What kind of knife is this ?

Alan62 · 26th March 2006, 04:21 PM

The blade is 20.5 inches long and 3/4 of an inch wide at the Hilt and 1 and 1/8 inches wide at the end before the point turns down.The spine is 1/4 of an inch wide at the hilt and 1/8 at the end where the blade turns down to a point.
Thanks

Emanuel · 26th March 2006, 06:08 PM

Hello Bluerf and all,

I thought this sword was very similar to the one presented here http://old.blades.free.fr/swords/pedang_sab/ped04.htm and originating from Lombok. While the hilts seem to be very commonly used in Sumatra, these two examples also have very similar tips. In both cases it is finer/sharper than other examples and it is so down-curving that it almost forms a sort of hook. I have barely started studying Indonesian weapons, but these similarities caught my eye. Another question about the hilts would be who uses specific makara (with trunk) depictions and who uses other combinations of flora/fauna in similar manner? Could the specific details be used for identification or are they far too generic?

Regards,
Manolo

Emanuel · 26th March 2006, 09:05 PM

I see these have been discussed before http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=pedang
Can it be said that the more figural the carving the farther it is from Islamic references/influences, and vice-versa? If so could a sort of scale be developed to identify the specific elements within the hilt forms and ascertain their probable origin?

VVV · 27th March 2006, 10:07 AM

My guess on this Pedang is also Sumatra.
The reason for this is that I have seen several Sumatran weapons with etched Arabic writing made in the same way as this - mostly Rencong and Sewar.
And so far none on the resembling Pedang from Lombok
Most of these etchings seems to have been done in the mid- and late 20th C.
Maybe the etching was done later on this Pedang to make it more according to the fashion of the day?
But the hilt seems a bit less detailed in the carvings than some of the oldest ones?

Michael

26th March 2006, 04:21 PM	#1
Alan62 Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 164	The blade is 20.5 inches long and 3/4 of an inch wide at the Hilt and 1 and 1/8 inches wide at the end before the point turns down.The spine is 1/4 of an inch wide at the hilt and 1/8 at the end where the blade turns down to a point. Thanks

26th March 2006, 06:08 PM	#2
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hello Bluerf and all, I thought this sword was very similar to the one presented here http://old.blades.free.fr/swords/pedang_sab/ped04.htm and originating from Lombok. While the hilts seem to be very commonly used in Sumatra, these two examples also have very similar tips. In both cases it is finer/sharper than other examples and it is so down-curving that it almost forms a sort of hook. I have barely started studying Indonesian weapons, but these similarities caught my eye. Another question about the hilts would be who uses specific makara (with trunk) depictions and who uses other combinations of flora/fauna in similar manner? Could the specific details be used for identification or are they far too generic? Regards, Manolo

26th March 2006, 09:05 PM	#3
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	I see these have been discussed before http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=pedang Can it be said that the more figural the carving the farther it is from Islamic references/influences, and vice-versa? If so could a sort of scale be developed to identify the specific elements within the hilt forms and ascertain their probable origin?

27th March 2006, 10:07 AM	#4
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	My guess on this Pedang is also Sumatra. The reason for this is that I have seen several Sumatran weapons with etched Arabic writing made in the same way as this - mostly Rencong and Sewar. And so far none on the resembling Pedang from Lombok Most of these etchings seems to have been done in the mid- and late 20th C. Maybe the etching was done later on this Pedang to make it more according to the fashion of the day? But the hilt seems a bit less detailed in the carvings than some of the oldest ones? Michael