Tombak for identification and sharing

Sajen · 30th April 2017, 04:27 PM

Recently coming this tombak to my hands, nothing special our outstanding and not in the best condition, the shaft is shortened, the tip of the blade is broken away and the complete blade was painted over rust with golden colour. Otherwise it's in great condition!

It's a pamor blade, one side I've cleaned from rust rudimentary with a rubber gum for blades. The methuk seems to be separate and the ferrule is from brass. Would like to know from where exact it coming, Java?, Bali? or Sulawesi (Bugis)? I am very unsure about this, any thoughts?

Here some pictures.

A. G. Maisey · 30th April 2017, 10:46 PM

Jawa.

Possibly Tuban-Mataram, but I'd need it in the hand to be sure.

Sajen · 30th April 2017, 11:15 PM

Thank you very much Alan.

Is the binding around the shaft typical for Jawa tombak?

Regards,
Detlef

A. G. Maisey · 1st May 2017, 02:45 AM

Yes, I've seen this sort of binding before, usually on spears that in the past were used by the levies, usually farmers and village people, they'd sometimes own their own spears and keep them at home, then, instead of using a metal sopal --- ferrule --- they'd just bind the end with twine to stop the splitting under pressure, Your one looks like the binding has been painted with lacquer or something. Rural levies very often just used a piece of sharpened bambu instead of a proper tombak. The bambu was used in Bali as well.

Sajen · 1st May 2017, 11:11 AM

Thank you again Alan, and yes, the binding is lacquered.

Regards,
Detlef

30th April 2017, 04:27 PM	#1
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,126	Tombak for identification and sharing Recently coming this tombak to my hands, nothing special our outstanding and not in the best condition, the shaft is shortened, the tip of the blade is broken away and the complete blade was painted over rust with golden colour. Otherwise it's in great condition! It's a pamor blade, one side I've cleaned from rust rudimentary with a rubber gum for blades. The methuk seems to be separate and the ferrule is from brass. Would like to know from where exact it coming, Java?, Bali? or Sulawesi (Bugis)? I am very unsure about this, any thoughts? Here some pictures. Attached Images

30th April 2017, 10:46 PM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,965	Jawa. Possibly Tuban-Mataram, but I'd need it in the hand to be sure.

30th April 2017, 11:15 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,126	Thank you very much Alan. Is the binding around the shaft typical for Jawa tombak? Regards, Detlef

1st May 2017, 02:45 AM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,965	Yes, I've seen this sort of binding before, usually on spears that in the past were used by the levies, usually farmers and village people, they'd sometimes own their own spears and keep them at home, then, instead of using a metal sopal --- ferrule --- they'd just bind the end with twine to stop the splitting under pressure, Your one looks like the binding has been painted with lacquer or something. Rural levies very often just used a piece of sharpened bambu instead of a proper tombak. The bambu was used in Bali as well.

1st May 2017, 11:11 AM	#5
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,126	Thank you again Alan, and yes, the binding is lacquered. Regards, Detlef