Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 3rd October 2017, 03:31 PM   #1
thomas hauschild
Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Germany
Posts: 139
Default Spear head to identify

Hi there
I like to get some help to identify this spearhead ( have got it today from a fleemarket for 10 €. The table looks like asian things so I put my post into ethnographic weapons. Feel free to move )

It is 37 cm long. I was sure to see some "lines" under the rust so I bought it. I cleaned it a little bit up and after a handful of seconds of etching there were some brighter layers visible. Maybe a tombak ?

Any comments will be welcome.

Best Thomas
Attached Images
    
thomas hauschild is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 3rd October 2017, 04:51 PM   #2
Tim Simmons
Member
 
Tim Simmons's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,734
Default

Looks Central to South African.
Tim Simmons is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 3rd October 2017, 05:51 PM   #3
kai
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,213
Question

Quote:
Looks Central to South African.
Are you sure, Tim?

I can't remember bright pamor-like pattern-welding from that neck of the woods - not my area of expertise though...

Noting that the simple spear head types tend to be very difficult to place positively, I'd assume it to hail from maritime SEA. From the simple base and thickness of the tang, I'd guess this never had any methuk; thus, probably not from Jawa tengah.

Regards,
Kai
kai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 3rd October 2017, 06:19 PM   #4
kronckew
Member
 
kronckew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,145
Default

i'm inclined to SEA also. the stepped tang looks more tumbuk-ish than so. african. and it's definitely not zulu.
kronckew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th October 2017, 10:54 PM   #5
David
Keris forum moderator
 
David's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,012
Default

I would also vote SEA, most probably somewhere in Indonesia.
David is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th October 2017, 11:24 PM   #6
La Pagaru
Member
 
La Pagaru's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Indonesia
Posts: 84
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by thomas hauschild
Hi there
I like to get some help to identify this spearhead ( have got it today from a fleemarket for 10 €. The table looks like asian things so I put my post into ethnographic weapons. Feel free to move )

It is 37 cm long. I was sure to see some "lines" under the rust so I bought it. I cleaned it a little bit up and after a handful of seconds of etching there were some brighter layers visible. Maybe a tombak

Any comments will be welcome.

Best Thomas
I am very sure this spear comes from Indonesia
if seen from the blades like Sumatra
but when viewed at the bottom, we used to call it "pesi" looking like a Bugis spear from the island of Sulawesi
but what is clear is that this spear comes from Indonesia

LP
La Pagaru is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 6th October 2017, 05:33 AM   #7
Sajen
Member
 
Sajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,407
Default

Hello Thomas,

I also think it's Indonesian. You should clean it in vinegar or citrus acid to loosen the rust.

Regards,
Detlef
Sajen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15th October 2017, 02:34 PM   #8
thomas hauschild
Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Germany
Posts: 139
Default

After cleaning and etching a little bit
Attached Images
  
thomas hauschild is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15th October 2017, 04:56 PM   #9
francantolin
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 813
Default

Hello,
Indonesia too !
Nice pamor !
francantolin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15th October 2017, 05:36 PM   #10
Sajen
Member
 
Sajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,407
Default

Yes, clearly Indonesian! How you have cleaned and etched it?

Regards,
Detlef
Sajen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16th October 2017, 04:34 AM   #11
thomas hauschild
Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Germany
Posts: 139
Default

Thanks for the informations.

Detlef....as a knifemaker I have my tricks to etch my own damascus. I touched it ab with my 600/800 finishing stones. The etching was not realy good after iron3, at the end instant coffee worked best.

Best thomas
thomas hauschild is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th November 2017, 03:38 PM   #12
kino
Member
 
kino's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 966
Default

Great job on the etching the Indonesian spearhead Thomas.
I've never heard of etching with instant coffee until now. I had to google it and found the process.
In your experience with it, how does the coffee etchant react with copper or brass?

Thanks for sharing.
kino is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th November 2017, 06:41 PM   #13
thomas hauschild
Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Germany
Posts: 139
Default

I have no experience with etching brass or copper because I etch my blades before assembly. But a good question. I have some pieces of my own mokume gane ( brass and copper) on the workbench. I will try and post.

Best thomas
thomas hauschild is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:34 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.