Demon Head Hilt Bhutan Sword

Lew · 8th November 2006, 07:15 PM

This just ended. Thought I would take a chance on it? Seems to be real.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=290048157496

Reminds me of this guy

Lew

VANDOO · 8th November 2006, 08:03 PM

CONGRADULATIONS! IT LOOKS GOOD TO ME , I KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT WEAPONS FROM THAT REGION BUT THE DEAMON HEAD IS UNUSUAL FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS. IF IT IS A OLD ONE THRUOUT WITH NOTHING ADDED LATER I THINK YOU GOT A GOOD DEAL. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TELL WHEN YOU GET IT IN HAND. GOOD LUCK

Nagawarrior · 8th November 2006, 11:35 PM

Killer sword Lew!
I've owned a few over the years.
Never with such an excellently carved handle.
Looks old too.
The blades on these are incredibly thick.
Way to go.
Stephen*

dennee · 9th November 2006, 12:18 AM

It's real, and it is unusual. Strikes me as fairly recent. It's a Lepcha (Rongpa) "ban" from Sikkim. (I think Stone made the original attribution to Bhutan. I think there may be a handful of Lepchas there.)

Lew · 9th November 2006, 12:50 AM

[QUOTE=dennee]It's real, and it is unusual. Strikes me as fairly recent.

Dennee

I really can't see this being recently made but it seems like it could be 1930-40s the patina is just too rich to be recent.

Lew

dennee · 9th November 2006, 01:46 AM

Sorry, when I say recent, I typically mean "not early twentieth century or older." I have a couple of bans and have seen a bunch more, and they are generally pretty much the same, usually with the exception of some variation in the level of decoration to the scabbard. (There was one with a fullered or fluted blade that looked something like a cut-down saber that I saw in Baltimore a year and a half ago, and it sold on eBay several months ago. Lack of patina suggested not terribly old.)

Your example is quite unusual in the carving, and I admit that I don't know if that means it is a traditional, rare variation or if it simply reflects more recent manufacture (I could certainly buy WWII vintage) as some were perhaps being manufactured not solely for utility use. (The Rongpas were reclusive valley dwellers and not very warlike. The ban was principally used as an axe-like utility knife, hence its heft.) It's also the presence of that brass band that is making me think it is a somewhat later example.

Overall, an interesting piece and worth the price.

Tim Simmons · 9th November 2006, 05:47 PM

Very nice handle and a good buy. It would not bother me in the slightest that is WW2 vintage. People did not go to these out of the way places for a holiday then, some areas are still restricted today I believe. I am happy with recent work that is made for a domestic market. The maker obviously prized the little piece of aluminium. The wood even seems to have some patina.

Lew · 13th November 2006, 02:51 AM

Dennee

Here is a pic of a nice one that I traded to Artzi a few years back and I am still kicking myself

Lew

Ferguson · 13th November 2006, 09:40 AM

Can't wait to see your pics of the new one when you receive it.

Steve

Lew · 18th November 2006, 04:47 PM

The sword arrived today and it seems to be as suspected circa 1940-50. The bands are white metal covered in some type of shellac that has turned brown. Thickness at the spine is about 1/4 ''. It may not be as old as I first thought but still a nice find.

Lew

dennee · 19th November 2006, 01:49 AM

Lew, I like that one you traded to Artzi. Pretty nice decoration, and the blade is marked. Bans were very much working blades, so they tend to be pretty basic, with decoration seeming to vary most on the scabbards--nothing, or some metal pinned on as in this example, or some little stones (as on your demon-headed one).

Frankly, I am most attracted most to utilitarian weapons.

8th November 2006, 07:15 PM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Demon Head Hilt Bhutan Sword This just ended. Thought I would take a chance on it? Seems to be real. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=290048157496 Reminds me of this guy Lew Attached Images Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 8th November 2006 at 10:50 PM.

13th November 2006, 02:51 AM	#8
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Dennee Here is a pic of a nice one that I traded to Artzi a few years back and I am still kicking myself Lew Attached Images

18th November 2006, 04:47 PM	#10
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	The sword arrived today and it seems to be as suspected circa 1940-50. The bands are white metal covered in some type of shellac that has turned brown. Thickness at the spine is about 1/4 ''. It may not be as old as I first thought but still a nice find. Lew Attached Images Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 18th November 2006 at 05:04 PM.

8th November 2006, 08:03 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	CONGRADULATIONS! IT LOOKS GOOD TO ME , I KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT WEAPONS FROM THAT REGION BUT THE DEAMON HEAD IS UNUSUAL FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS. IF IT IS A OLD ONE THRUOUT WITH NOTHING ADDED LATER I THINK YOU GOT A GOOD DEAL. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TELL WHEN YOU GET IT IN HAND. GOOD LUCK

8th November 2006, 11:35 PM	#3
Nagawarrior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Inland Empire, Southern California USA Posts: 160	Killer sword Lew! I've owned a few over the years. Never with such an excellently carved handle. Looks old too. The blades on these are incredibly thick. Way to go. Stephen*

9th November 2006, 12:18 AM	#4
dennee Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: College Park, MD Posts: 186	It's real, and it is unusual. Strikes me as fairly recent. It's a Lepcha (Rongpa) "ban" from Sikkim. (I think Stone made the original attribution to Bhutan. I think there may be a handful of Lepchas there.)

9th November 2006, 12:50 AM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	[QUOTE=dennee]It's real, and it is unusual. Strikes me as fairly recent. Dennee I really can't see this being recently made but it seems like it could be 1930-40s the patina is just too rich to be recent. Lew

9th November 2006, 01:46 AM	#6
dennee Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: College Park, MD Posts: 186	Sorry, when I say recent, I typically mean "not early twentieth century or older." I have a couple of bans and have seen a bunch more, and they are generally pretty much the same, usually with the exception of some variation in the level of decoration to the scabbard. (There was one with a fullered or fluted blade that looked something like a cut-down saber that I saw in Baltimore a year and a half ago, and it sold on eBay several months ago. Lack of patina suggested not terribly old.) Your example is quite unusual in the carving, and I admit that I don't know if that means it is a traditional, rare variation or if it simply reflects more recent manufacture (I could certainly buy WWII vintage) as some were perhaps being manufactured not solely for utility use. (The Rongpas were reclusive valley dwellers and not very warlike. The ban was principally used as an axe-like utility knife, hence its heft.) It's also the presence of that brass band that is making me think it is a somewhat later example. Overall, an interesting piece and worth the price.

9th November 2006, 05:47 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Very nice handle and a good buy. It would not bother me in the slightest that is WW2 vintage. People did not go to these out of the way places for a holiday then, some areas are still restricted today I believe. I am happy with recent work that is made for a domestic market. The maker obviously prized the little piece of aluminium. The wood even seems to have some patina.

13th November 2006, 09:40 AM	#9
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Can't wait to see your pics of the new one when you receive it. Steve

19th November 2006, 01:49 AM	#11
dennee Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: College Park, MD Posts: 186	Lew, I like that one you traded to Artzi. Pretty nice decoration, and the blade is marked. Bans were very much working blades, so they tend to be pretty basic, with decoration seeming to vary most on the scabbards--nothing, or some metal pinned on as in this example, or some little stones (as on your demon-headed one). Frankly, I am most attracted most to utilitarian weapons.