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2nd November 2013, 02:52 AM
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#1 |
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,184
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unknown klewang;identification help please
I just picked up this unusual sword with a group of other exotic weapons and I'm not sure what to make of this one.It has a very heavy, sharp cleaver like blade approx. 23" and a thickness of 5/16" @ the base.The handle looks to be horn, with a brass guard.The scabbard is has sheet silver foil over it with sections missing as shown.
Any comments would be appreciated. |
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2nd November 2013, 04:25 AM
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#2 |
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,516
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Hello Drac2k,
very nice piece, have to look tomorrow again but it's surely from Sumatra. Handle could be rhino horn, please post close ups. Regards, Detlef |
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2nd November 2013, 04:33 AM
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#3 |
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,184
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Thanks, the handle does have that look.
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2nd November 2013, 11:09 AM
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#4 |
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,637
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Congratulations!
This is an extremely rare find. It is from south Sumatra. Usually it has more silver fittings on the hilt than yours (bands, nose, and sometimes an eye - see reference pictures). Yours is the first "naked version" I have seen (unless you find traces from silver fittings on the hilt?). Here is the only picture I know of it when carried. It shows a chief from the region of Rawas, but the picture was taken in Palembang. Michael |
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2nd November 2013, 01:35 PM
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#5 |
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 1,855
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2nd November 2013, 06:23 PM
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#6 |
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,184
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Thanks for the great information ! Some of the silver inlay is missing from the scabbard and based on how thin the silver ferrule fitting is, I believe that there could have been more silver on the handle, that could have fallen off or been removed.
I thought that this could have been a European blade, refashioned into this native form;I even think I see a crown on the blade, which I tried to photographed (if one stares long enough at a blade, they can imagine all sort of things).Based on the heaviness of the blade, if it is European, I would guess it to be 18 th century. Regards, David |
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2nd November 2013, 11:50 PM
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#7 | |
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,516
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Quote:
two beautiful examples you have there. Good that you comment, my guess of origin would have been Palembang but now I remember that these swords are from Bengkulu. What do you think, could the handle from the one in question from rhino horn? Regards, Detlef |
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3rd November 2013, 01:32 AM
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#8 |
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,818
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Congratulations and a cheap buy too.
About the hilt, it is bovine, not Rhino, this is clearly shown in the images above, especially at the top side of the pommel area. Gavin |
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3rd November 2013, 01:44 AM
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#9 |
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,184
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Bovine it is then. How did you know it was a cheap buy(even though it was)!You guys ran me away from ebay(almost),outbidding me on sundangs and such and now you've followed me to other sites............okay, how are you tracking my computer ;John Snowden has got nothing on you!
On a more serious note, I got this sword and 21 other pieces @ an auction I discovered 15 min., before it started;most of them great pieces(there were a couple of dogs in there), for very little money.I'm kicking myself for not buying more, however the pictures weren't great and the lots went very fast! some were European swords,but 7 or 8 were ethnographic and I'll get my wife to do a group picture to share with the forum. David |
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