sepokal for ID and comments

Gustav · 7th September 2009, 11:23 AM

Penangsang, thank you very much.

Your blade is very similar indeed.

No, there wasn't a needle.
The cross section of the blade is somewhere in the middle between hexagonal and oval (so I also thought of a non Sulawesi provenience), but it is also worn up.
I don't know if pendokok and handle are replacements, but it was also my question to the seller. My idee was, that a person, who is able to pay for such hilt would chose a more elaborate pendokok.

BluErf · 7th September 2009, 02:27 PM

I guess most sepokal blades look alike.

I'm not sure if there is such thing as a regional standard for such blades, though if there is, it may be quite hard to define. A lot of such identification goes by "feel", which leaves a lot of room for inaccuracies.

The big bulge in the batang has been associated with Sulawesi. It seems that the Straits Bugis (from both Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia) do have such features. Combined with the pendoko and hilt, which are undoubtedly Sulawesi, I'd be inclined to say the whole piece is most likely Sulawesi.

Sumbawa is a region close to Bali, inhabited by Bugis as well. I myself is still trying to figure out what makes a Sumbawa keris.

sipakatuo · 8th September 2009, 05:46 AM

Nice sapukala Gustav.

Gustav · 8th September 2009, 07:43 AM

Thank you, Sipakatuo.

7th September 2009, 11:23 AM	#1
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,295	Penangsang, thank you very much. Your blade is very similar indeed. No, there wasn't a needle. The cross section of the blade is somewhere in the middle between hexagonal and oval (so I also thought of a non Sulawesi provenience), but it is also worn up. I don't know if pendokok and handle are replacements, but it was also my question to the seller. My idee was, that a person, who is able to pay for such hilt would chose a more elaborate pendokok. Attached Images

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7th September 2009, 02:27 PM	#2
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	I guess most sepokal blades look alike. I'm not sure if there is such thing as a regional standard for such blades, though if there is, it may be quite hard to define. A lot of such identification goes by "feel", which leaves a lot of room for inaccuracies. The big bulge in the batang has been associated with Sulawesi. It seems that the Straits Bugis (from both Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia) do have such features. Combined with the pendoko and hilt, which are undoubtedly Sulawesi, I'd be inclined to say the whole piece is most likely Sulawesi. Sumbawa is a region close to Bali, inhabited by Bugis as well. I myself is still trying to figure out what makes a Sumbawa keris.

8th September 2009, 05:46 AM	#3
sipakatuo Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 59	Nice sapukala Gustav.

8th September 2009, 07:43 AM	#4
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,295	Thank you, Sipakatuo.