Two Batak pedang sabre

[Pendita65]

Picked up today two sabre of the Batak and according to the auction house they where from 19th or early 20th century, Borneo, Indonesia.
I used the pictures from the auction house as i didn't have the good light to take some images tonight.

1. Are these sabre from the Karo Tribe of Sumatra? or did the Karo also lived
in Borneo?
2. the sabre are also seen in the drawing from the Book by Wilhelm Volz band
Nord Sumatra
3. Would like to read more about these weapons any recomendation for
suitablte publications?

regards, Martin

[Sajen]

Hi Martin,

Jep, two very nice Karo kalasan, scabbards with silver bands and suassa accents.
A little bit similar two the one in the middle from my Karo piso.
A good book about the Batak: Achim Sibeth, The Batak, Peoples of the Island of Sumatra, 1991

Regards,
Detlef

[Pendita65]

Hi Detlef,

thank you for your message, and can we call the bluisih hue on the silver patina or does
it needs a light clean with silver polish?

I know that i want to get rid of the remnants of brasso stains on the wood, i will gently clean it with old wood reviver. and then a buff of wax.

Also need to think about the blades do they need a good clean i am not sure.

Regards, Martin

ps. are these rare weapons?

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Pendita65

Thank you for your message, and can we call the bluisih hue on the silver patina or does
it needs a light clean with silver polish?

I know that i want to get rid of the remnants of brasso stains on the wood, i will gently clean it with old wood reviver. and then a buff of wax.

Also need to think about the blades do they need a good clean i am not sure.

Regards, Martin

ps. are these rare weapons?

Hi Martin,

I personally would clean the silver to shiny but Batak silver is good silver which soon gets dark again. There is also a little bit of suassa involved, I've marked it on the attached picture.
And yes, I would clean the blades but these blades don't show any lamination.
Karo Batak kalasans are not extremely rare weapons but they are somewhat rare in the quality you got in your two examples, I like them!
And the hilts are of the sukul djering form.

Regards,
Detlef