Miniature Bali Belakas Pengentas??

[Sajen]

Hello Alan,

do you have recognized the measurements of the two blades from Athanase? I can't believe that such small blades are for real use!?

Regards,
Detlef

[David]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hello Alan,

do you have recognized the measurements of the two blades from Athanase? I can't believe that such small blades are for real use!?

Regards,
Detlef

Well Detlef, you don't really need a very large blade to cut a rope, do you?

[A. G. Maisey]

I did see the measurement Detlef, but they did not register, because I tend to think in imperial, not metric. However, I have now looked at a ruler, and I realise they are quite small, but not too small to cut corpse binding ropes.

I suppose they could be souvenir-type imitations, but over a 50 year period I've spent a lot of time in Bali, and I've never seen this sort of thing in the tourist traps. This doesn't mean it has never been there, just that I've never seen it.

In any case, what we are looking at here is certainly not a household tool, it is some sort of cutting implement meant for use in some sort of ceremonial context.

Corpse ropes? Maybe.

Offering preparation? Maybe.

Internal use in a pura? Maybe.

But it surely is not intended for peeling mangos or pineapples.

[Battara]

Alan is right. From what little research there is, I have found that these axes/knives are for cutting strings that hold down the funeral coverings over the bones of the dead.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Battara

Alan is right. From what little research there is, I have found that these axes/knives are for cutting strings that hold down the funeral coverings over the bones of the dead.

We have had a discussion about this sort of knives and axes before: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=Pengentas

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

I did see the measurement Detlef, but they did not register, because I tend to think in imperial, not metric. However, I have now looked at a ruler, and I realise they are quite small, but not too small to cut corpse binding ropes.

Alan, we Europeans think metric but when Athanase ask his question I take a ruler by hand and was very surprised how small they are. But agree, even with small implements like this you can cut corpse binding ropes.

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

I suppose they could be souvenir-type imitations, but over a 50 year period I've spent a lot of time in Bali, and I've never seen this sort of thing in the tourist traps. This doesn't mean it has never been there, just that I've never seen it.

Also I am have never seen souvenir Belakas Pengentas. They could has been there but I doubt.

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

In any case, what we are looking at here is certainly not a household tool, it is some sort of cutting implement meant for use in some sort of ceremonial context.

Corpse ropes? Maybe.

Offering preparation? Maybe.

Internal use in a pura? Maybe.

But it surely is not intended for peeling mangos or pineapples.

Agree complete with you!

Regards,
Detlef

[Athanase]

Thank you very much for these answers.
The Semar is made of damask steel and both are very sharp. I think they could cut ropes without problems.

[Roland_M]

Originally Posted by Athanase

Thank you very much for these answers.
The Semar is made of damask steel and both are very sharp. I think they could cut ropes without problems.

Hello,

I would say, these are ritual knifes. Maybe for the first shave of hair of a boy, circumcision or something like that with a religious or ceremonial context. A very sharp blade strengthen this assumption.
No toy, no tourist souvenir.


Roland

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Roland_M

I would say, these are ritual knifes. Maybe for the first shave of hair of a boy, circumcision or something like that with a religious or ceremonial context.

Hello Roland,

the use of this knives is very well known, read this thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=Pengentas Special from post #29 and following.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by David

Well Detlef, you don't really need a very large blade to cut a rope, do you?

No, not really. But like Alan you should take a ruler by hand that you can see how small they are, even for the hand of a child they are very small.

Regards,
Detlef