Small Indonesian klewang (?)

[Ian]

I'm interested to hear what our Indonesian experts think of this one and where it may be from. The blade has a shape reminiscent of a Moro kampilan, but much shorter. The back half of the blade adjacent to the spine on each side has repeating rows of semicircles containing "o" marks that look a little like eyes--perhaps "eyebrows and eyes" might be an adequate description for the basic motif. The bottom part of the blade on each side is smooth and has a dark patina. The width of the spine at the guard is approximately 5 mm, tapering to 2 mm before turning down to meet the tip.

The guard is made of a supple leather disk with a "milled" edge. The hilt itself has a short grip, only 5 cm on the underside to accommodate the fingers (not nearly big enough for my large, 9.5 cm-wide American palm). Perhaps the sword was intended for a woman or a child. The hilt would be unusually small for an adult male.

I'm unsure what to call the pommel (hulu). Perhaps it is an abstract makara but I'll leave that to others to identify what it may represent.

OAL = 59 cm (23.25 in.)
Blade = 47 cm (18.5 in.)
Hilt = 12.7 cm (5 in.)
.

[Sajen]

Hi Ian,

Your sword looks like a semarang from Halmahera, compare it with my semarangs. It has some unusual features, the blade decoration as well the guard. It could be that it is a pure dance sword for a boy due to its small size, my smallest is 64 cm long. Also unusual is the handle material, it looks like horn!? And yes, when it is indeed a semarang the handle should be an interpretation of makara.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=halmahera &
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=halmahera

Regards,
Detlef

[Ian]

Hi Detlef,

Thank you for your swift response. I do see considerable similarities. The blade presently has a sharpened edge, and the edge appears to show irregularities where nicks have been polished out. The blade decorations could fit with a ceremonial/dance function too. And yes, the hilt is probably horn.

This example may have some age.

Am I correct in recalling that your wife was from Halmahera?

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Ian

Thank you for your swift response. I do see considerable similarities. The blade presently has a sharpened edge, and the edge appears to show irregularities where nicks have been polished out. The blade decorations could fit with a ceremonial/dance function too. And yes, the hilt is probably horn.

This example may have some age.

Am I correct in recalling that your wife was from Halmahera?

Hi Ian,

Yes, your sword shows clearly signs of use, can you show us a pic from inside the makara mouth? (see pic.)
It's not easy to classify a semarang from Halmahera, like you can see by the given threads and the there shown examples these swords show differences in blade profile as well by the handle design. So to be 100% sure would be dubious. Since mine are collected on Halmahera by myself and family members I am sure that my ones semarangs.
And yes, my wife is born on Halmahera, Galea, asli orang Halmahera so to speak.

[Ian]

Hi Detlef,

This is the best I could get with indoor lighting. If you need better shots I will try tomorrow in daylight.

Regards, Ian

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Ian

This is the best I could get with indoor lighting. If you need better shots I will try tomorrow in daylight.

Hi Ian,

My educated guess would be that you have there a semarang from Halmahera with some unusual features.

Regards,
Detlef

[Ian]

Detlef, outside of a Halmahera native with a particular interest in swords, I think you are probably the best person to render that opinion. Thank you again.

Regards, Ian


P.S. Another shot of inside the mouth. On closer inspection, I believe that the hilt is actually wooden.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Ian

Detlef, outside of a Halmahera native with a particular interest in swords, I think you are probably the best person to render that opinion. Thank you again.

Regards, Ian


P.S. Another shot of inside the mouth. On closer inspection, I believe that the hilt is actually wooden.

Thank you Ian! Are you really sure that the handle is from wood? On all your pictures I get the impression that the handle and as well the small guard are from horn, i. e. water buffalo horn. Have you tried the hot needle test? I would do it to be sure.

Best regards,
Detlef