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7th November 2023, 12:18 AM | #1 |
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Nias sword with brass handle for sharing and discussion
Today I have received the shown sword from a German auction house and which was wrong described as "Moro klewang"!
It's a Nias sword with a seldom seen brass handle. When I returned from work we didn't have daylight anymore so here is the picture from the auction house. In hand it looks much better, the wood from the scabbard shows a glossy patina, the bands could be from aluminium but could be from mamas also, I am unsure for the moment. 57,5 cm inside scabbard, 55,5 cm without, blade alone 44 cm and 5 mm thick at the spine behind the handle. Blade is laminated and still very sharp. Better pics will follow soon as I can take them. |
7th November 2023, 06:29 PM | #2 |
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Very nice and congratulations. Bands do look aluminum to me too. I may have seen only one other years ago. I think they are rare.
I agree - not Moro at all. |
7th November 2023, 07:17 PM | #3 |
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This is an extremely attractive sword, and though I have VERY limited knowledge in this field of collecting, I wanted to seize the opportunity to learn a bit from you guys. I did a little looking online, and found that NIAS is an island which is among the archipelago off W. Sumatra by that name in the Indonesian complex.
It seems the term BALATO might be the term used from what I found on Wiki, but unclear whether that is the proper term, or perhaps a tribal group. Other swords of this general form such as the Golok of Java and the Chunderik/CoJang of the Aceh seem to also use the term 'klewang' in sort of a collective manner. Obviously nothing to do with Moro's (of Phillipines) but does seem to fall into the 'klewang' scope, the examples of these Nias associated seem to be invariably classed as 'rare'. It was noted that on this island (Nias) during WWII, a number of escaped German prisoners occupied the island, but not sure the duration of that situation. Is it possible this might be from that period or later from possibly further German presence? What is there in particular that distinguishes one of these from other klewang types to Nias? |
7th November 2023, 08:00 PM | #4 | |
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Quote:
From the occupation from German prisoners I never had heard but will research about it. I guess that my sword is from the WWII period. Regards, Detlef |
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8th November 2023, 09:43 PM | #5 | |
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Quote:
Thank you for the response! and while as I note, these areas of collecting and study are not typically in my usual field. These are highly specialized and extremely complex areas and pretty daunting to those of us who do not regularly frequent them. However some examples just command attention, and I could not resist this one! Its funny, as you note, terms for a sword form can virtually be different from village to village..........I recall Alan Maisey using those exact words in one of our conversations many years back While that seems impossible, when you are dealing with tribal peoples in rugged terrain and thick jungle it is not unusual that direct contact is often not possible nor sought between these people. ...especially with contrasts in their cultural demeanor. Though possibly of WWII vintage, in ethnographic weapons, age is relatively unimportant as many weapons are simply more recent examples of forms long in use, and represent the culture itself. Your observations seem to me soundly placed plausibilities than assumptions, thank you for adding them. Outstanding example!!!!!! |
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9th November 2023, 05:30 PM | #6 |
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Thank you again Jim! And I agree with you, it's not important how old such a sword is when it's still worked in a traditional manner.
Regards, Detlef |
7th November 2023, 07:24 PM | #7 |
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I am very pleased with my new toy! An overall beautiful patina. I am still not sure that the scabbard bands are from aluminium, they polish up very fast, very unusual for aluminium, who have done it before will know what I mean. And when polished very shiny, again unusual for aluminium. And I know that mamas, when tarnished, look like aluminium.
Here some new pictures from the balato. |
7th November 2023, 07:27 PM | #8 |
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Great catch Sajen. A handsome sword.
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7th November 2023, 08:02 PM | #9 |
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7th November 2023, 07:40 PM | #10 | |
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The other one you will have seen will be this one: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=nias The definition "Moro klewang" was used from the auction house, they have offered two other swords, a Batak kalasan and an Aceh sikin panjang, also these both are offered as "Moro klewangs"! Regards, Detlef |
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