Any info on this kind of Sumatran knife?

KuKulzA28 · 27th October 2011, 10:05 PM

I was browsing through old threads and found this old knife attributed to Sumatra island.
I tried to find information on it, but it doesn't seem like a typical knife of Sumatra...

Does anyone have more information on it? What ethnic/cultural groups used it? What part of Sumatra is it from? What is it called? Are there specific styles of Silat that use it? Etc.etc.

Thanks!

kai · 28th October 2011, 07:20 AM

Rick, could you please add some more pics of your dagger and comment on the materials (including patina inside scabbard)?

Pinning this down to a specific ethnic group may be a bit too much to ask for but it does look like a neat blade with fittings characteristic for Sumatra, indeed. The fullered blade is almost certainly Sumatran: Not one of the common styles but similar ones do pop up once in a while. Without wanting to indulge into the name game, I believe that this can well be referred to as a piso, i. e. a "knife" (most likely an EDC piece).

Regards,
Kai

Rick · 28th October 2011, 03:06 PM

Hello Kai,
The hilt, scabbard throat and toe are from dark horn .
The inside of the scabbard is the same color as the exterior as far as I can see .

Pictures to follow soon when the sky lightens a bit .

IIRC either TVV or VVV had a name to hang on it; that may possibly be found in the original thread .

I have not seen another example of this form .

Length in scabbard is 12.5 inches
Blade is 7.5 inches .

KuKulzA28 · 30th October 2011, 12:31 AM

Hmm... this is very interesting. This knife must have a very small handle right? I mean if the blade is 7.5", then the grip of the handle is probably only 1.5" to 2" right? Or is there a different grip technique?

Could the origin be discovered with the sheath style and the pommel style? I hesitate to use that since there's a lot of common hilt styles in Indonesia, for example my favorites - the makara pommel-ed pedangs and klewangs that are attributed to east Sumtra and Lombok... this one looks similar

Thanks for the added info kai and Rick.

Is "piso" the same as "pisau"?

and on a side note... "piso podang" - is the piso the same piso as kai referred to (knife)? And is "podang" simply another spelling of pedang? Iknow it might be common knowledge for Indonesian traditional weapon gurus, but I just wanted to clarify that for myself..

Thanks!

kai · 30th October 2011, 02:24 AM

Hello Vinny,

Quote:

This knife must have a very small handle right? I mean if the blade is 7.5", then the grip of the handle is probably only 1.5" to 2" right? Or is there a different grip technique?

Yes, these seem to be small backup (and possibly utility) knives. The pommel would fit into the palm like many keris do.

Quote:

Could the origin be discovered with the sheath style and the pommel style? I hesitate to use that since there's a lot of common hilt styles in Indonesia, for example my favorites - the makara pommel-ed pedangs and klewangs that are attributed to east Sumtra and Lombok... this one looks similar

It's the scabbard rather than the (pretty generic) pommel which allows placing its origin on Sumatra.

Quote:

Is "piso" the same as "pisau"?

Yup, just another way of writing.

Quote:

and on a side note... "piso podang" - is the piso the same piso as kai referred to (knife)? And is "podang" simply another spelling of pedang?

Exactly.

Regards,
Kai

Rick · 30th October 2011, 02:26 AM

It would seem to me that this knife is most comfortably held (as a weapon) in the icepick grip edge up .
I have smallish hands and this is the only comfortable grip I can find .

Hilt is 3.5 inches .

As for terminology ...

kai · 30th October 2011, 02:31 AM

Thanks for the pics/data, Rick!

Quote:

The hilt, scabbard throat and toe are from dark horn .
The inside of the scabbard is the same color as the exterior as far as I can see .

The wooden part doesn't look terribly old to me. Also the fittings made from horn make me think of post-WW2 craftmanship; I do love the blade though!

Quote:

IIRC either TVV or VVV had a name to hang on it; that may possibly be found in the original thread .

Not in that thread IIRC.

Regards,
Kai

Rick · 30th October 2011, 02:53 AM

I agree with you Kai, this is a monosteel blade, mid to later 20th century but nicely made (the blade that is) .

kai · 30th October 2011, 02:58 AM

Hello Rick,

Some of these fullered bades are indeed from monosteel. However, have you tried to etch the blade? The blade could as well be older with replaced fittings...

Regards,
Kai

27th October 2011, 10:05 PM	#1
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Any info on this kind of Sumatran knife? I was browsing through old threads and found this old knife attributed to Sumatra island. I tried to find information on it, but it doesn't seem like a typical knife of Sumatra... Does anyone have more information on it? What ethnic/cultural groups used it? What part of Sumatra is it from? What is it called? Are there specific styles of Silat that use it? Etc.etc. Thanks!

28th October 2011, 07:20 AM	#2
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Rick, could you please add some more pics of your dagger and comment on the materials (including patina inside scabbard)? Pinning this down to a specific ethnic group may be a bit too much to ask for but it does look like a neat blade with fittings characteristic for Sumatra, indeed. The fullered blade is almost certainly Sumatran: Not one of the common styles but similar ones do pop up once in a while. Without wanting to indulge into the name game, I believe that this can well be referred to as a piso, i. e. a "knife" (most likely an EDC piece). Regards, Kai Attached Images

28th October 2011, 03:06 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,325	Hello Kai, The hilt, scabbard throat and toe are from dark horn . The inside of the scabbard is the same color as the exterior as far as I can see . Pictures to follow soon when the sky lightens a bit . IIRC either TVV or VVV had a name to hang on it; that may possibly be found in the original thread . I have not seen another example of this form . Length in scabbard is 12.5 inches Blade is 7.5 inches . Attached Images Last edited by Rick; 28th October 2011 at 07:15 PM.

30th October 2011, 12:31 AM	#4
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Hmm... this is very interesting. This knife must have a very small handle right? I mean if the blade is 7.5", then the grip of the handle is probably only 1.5" to 2" right? Or is there a different grip technique? Could the origin be discovered with the sheath style and the pommel style? I hesitate to use that since there's a lot of common hilt styles in Indonesia, for example my favorites - the makara pommel-ed pedangs and klewangs that are attributed to east Sumtra and Lombok... this one looks similar Thanks for the added info kai and Rick. Is "piso" the same as "pisau"? and on a side note... "piso podang" - is the piso the same piso as kai referred to (knife)? And is "podang" simply another spelling of pedang? Iknow it might be common knowledge for Indonesian traditional weapon gurus, but I just wanted to clarify that for myself.. Thanks!

30th October 2011, 02:26 AM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,325	It would seem to me that this knife is most comfortably held (as a weapon) in the icepick grip edge up . I have smallish hands and this is the only comfortable grip I can find . Hilt is 3.5 inches . As for terminology ...

30th October 2011, 02:53 AM	#8
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,325	I agree with you Kai, this is a monosteel blade, mid to later 20th century but nicely made (the blade that is) .

30th October 2011, 02:58 AM	#9
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Rick, Some of these fullered bades are indeed from monosteel. However, have you tried to etch the blade? The blade could as well be older with replaced fittings... Regards, Kai