Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Royston · 5th July 2012, 04:04 PM

Bought from a bad photo from an auction catalogue. I thought it was a Balato from the photo.
Now I don't know what this is.

O/A length is 24 ins with a 19 1/2 ins blade
Blade is 3/16 ins near the hilt.
Blade is not sharpened for the last 4 ins near the hilt.
What I like about it is the interesting carved fish or serpent-like wooden pommel and the unusual tip to the blade. ( sorry. out of focus but it shows the shape )

The scabbard may be later but it fits ok. The straps are aluminium.

So, what do we have ? As I see it. The blade is a bit Balato shaped but sharpened on the wrong side and the tip is wrong.
Pommel reminds me a little of Visayan ( Monster hilt )
The brass part of the hilt is a little like Morut work.
Scabbard is the most Nias part of it.

All suggestions will be welcomed.
Thanks
Roy

5th July 2012, 04:04 PM	#1
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	Indonesian Sword ? Bought from a bad photo from an auction catalogue. I thought it was a Balato from the photo. Now I don't know what this is. O/A length is 24 ins with a 19 1/2 ins blade Blade is 3/16 ins near the hilt. Blade is not sharpened for the last 4 ins near the hilt. What I like about it is the interesting carved fish or serpent-like wooden pommel and the unusual tip to the blade. ( sorry. out of focus but it shows the shape ) The scabbard may be later but it fits ok. The straps are aluminium. So, what do we have ? As I see it. The blade is a bit Balato shaped but sharpened on the wrong side and the tip is wrong. Pommel reminds me a little of Visayan ( Monster hilt ) The brass part of the hilt is a little like Morut work. Scabbard is the most Nias part of it. All suggestions will be welcomed. Thanks Roy Attached Images