Tjikeroeh swords

[Ian]

This is an example of Dutch Colonial swords made in western Java, mostly in Tjikeroeh, during the period from about 1890 to 1920. [This style of blade is similar to a Dutch military saber from the same period -- I will post pictures in the next day or so (the clipped point is very similar).]

The broad fuller and foliate engravings are characteristic of this style. Hilts have full length tangs, secured with a threaded nut at the end. Handles tend to be bone or antler with a brass guard and ferrules. Scabbards are plain, with black wood and brass accents at the throat and toe.

Here is another, slightly different example:

Ian.

[Ian]

Here are two old threads that discussed these swords -- several pictures included. I have attached pictures of two more that I have.

http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001139.html
http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002112.html

Ian.

[Rick]

East gets mistaken for West .
I'm not 100% positive on this example ; but you can see the similarities to Tjikeroeh and Philippine knives .

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...542483831&rd=1

[VVV]

Thanks all for the comments and to get the background confirmed from more knowledgeable forumites.
Look forward to see pics of your examples and thanks also for the links to the older threads.

Michael

[Rick]

Here's my example complete with battle scars .
Golok .

[Amuk Murugul]

Hello everybody,

Originally Posted by Ian

... mostly in Tjikeroeh, during the period from about 1890 to 1920 ...

Ian,
How sure are you about the beginning period? I am told that there is a similar klewang with 1773 stamped on the blade.

Regards.

[jmings]

I drool from envy. Thank you, my friends for sharing those lovely pictures.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Amuk Murugul

Hello everybody,



Ian,
How sure are you about the beginning period? I am told that there is a similar klewang with 1773 stamped on the blade.

Regards.

Hi Amuk Murugul:

The Dutch klewang, on which the clipped-blade saber forms of these Tjikeroeh swords are based, was placed in service by the Dutch military in 1898. So it is likely that the locally copied versions post-date that time.

I do think that the manufacture of European style knives and swords, with antler hilts and other "Westernized" features, arose about that time. These are among the very few swords and knives in SE Asia that actually carry a date of manufacture. I've not seen any before about 1890, and the most recent in the mid-1920s. The incising of the numbers can be rather confusing sometimes, and a 9 can be confused for a 7 on some inscriptions (one of mine shows a 9 that could easily be read as a 7). I doubt that any of these knives and swords date from the 18th C. -- they look in too good shape to be that old.

Regards,

Ian.

[Amuk Murugul]

Hello everybody,

Originally Posted by Ian

The Dutch klewang, on which the clipped-blade saber forms of these Tjikeroeh swords are based, was placed in service by the Dutch military in 1898. So it is likely that the locally copied versions post-date that time...

Ian,

Thank you very much for the information. I really appreciate it. It has made me wary.

Regards.

[asomotif]

These Tjikeroe swords are pretty common in the Netherlands. although the quality varies. The examples placed on this site are very nice.

Personally I feel that the ones that have the western look are probably made as souvernir. mentioning a place and year is something that your normally not see on indonesian weapons.
But also the more indonesian types (with wooden animal like handles) have the name and date, so probably these are also made as souvernir.

I had a nice one last year, I believe it is now in Flavio's collection.

[Dajak]

They both made for tourist the dutch and the javanese one that pictured here

There are special javanese ones that are not for tourist I think one was pictured in Zonneveld s Book

Ben

[Amuk Murugul]

Hello everybody,

Originally Posted by asomotif

... mentioning a place and year is something that your normally not see on indonesian weapons...
But also the more indonesian types (with wooden animal like handles) have the name and date, so probably these are also made as souvernir...

Assuming Ian is right about the 1890 date for the klewang, that would place it in the second decade of the Aceh War. As the war lasted thirty years, it is conceivable that during this period, KNIL needed a lot more manpower, hence HARDWARE, not only for the war effort, but also to hold the areas in the archipelago it already controlled. It seems likely that they would've tried to source as much as they could, locally.
At the time, in Sumedang Regency (close to KNIL HQ), the adjacent villages of Tjikeroeh and Tjibatoe (NOT the Cibatu of Sukabumi/Bogor of recent fame) were well-known for their foundries. So one or both of them were likely to have been commissioned by KNIL to produce klewang to their specs (which may account for their European-style appearance).
If such were the case, the foundries would have simply continued the VOC practice of marking these klewang with name and year.

As for materials used for the handles: people of the region have traditionally been very utilitarian. Handles have been made from wood, buffalo horn, antler, etc, ... even RHINO HORN (Chinese traders dicovered this and started buying up these weapons just for the handles).

Regards.

[asomotif]

The assumption that these where produced for dutch soldiers fighting in Aceh feels very unlikely. There is a big variation in models and material.
If they were made by an order of the KNIL they would not have this model.

They look more like a so-called 'hartsvanger' a sidearm that was used by hunters in the 1800's

Other option would be private purchase by soldiers for use in the Aceh war.
But they are always find in unused condition and also the model is something that I can not imagine being desired by dutch soldiers.

I have never seen these Tjikeroe waepons on pictures of soldiers from those days.

I really stick to the souvernir option.

Best regards,
Willem

Enclosed some pictures of the one I had last year and I believ to be in Flavio's collection now.