Malay Klewang?

[Sajen]

Hi Moshah, it is nothing, send it to me so you don't have to look at it anymore!! Seriously, it look good to me but think that the sheath is more recent. When I am you I would clean the blade and etch it to bring out the lamination.

Best,

Detlef

[Moshah]

Definitely the etching will follow suit, but I do not think it will surfaces anything except an adeg-like lamination...but surely it will get rid of the rust as well .

Personally, I think the klewang is rather short.

Yeah, scabbard could be a later addition or not original, but the blade should have some age to it, IMHO...

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Moshah

Personally, I think the klewang is rather short.

The two shown examples in the book are around 50 cm.

[Moshah]

Well then, obviously it was around of the same length..

BTW Detlef, do you have any clue on the three-apiece consecutive horizontal markings at the blunt edge (or shall I say the back?) of the klewang? Could it associate with a specific cultural region, customs or perhaps showing a tribal attribution?

You can see it more clearly on my last pix, or pix # 4

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Moshah

Well then, obviously it was around of the same length..

BTW Detlef, do you have any clue on the three-apiece consecutive horizontal markings at the blunt edge (or shall I say the back?) of the klewang? Could it associate with a specific cultural region, customs or perhaps showing a tribal attribution?

You can see it more clearly on my last pix, or pix # 4

I don't think that this can be a sign of a tribal attribution but frankly said I know not enough of this sort of klewang.

[T. Koch]

Hi Moshah and thanks for showing it!

It might be the pictures or it might certainly be me - I am super-paranoid about these things - but doesn't the condition of the blade kind of look a bit like an acid dip? I.e. that the blade perhaps has been artificially aged?

I could be completely wrong here and for sure wish it so - I am no specialist - like I said, just paranoid.


Anyway Moshah, I hope it cleans up nicely and hope to see more pics.


Best wishes, - Thor

[Moshah]

Giving to the fact that this kind of things do happen, yes thor I think there is some possibilities of artificial aging and such things. I've seen many of these kind on kerises but definitely I know next to nothing about klewangs.

On what point did you exactly think that acid dip has taken place in this klewang?

[kai]

Hello Thor,

doesn't the condition of the blade kind of look a bit like an acid dip? I.e. that the blade perhaps has been artificially aged?

Being a bit paranoid does help to prevent making mistakes with collecting...

I'm fairly sure that the blade is antique (or at least old vintage) though; the scabbard is a later replacement as Detlef pointed out already. If anything, I'd scrutinize the silver work, especially if this were coming directly out of Sumatra (where there are workshops busily "upgrading" genuine antique blades for selling with a greater profit margin.

In this case, I guess the discrepancy between the unprotected, rusty blade and the recently polished silver is the main reason for it looking a bit fishy. IMHO it it quite possibly might turn out to be ok/genuine - Moshah, maybe you can add some close-ups of the silver work?

Regards,
Kai

[kai]

Hello Moshah,

Definitely the etching will follow suit, but I do not think it will surfaces anything except an adeg-like lamination...but surely it will get rid of the rust as well .

Yes, I'd love to see the laminations more clearly.

Personally, I think the klewang is rather short.

These can be even shorter and plain versions are probably utility working/butcher/kitchen tools.

The silver-clad versions are obviously status pieces and of possibly ceremonial usage IMVHO.

Regards,
Kai