Sumatran Dagger: Lopah Petawaran

CharlesS · 22nd January 2008, 04:14 AM

Sumatran Dagger: Lopah Petawaran...Forefather of the Rentcong???

I had been looking for one of these for years, and finally with the help of some forumite friends I was able to acquire one.

This is a Sumatran dagger known as a lopah petawaran(See Zonneveld, Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago, pg. 83) and is supposedly the predecessor to the much more famous rentcong.

This one is 14.5in. overall, with a 9in. thick heavy blade. The hilt may be rhino, and is tipped with a silvered cap.

I know several other forumites are fond of these types, and hope they will put pics of their examples on as well. There are many different versions, via embellishments, of these. Hopefully this will become a good research thread for this form of dagger.

VVV · 23rd January 2008, 11:44 AM

Congratulations Charles!

I know you have been looking for a perfect Lopah for a long time.
I am not that picky myself so here are some other variations for discussion.

Picture 2 below show the two main variations of hilts.
There are different opinions on if this knife originated among the Gayo tribe or the Karo Batak (where it is used by the guru/healer priest for purification/exorcistic ceremonies).

Michael

CharlesS · 23rd January 2008, 01:35 PM

Some amazing examples VVV. Some of these certainly look more ceremonial than combat worthy.

Thanks for posting

Maurice · 23rd January 2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlesS

I know several other forumites are fond of these types, and hope they will put pics of their examples on as well.

Hi Charles and Michael,

I'm also fond of this type but I do not own one (unfortunately).
As a matter of fact I know someone who is selling an old lopah petawaran.
As it is against the rules of this forum to picture this lopah, I can sent you the link where it's on by email when you are interested.

Regards,
Maurice

kai · 23rd January 2008, 10:20 PM

Congrats, Charles!

I'm hoping for even more examples to be posted!

Regards,
Kai

Battara · 23rd January 2008, 11:28 PM

Here here! These are lovely puppies (woof!

).

Javagolok, I don't have any either. May be one day when I grow up..........

Maurice · 24th January 2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Javagolok, I don't have any either. May be one day when I grow up..........

Battara,

I think most of us will only SHRUNK in future instead of GROW.

Maurice · 6th August 2008, 10:01 AM

Bringing up this old thread of Charless, I just read some additional information about this weapon in the book: Alte Kulturen auf Sumatra-Java-Borneo!

It seems that it is also called "rentsung" (which name is not mentioned in the book of Zonneveld), not to confuse with the traditional rencong from Aceh.
Among other things, one thing is that the first haircut of a child was done by this knife.

DaveF · 14th March 2018, 06:14 PM

I had originally posted these pictures under the heading "what is it?". Sajen and kai referred me here and identified it as Batak, probably an Every Day Carry relative of the Lopah pataweran, so I'm putting the images up here in the hope that they will be more useful to any future researcher on this thread rather than on the one I started. The handle is horn and the scabbard is wood with copper/brass bands.

Sajen · 30th September 2018, 01:58 PM

Like Charles I had been looking for one of these for years, finally I've found this one by a german auction house listed together with a keris.
After I've given it some TLC it's a fairly nice example, the scabbard toe is missing and there are some other faults but I can live with it.
375 mm inside scabbard, 298 mm without, blade 6 mm thick near the handle, 243 gram.

Athanase · 30th September 2018, 05:13 PM

Very nice!

CharlesS · 30th September 2018, 05:42 PM

Very nice Detlef! I like these elegant little knives.

Sajen · 30th September 2018, 06:17 PM

Thank you Severin and Charles.

It coming together with a keris from Kelantan, the previous owner seems to has a somewhat different understanding of the orientation of the scabbard mouth.

22nd January 2008, 04:14 AM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Sumatran Dagger: Lopah Petawaran...Forefather to the Rentcong??? Sumatran Dagger: Lopah Petawaran...Forefather of the Rentcong??? I had been looking for one of these for years, and finally with the help of some forumite friends I was able to acquire one. This is a Sumatran dagger known as a *lopah petawaran(See Zonneveld, Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago, pg. 83) and is supposedly the predecessor to the much more famous rentcong. This one is 14.5in. overall, with a 9in. thick heavy blade. The hilt may be rhino, and is tipped with a silvered cap. I know several other forumites are fond of these types, and hope they will put pics of their examples on as well. There are many different versions, via embellishments, of these. Hopefully this will become a good research thread for this form of dagger. Attached Images Last edited by CharlesS; 22nd January 2008 at 03:00 PM.*

23rd January 2008, 11:44 AM	#2
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Congratulations Charles! I know you have been looking for a perfect Lopah for a long time. I am not that picky myself so here are some other variations for discussion. Picture 2 below show the two main variations of hilts. There are different opinions on if this knife originated among the Gayo tribe or the Karo Batak (where it is used by the guru/healer priest for purification/exorcistic ceremonies). Michael Attached Images

6th August 2008, 10:01 AM	#8
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,346	additional fun info Bringing up this old thread of Charless, I just read some additional information about this weapon in the book: Alte Kulturen auf Sumatra-Java-Borneo! It seems that it is also called "rentsung" (which name is not mentioned in the book of Zonneveld), not to confuse with the traditional rencong from Aceh. Among other things, one thing is that the first haircut of a child was done by this knife.

14th March 2018, 06:14 PM	#9
DaveF Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Lancashire, England Posts: 37	I had originally posted these pictures under the heading "what is it?". Sajen and kai referred me here and identified it as Batak, probably an Every Day Carry relative of the Lopah pataweran, so I'm putting the images up here in the hope that they will be more useful to any future researcher on this thread rather than on the one I started. The handle is horn and the scabbard is wood with copper/brass bands. Attached Images

30th September 2018, 01:58 PM	#10
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Like Charles I had been looking for one of these for years, finally I've found this one by a german auction house listed together with a keris. After I've given it some TLC it's a fairly nice example, the scabbard toe is missing and there are some other faults but I can live with it. 375 mm inside scabbard, 298 mm without, blade 6 mm thick near the handle, 243 gram. Attached Images

23rd January 2008, 01:35 PM	#3
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Some amazing examples VVV. Some of these certainly look more ceremonial than combat worthy. Thanks for posting

23rd January 2008, 10:20 PM	#5
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	Congrats, Charles! I'm hoping for even more examples to be posted! Regards, Kai

23rd January 2008, 11:28 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Here here! These are lovely puppies (woof! ). Javagolok, I don't have any either. May be one day when I grow up..........

30th September 2018, 05:13 PM	#11
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	Very nice!

30th September 2018, 05:42 PM	#12
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Very nice Detlef! I like these elegant little knives.

30th September 2018, 06:17 PM	#13
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Thank you Severin and Charles. It coming together with a keris from Kelantan, the previous owner seems to has a somewhat different understanding of the orientation of the scabbard mouth. Attached Images