Sumbawa Knife
 

Here is a nice example of a dress knife form Sumbawa. A similar example can be seen in Zonneveld's Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago on page 74, plate 283.

The silver scabbard on this one is much akin to Sumbawa scabbards seen on dressier swords.

That is a most unusual hilt. I haven't seen anything similar before. Could it be phallic or abstract?

It looks like the silver may have been done on either southern Sulawesi or maybe by some local Bugis on this, otherwise Sumbawa, knife?
I have heard that those knives are harvesting knives. Maybe ceremonial like when communicating with the semangat (life-essence, collective soul, local guardian spirit) of the local rice field before harvesting.

Michael

PS The ivory is usually marine/whale on these Sumbawa knives.

Phallic ? / maybe sperm whale :p

But seriously, a very nice knife but the hilt seems indeed pretty phallic for an indonesian weapon. could that be hindu influence ?

Apparently they are not unknown in the area .
http://www.geocities.com/keris4u/han...gam_tandok.htm

:) I had some nice comments on this one, but I think it is better to keep the comments for myself and not write it down in our forum. :)

Agreed .......... :o ;) :D

I take advantage of this subject to show you my recently arrived Sumbawa rice knife. The work of the reppoussé is certainly much rougher, but I'm happy because I did not think to succeed to acquire this type knife (in my budget) before several years.
I think ivory is hippopotamus.
Total length 27cm

Very nice, I am green with envy! ;) :D I don't think that this are rice knives and when only ceremonial. Handle material look like elephant ivory, can you show close-ups? But you are correct, most of the times are the handle material is hippo ivory by this sort of knives. Great catch!

Regards,
Detlef

Could be spermwhale tooth ?

Best regards,
Willem

Hello Willem,

could be but we need close-ups IMVHO.

Best regards,
Detlef

It's time to add mine which I bought in 2016.
Material handle: Dugong. It looks more like the last shown example.
Circumcision tool as I have been told.....

I try to make close-ups, but the result is ugly.

Hello,

I was fortunate to be able to acquire a second Sumbawa knife here :

Hello Séverin,

Lucky man! :) ;) Such a knife is already very long on my wish list and you have now already two! :eek: :cool: Also when the second example seems to be repaired at one time it's still a nice piece.
Can you provide measurements please? And a picture which show both examples side by side would be great! Congrats for a great purchase!

Regards,
Detlef

By measuring the second copy I realized that I was totally mistaken about the measurement I indicated for the first knife. I had to reverse the measure with that of another dagger. :confused:

- 1st knife (light ivory handle):
Total length: 34cm
Length of the blade: 14,8cm

- 2nd knife (dark ivory handle):
Total length: 35cm
Length of the blade: 13,3cm

For photos I wait for the sun to come back ... :o

Thank you! It can need still a long time! :D :D

:p

Not much sun, but a little light for quick photos.

Hello Séverin,

very nice grouping! :cool: Thank you for the pictures!

Regards,
Detlef