Identification please...its a odd beauty!

VVV · 26th February 2006, 10:33 PM

Sorry to spoil the conclusion but I am not that convinced that this is a Batak sword.
Is the tang round or square?
Usually the Batak blades, like Piso Gading or Kalasan, have small protrusions at the end of the blade (close to the tang) and they don't have a tip that turns upwards.
The blades are neither damascened like this nor are the tangs centered but follows the back of the blade.
Having a Keris mendak is something new as well as the shape of the hilt on this sword doesn't look like any traditional Batak sword.
I haven't either, so far, seen any Batak swords with Arabic texts on them.
But some of the tribes have converted to Islam and my experience is with the older variations of Batak weaponry so...

Michael

26th February 2006, 10:33 PM	#8
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Sorry to spoil the conclusion but I am not that convinced that this is a Batak sword. Is the tang round or square? Usually the Batak blades, like Piso Gading or Kalasan, have small protrusions at the end of the blade (close to the tang) and they don't have a tip that turns upwards. The blades are neither damascened like this nor are the tangs centered but follows the back of the blade. Having a Keris mendak is something new as well as the shape of the hilt on this sword doesn't look like any traditional Batak sword. I haven't either, so far, seen any Batak swords with Arabic texts on them. But some of the tribes have converted to Islam and my experience is with the older variations of Batak weaponry so... Michael Attached Images