Tumbuk lada with Malayan rhino horn handle?

Green · 5th March 2020, 02:59 PM

This tumbuk lada was auctioned today and it was described as follows:-

A 19TH CENTURY MALAYAN RHINO HORN AND STEEL KRIS DAGGER having a carved horn handle with white metal mounts and wooden scabbard. (approx 36cm)

Questions:

Based on these two not very good photos from the auction site, can we ascertain that it is really in fact from rhino horn?

What are characteristic features of rhino horn that can be used to determine it?

The dress and blade look too ordinary to merit a rhino horn handle and also, the carving at the end of the handle looks rather crude.

Appreciate comments.

Thanks

Nik

Kubur · 5th March 2020, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green

The dress and blade look too ordinary to merit a rhino horn handle

So it's most probably water buffalo...

Athanase · 5th March 2020, 04:47 PM

I also think water buffalo horn.

David · 5th March 2020, 04:51 PM

Well, i couldn't say from just those photos.
I am also still curious about the naming. I see peninsula folks often calling these tumbuk lada, but other people claim that is a similar blade with a clunker handle (pepper crusher). We discussed this a little bit in my recent thread on the one i just acquired. I know this is a bit of the name game, but i am trying to determine is tumbuk lada and sewar are actually two different types of knife or just different names for the same kind of knife.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=25663

Sajen · 5th March 2020, 06:02 PM

I also doubt that it's Rhino horn!

kai · 5th March 2020, 11:00 PM

Hello Nik,

Extremely unlikely from mere statistics alone. (Search this forum for identifying features - not visible from these pics though.)

BTW, I suspect the "carving" of the pommel is from rats gnawing away on it...

Regards,
Kai

Green · 1st June 2020, 03:39 PM

Now that I have this item in hand, I'll putting up a few close up pics of the handle and part of the sheath. A rather unusual thing for me is the coloration of the handle, it is not black or translucent as in albino bufallo horn but brownish in parts and with lines/striations and pittings(?) in some places. It look almost like a skin rather than horn.

Can anyone comment what it actually is?... buffalo horn?

5th March 2020, 02:59 PM	#1
Green Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Malaysia Posts: 312	Tumbuk lada with Malayan rhino horn handle? This tumbuk lada was auctioned today and it was described as follows:- A 19TH CENTURY MALAYAN RHINO HORN AND STEEL KRIS DAGGER having a carved horn handle with white metal mounts and wooden scabbard. (approx 36cm) Questions: Based on these two not very good photos from the auction site, can we ascertain that it is really in fact from rhino horn? What are characteristic features of rhino horn that can be used to determine it? The dress and blade look too ordinary to merit a rhino horn handle and also, the carving at the end of the handle looks rather crude. Appreciate comments. Thanks Nik Attached Images

1st June 2020, 03:39 PM	#7
Green Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Malaysia Posts: 312	Now that I have this item in hand, I'll putting up a few close up pics of the handle and part of the sheath. A rather unusual thing for me is the coloration of the handle, it is not black or translucent as in albino bufallo horn but brownish in parts and with lines/striations and pittings(?) in some places. It look almost like a skin rather than horn. Can anyone comment what it actually is?... buffalo horn? Attached Images

5th March 2020, 04:47 PM	#3
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	I also think water buffalo horn.

5th March 2020, 04:51 PM	#4
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,124	Well, i couldn't say from just those photos. I am also still curious about the naming. I see peninsula folks often calling these tumbuk lada, but other people claim that is a similar blade with a clunker handle (pepper crusher). We discussed this a little bit in my recent thread on the one i just acquired. I know this is a bit of the name game, but i am trying to determine is tumbuk lada and sewar are actually two different types of knife or just different names for the same kind of knife. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=25663

5th March 2020, 06:02 PM	#5
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	I also doubt that it's Rhino horn!

5th March 2020, 11:00 PM	#6
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	Hello Nik, Extremely unlikely from mere statistics alone. (Search this forum for identifying features - not visible from these pics though.) BTW, I suspect the "carving" of the pommel is from rats gnawing away on it... Regards, Kai