ID HELP / S.E asian / Indonesian sword ?

asomotif · 21st December 2008, 12:55 AM

I have this sword for over 8 years now.
It came from an auction in 1990 where it was described as 'klewang' and sold with other mostly indonesian weapons.

However, I have never seen anything like it and have no clue if it is indeed Indonesia Archipelago or something else.
Total length is approx 80 cms / blade = 60 / handle 20

Help

Robert · 21st December 2008, 01:55 AM

Hi, Can you tell me how thick the blade is at the hilt and how wide it is at its widest point? Is the bud shaped hilt made of horn or wood? It reminds me of a parang that I saw a picture of once. It was a parang sa something, I just can remember. Thank you.

Robert

asomotif · 21st December 2008, 10:05 AM

Hello Robert,

The thickness of the blade measured at the back/spine is 12 mm at the base and 4 mm at the tip.

The width of the blade is 32 mm at the base and 40 mm at the tip.

The bud is hardwood.

The blade is forged in one piece together with the hilt.
It is a heavy sword. considering that it has no point at all I get the feeling that it is made for sacrifice to be handled with two hands for killing animals / humans ?

Robert · 21st December 2008, 05:33 PM

Hi Asomotif,
Quote: "The blade is forged in one piece together with the hilt."
Now I know that I've seen this sword before but for the life of me I still cannot remember where.

The description was "parang with long heavy straight blade ending with a rounded tip, blade and hilt forged in one piece." The end of the hilt was a little more elaborately carved in the shape of an unopened flower bud than the one you show but other than that it was exactly the same. I'm looking through everything I have trying to locate it again. I'm just hoping that it wasn't something I saw while searching online and didn't tag for later reference.

Robert

Henk · 21st December 2008, 06:50 PM

According to Van Zonneveld a Parang Koteng has a blade and hilt forged in one piece of metal.
Is that what we are looking at?

VVV · 21st December 2008, 07:32 PM

In that case it would be Malay.
But the parang with metal hilt pictured in Gardner, the source of van Z, has a round hilt, as if the wooden pommel wouldn't be there?

Michael

VANDOO · 21st December 2008, 09:09 PM

THE BLADE SHAPE REMINDS ME OF A CRUDE ACH SIKIN PEDANG FROM SUMATRA. IT IS INTERESTING THAT INSTEAD OF A TANG IT HAS A SOCKET MORE LIKE A SPEAR OR POLEARM THAN A SWORD.

asomotif · 22nd December 2008, 07:06 AM

Quote:

SHAPE REMINDS ME OF A CRUDE ACH SIKIN

Thanks Vandoo,

The blade form is roughly like a sikin, but the type of forging is different.
It is not laminated much rougher and of course no fullers.

21st December 2008, 12:55 AM	#1
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,228	ID HELP / S.E asian / Indonesian sword ? I have this sword for over 8 years now. It came from an auction in 1990 where it was described as 'klewang' and sold with other mostly indonesian weapons. However, I have never seen anything like it and have no clue if it is indeed Indonesia Archipelago or something else. Total length is approx 80 cms / blade = 60 / handle 20 Help Attached Images

21st December 2008, 01:55 AM	#2
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hi, Can you tell me how thick the blade is at the hilt and how wide it is at its widest point? Is the bud shaped hilt made of horn or wood? It reminds me of a parang that I saw a picture of once. It was a parang sa something, I just can remember. Thank you. Robert Last edited by Robert Coleman; 21st December 2008 at 02:09 AM.

21st December 2008, 10:05 AM	#3
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,228	Hello Robert, The thickness of the blade measured at the back/spine is 12 mm at the base and 4 mm at the tip. The width of the blade is 32 mm at the base and 40 mm at the tip. The bud is hardwood. The blade is forged in one piece together with the hilt. It is a heavy sword. considering that it has no point at all I get the feeling that it is made for sacrifice to be handled with two hands for killing animals / humans ?

21st December 2008, 05:33 PM	#4
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hi Asomotif, Quote: "The blade is forged in one piece together with the hilt." Now I know that I've seen this sword before but for the life of me I still cannot remember where. The description was "parang with long heavy straight blade ending with a rounded tip, blade and hilt forged in one piece." The end of the hilt was a little more elaborately carved in the shape of an unopened flower bud than the one you show but other than that it was exactly the same. I'm looking through everything I have trying to locate it again. I'm just hoping that it wasn't something I saw while searching online and didn't tag for later reference. Robert

21st December 2008, 06:50 PM	#5
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	According to Van Zonneveld a Parang Koteng has a blade and hilt forged in one piece of metal. Is that what we are looking at?

21st December 2008, 07:32 PM	#6
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	In that case it would be Malay. But the parang with metal hilt pictured in Gardner, the source of van Z, has a round hilt, as if the wooden pommel wouldn't be there? Michael

21st December 2008, 09:09 PM	#7
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THE BLADE SHAPE REMINDS ME OF A CRUDE ACH SIKIN PEDANG FROM SUMATRA. IT IS INTERESTING THAT INSTEAD OF A TANG IT HAS A SOCKET MORE LIKE A SPEAR OR POLEARM THAN A SWORD.