Toa/stick sword vs. Pisau Raut

fearn · 30th January 2006, 09:34 PM

Hi Rick,

Thanks for the info.

While I agree that horn might be a bit soft, Looking at your toa and the original one on oriental arms, I'm a bit confused. It looks like the handle is segments of horn, strung together on....what? The tang of the sword? If so, the whole thing might be sturdy enough to go hacking, wood as well as heads.

Admittedly, I know nothing about the island of Solor, except that it's small and apparently had a Portuguese whaling port on it (if one believes wikipedia). Just at a guess, the "jungle" that these toas would hack through could easily be second growth scrub, rather than great big trees.

Interesting blade.

F

Rick · 30th January 2006, 11:09 PM

It's hard to figure out the actual haft construction . The area covered with red cloth on my example is wood .

If I were to guess I would say that the tang of the blade is probably not more than half of the blade's length and that the entire core of the haft is wood with tubular horn sections covering the core (I can find no seams on any of the horn sections) the butt end is an ovoid metal (brass?) plate secured by two nails or rivets of the same material .

Again , Mr. Van Z. makes no reference to this being a multi use implement but simply says that : " both hands are used when striking " and " The heavy broad blade has the effect of an axe and can be lethal ."

I would like to know more about this interesting sword .

30th January 2006, 09:34 PM	#1
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi Rick, Thanks for the info. While I agree that horn might be a bit soft, Looking at your toa and the original one on oriental arms, I'm a bit confused. It looks like the handle is segments of horn, strung together on....what? The tang of the sword? If so, the whole thing might be sturdy enough to go hacking, wood as well as heads. Admittedly, I know nothing about the island of Solor, except that it's small and apparently had a Portuguese whaling port on it (if one believes wikipedia). Just at a guess, the "jungle" that these toas would hack through could easily be second growth scrub, rather than great big trees. Interesting blade. F

30th January 2006, 11:09 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	It's hard to figure out the actual haft construction . The area covered with red cloth on my example is wood . If I were to guess I would say that the tang of the blade is probably not more than half of the blade's length and that the entire core of the haft is wood with tubular horn sections covering the core (I can find no seams on any of the horn sections) the butt end is an ovoid metal (brass?) plate secured by two nails or rivets of the same material . Again , Mr. Van Z. makes no reference to this being a multi use implement but simply says that : " both hands are used when striking " and " The heavy broad blade has the effect of an axe and can be lethal ." I would like to know more about this interesting sword .