Indonesian knife and shield?

Tim Simmons · 19th February 2006, 04:45 PM

Rob,
Thanks for the interest and help. It is nice to be able to match things IE right sword right shield. I got a Khyber knife on the same forage.
This knife is turning out quite a surprise! on very close inspection one is able to see that it has been forged from an old file. The scoring for the hammered silver wire is on top of the characteristic remnants of a coarse file, the scale pattern can be seen with a +10 loop in patches almost to the tip of the blade. Maybe someone might be able to guess as to whereabouts in India it may have been made? it is certainly the best quality knife I have seen made from a file. Thanks Tim.

Freddy · 19th February 2006, 07:33 PM

Tim,
Doesn't the decoration on your knife resemble the scrollwork on the kukri I showed recently ?

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=kukri

Tim Simmons · 19th February 2006, 07:38 PM

It does indeed, a Burmese bowie, that sound good to me and maybe a little rare.

When I think about it I think we have been shown and someone has a Dha with similar diagonal decorative engraving on a silver handle. Tim

RobT · 19th February 2006, 09:55 PM

Tim,
Crosshatch scoring is what is used to hold koftgari in place therefore the blade may not have been made from a file but rather scored by local craftsmen prior to the koftgari application. Given the presence of the crosshatch below the silver, this explanation seems quite plausable. I have asked the respondants to a bowie knife thread started by Titus Pullo to lend their expertise here. I have a feeling that their expertise will provide a positive ID.
Sincerely,
RobT

Tim Simmons · 20th February 2006, 09:23 AM

Rob,
I am really being a nerd but it is fun and better than TV. I agree about scoring for the silver but these marks are in the wrong place in various areas but all in the same plane. I have tried to capture this but is difficult with basic equipment. As I mentioned the best views are with a +10 loop. The large picture is the knife in question, the small one is of a African file made knife which shows the distinctive makes other than those for the koftgari. Thanks Tim.

galvano · 20th February 2006, 06:07 PM

hi
Your blade is a forged file
galvano

Tim Simmons · 20th February 2006, 07:18 PM

Yes it must be. I am going side with Justin and Freddy in that it is not Indian. I am not sure it is Burmese , I am starting to think and all the bits fit together, sticking my neck out and say this is maybe a little rare and from Malay. Unless you know better? Tim

19th February 2006, 07:38 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	It does indeed, a Burmese bowie, that sound good to me and maybe a little rare. When I think about it I think we have been shown and someone has a Dha with similar diagonal decorative engraving on a silver handle. Tim Last edited by Tim Simmons; 19th February 2006 at 08:04 PM. Reason: another thought.

19th February 2006, 09:55 PM	#4
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 566	the plot thickens Tim, Crosshatch scoring is what is used to hold koftgari in place therefore the blade may not have been made from a file but rather scored by local craftsmen prior to the koftgari application. Given the presence of the crosshatch below the silver, this explanation seems quite plausable. I have asked the respondants to a bowie knife thread started by Titus Pullo to lend their expertise here. I have a feeling that their expertise will provide a positive ID. Sincerely, RobT

20th February 2006, 09:23 AM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	Rob, I am really being a nerd but it is fun and better than TV. I agree about scoring for the silver but these marks are in the wrong place in various areas but all in the same plane. I have tried to capture this but is difficult with basic equipment. As I mentioned the best views are with a +10 loop. The large picture is the knife in question, the small one is of a African file made knife which shows the distinctive makes other than those for the koftgari. Thanks Tim. Attached Images

20th February 2006, 06:07 PM	#6
galvano Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 178	blade hi Your blade is a forged file galvano

19th February 2006, 04:45 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	Rob, Thanks for the interest and help. It is nice to be able to match things IE right sword right shield. I got a Khyber knife on the same forage. This knife is turning out quite a surprise! on very close inspection one is able to see that it has been forged from an old file. The scoring for the hammered silver wire is on top of the characteristic remnants of a coarse file, the scale pattern can be seen with a +10 loop in patches almost to the tip of the blade. Maybe someone might be able to guess as to whereabouts in India it may have been made? it is certainly the best quality knife I have seen made from a file. Thanks Tim.

19th February 2006, 07:33 PM	#2
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Tim, Doesn't the decoration on your knife resemble the scrollwork on the kukri I showed recently ? http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=kukri

20th February 2006, 07:18 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	Yes it must be. I am going side with Justin and Freddy in that it is not Indian. I am not sure it is Burmese , I am starting to think and all the bits fit together, sticking my neck out and say this is maybe a little rare and from Malay. Unless you know better? Tim