Unusual grip solution on a klewang

[David]

Originally Posted by freebooter

I beg to differ, when looking at biomechanics, I do not think it will have any effect on wrist movement at all.
Put on a thick chunky ring on your forefinger if you like (for effect ) and grab a guardless sword off the wall. Grip your fist tight around the hilt and rotate your wrist at every possible extreme angle and you'll see your fingers do not move at all, I don't understand what it could catch on?

I do think it is an ingenious addition that offers a sort of a rest function.

As these pieces were not always a weapon but doubled as a weapon and a machete, I know if I was holding it and chopping for hours whilst beating down new path in the jungles, my hand, wrist and forearm would want a break now and then between stikes.
I feel the ring hook offers at any point in time, a relaxed grip with the natural position of the forefinger, thumb and gravity allowing it to be held loosely in your hand and not falling to the ground.
Certainly in combat too, like hollywood movies, persons have dropped blades due to hard and well placed stikes, having this catch point where it is offers some chance of instant recovery rather than dropping the piece.

""I might add too, that in relation to a sweating hand and having this hook in place, it always keeps the hand in the correct place on the hilt in relation to the cutting edge.""

My $1.95.

Gav

What he said...
I don't think this finger hook would be limiting at all and in fact it would give you more control of the blade...

[ThePepperSkull]

When comparing FMA to Indonesian silat, many forms and movements are similar (I see many similarities in the footwork. Though the noticable difference is the european influence in FMA footwork. Triangle movements are a major similarity between FMA and Indonesian Silat however), but as a practitioner of both I would say a major difference would be movement of the blade in-hand.

In this respect I think Jose is correct. Those of us who practice FMA knows that it involves a lot of rapid movements and slashes involving deceptive redirections in order to 'fake-out' your opponent. When the checking hand is involved, there is more of a necessity to control and manipulate the swing of the bladed hand as well in order to avoid cutting one's own hand. In these aspects, the trigger-like guard may hinder or provide discomfort to the practitioner who likes to use such movements.

As a practitioner of Mande Muda Silat, however, I would say that this would be an acceptable design feaure in terms of movement, which in general involves 'larger' and more sweeping slashes in comparison to filipino martial arts.

[tom hyle]

PS I love that outline forged integral bolster!

[Battara]

The Pepperskull, that is helpful. I was not as sure about the silat forms and if what you say is true then this would make sense of having the hook on the hilt. I would only wonder why this was not common on these, but it would be helpful for longer slashing movements.

[fearn]

Neat piece!

A couple of observations:

The first is that this blade may have been made for someone who was missing some fingers or parts of fingers. It would make it easier to retain the blade (a good thing), and make it easier to swing around the index finger or whatever was left of it.

The second is that if the blade has any scarring, it would tell us what it was used for. Marks from agricultural work look a bit different than parries on blades. Similarly, there may be scars on that hook that will elucidate what it was used for.

Best,

F

[Maurice]

Maybe this "fingerhook" isn't a fingerhook at all??
It could be some kind of hook to prevent that an attack with an opponents blade (parried with the edge of Michael's weapon) ends up in the fingerzone whoever held Michael's sword....(like the protrusions of a "sai" or "sikoe-sikoe", but than smaller)...

I wouldn't hold my finger above this hook when being in a bladefight.
My fingers would be behind this protrusion, and I would try to parry all attacks with the edge of the blade....
But on the image I can't see if there is enough space to hold the handle behind this hook with the whole hand...

Maurice

[VVV]

Thanks all for your comments.
It doesn't seem like there is another one like it in other regions based on the answers?
Here are my comments on your feedback and ideas:
For me - with a blade training in Visayan FMA (Pekiti-Tirsia), Sundanese and Maduranese IMA (Kuntao Silat de Thouars) - it doesn't restrict my wrist movements at all. When I do long range striking and twirling movements (FMA) I just have a regular grip (not really using the advantage of the finger rest). When doing broken strikes without thinking about it I just positioned my thumb along the back of the blade for more comfort. If it would have had a better point it would feel natural to alternate thrusts and strikes in bridging short circular combinations when in this range. When I compare it to resembling klewang I feel that its strength is in mid-range fighting with broken strikes. This is contrary to Pepperskull's and Jose's ideas but they do not have the advantage like me to try it out live, feel the balance etc. Probably you would change your mind about this if you actually had the blade in your hands.
I don't understand why it would hinder the second hand?
The only style of fighting that doesn't feel good with this protrusion is the chopping, jerking motion used in the Sundanese sugarcane fighting that Uncle Bill teaches (in case any of you have seen his characteristic stick fighting?).
Fearn, I don't get this idea of missing fingers? Unless you miss your index finger and use it as a guard. It's not very balanced or comfortable in only a pinch grip (thumb + index finger). There are no signs of deep cuts or scars on the hook or blade. Based on the tip I don't think that it was supposed to only be used as a tool, but I don't have much farming experience...
Interesting idea with the siku-siku parry function, Maurice. But you really have to have extremely small hands to be able to grip it behind the protrusion. Also it is not balanced when holding it in that grip.

Michael

[CharlesS]

Fascinating innovation...in a way I am surprised we don't see more of this.