be a Thai style daarb? Shown next to another miniature similar to ones already posted in this thread.

Royston · 26th March 2022, 01:40 PM

Here are a few more.
No idea what the two small silver ones were made for, they look like broaches but have not got clasps on them and are too small to be effective letter openers. The Cocos Keeling is the smallest I have seen.
Roy

Ian · 26th March 2022, 03:13 PM

Can we have a definition of what is a "miniature?" How much does it need to be scaled down to qualify?

Ian · 26th March 2022, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

... What was the purpose of the rest of Indonesian, Thai and Philippine mini daggers is a mystery to me. They would not have any practical value as self-defense weapons, so souvenirs is the first thing that comes into my mind.

Ariel, a lot of the small Thai knives are spiritual talismans called meed mor, but often referred to as "priest knives" in the older European literature. The composition of the knives and the religious blessings they receive have significance in the culture of origin.

asomotif · 29th May 2022, 11:30 PM

A mini pedang. 1st I have ever seen.

SwordLover79 · 2nd June 2022, 05:13 PM

made by Granger (Paris) in the 1820 timeframe I think

asomotif · 6th June 2022, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwordLover79

made by Granger (Paris) in the 1820 timeframe I think

Can you give us some size indication ?

SwordLover79 · 7th June 2022, 06:33 PM

the swords range from 6 to 7 inches in length. The daggers are approximately 2 inches.

gp · 19th July 2025, 09:35 PM

a mini yataghan, made out of bone and iron (size in cm...)

gp · 19th July 2025, 09:51 PM

another one, a little smaller and made out of horn, iron and silver scabbard

adamb · 20th July 2025, 02:07 AM

Tiny badik from South Sulawesi; acquired last year from a Makasar man; the blade is black steel (Malela), which is seen as inherently poisonous. I was told these tiny badiks are not toys or talismans, but feared weapons used by assassins

25th March 2022, 07:01 AM	#69
JeffS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 441	I recently received this cute little guy, a bit over 7" in scabbard. The blade is actually sharp and has a nice profile and distal taper. Would this be a Thai style daarb? Shown next to another miniature similar to ones already posted in this thread. Attached Images

26th March 2022, 01:40 PM	#70
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	Some minatures Here are a few more. No idea what the two small silver ones were made for, they look like broaches but have not got clasps on them and are too small to be effective letter openers. The Cocos Keeling is the smallest I have seen. Roy Attached Images

29th May 2022, 11:30 PM	#73
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,237	A mini pedang. 1st I have ever seen. Attached Images

2nd June 2022, 05:13 PM	#74
SwordLover79 Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: San Diego Posts: 59	19th Century miniature weapons made by Granger (Paris) in the 1820 timeframe I think Attached Images

19th July 2025, 09:35 PM	#77
gp Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 925	a mini yataghan, made out of bone and iron (size in cm...) Attached Images Last edited by gp; 19th July 2025 at 10:53 PM.

1st November 2021, 05:48 AM	#61
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	European agents of serious swordmaking companies used to carry miniature copies of the real wares in their traveling cases. Prospective buyers could pick and choose. But dating them to the 1960s seems to exclude this possibility. The Bebut ( curved bladed kindjal) from the Osobist's collection carries a niello inscription on the scabbard "Kavkaz" written in the old Russian style: a local souvenir. I guess that the mini Nihonto examples were also souvenirs. There is a Polish book of a Kris collector ( I vaguely remember he might have been an ambassador to Indonesia). His most important item was a very miniature Kris, gifted to him by Sukarno. What was the purpose of the rest of Indonesian, Thai and Philippine mini daggers is a mystery to me. They would not have any practical value as self-defense weapons, so souvenirs is the first thing that comes into my mind.

2nd November 2021, 09:20 AM	#64
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	These certainly were not cheap(ly made) souvenirs. However, they had no place in the originating cultures and were specifically made for selling to colonial "guests" - so, high-end souvenir might well be a reasonable description... There are also those tiny jewellery blades, usually from silver and often made as brooches. Regards, Kai

3rd November 2021, 02:21 PM	#66
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I checked the internet. Price of Sterling Silver ( 92.5%) is $20.11 per ounce or $0.71 per gram. A McDonalds burger with small fries would cost more than the entire silver-cladding of a miniature kindjal ( scabbard and handle).

26th March 2022, 03:13 PM	#71
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,519	Can we have a definition of what is a "miniature?" How much does it need to be scaled down to qualify?

7th June 2022, 06:33 PM	#76
SwordLover79 Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: San Diego Posts: 59	the swords range from 6 to 7 inches in length. The daggers are approximately 2 inches.

19th July 2025, 09:51 PM	#78
gp Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 925	another one, a little smaller and made out of horn, iron and silver scabbard Attached Images

20th July 2025, 02:07 AM	#79
adamb Member Join Date: Oct 2024 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 48	Tiny badik from South Sulawesi; acquired last year from a Makasar man; the blade is black steel (Malela), which is seen as inherently poisonous. I was told these tiny badiks are not toys or talismans, but feared weapons used by assassins Attached Images

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