Hi Brian,
I think Rhys-Michael and the others have pretty well covered the established data on these swords from N.Sumatran regions and Battak tribes. I see what you're getting at though on the probable origins of the clearly tulwar type hilt. While the typological appearance clearly suggests associations with the tulwar, the cupped pommel rather than disc seems to indicate that there could be a possibility of influence from earlier hilts of the Indian subcontinent.
The complexities of trade around the Subcontinent and the Archipelago may account for the interesting hybrid which we know as the 'piso podang'.The Hindu culture was established in Sumatra from c.7th c. and the Arabs arrived there around the 13th c. The Portuguese had established posts there from the opening of the 16th century and still prevailed in the trade circuits after the Dutch and English dominated the East Indies from the 17th century onward.
It should be recalled that the khanda, well known among the west coast of India, and closely associated the Mahrattas, in turn with Portuguese trade regions, distinctly featured a cupped pommel much as that found on
the piso podang.
It would seem plausible that trade from these regions, might bring the straight bladed khanda swords as well as the curved blade tulwars with arriving Arab trade from Northern India via Malabar Coast. It is known that the piso podang, typically brass , also occurs in iron and although typically with curved hilt, also is found with straight blades.
The blade on this example seems likely a military horsemans blade, and certainly European, thus could have arrived via these trade networks.
Just speculation on my part of course, and I'm sure that the guys who have specialized on these can correct, but seems plausible considering the things I have mentioned.
All the best,
Jim
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