Another Unique Malay Sundang

CharlesS · 21st September 2011, 12:18 AM

I picked up this example in Baltimore last year and just had a scabbard made for it by a forumite. Note the unique elongated "stirrup", the good blade chieselling and the slightly down curved blade. The point is also more gradually tapered. Note also the worn carving on the pommel that is a unique shape in its own right.

Any symbolic significance to the brass inlays that anyone can think of??

Origin? The peninsula?....Borneo??

kai · 21st September 2011, 12:41 AM

Thanks for the pics, Charles!

Looks like a Malay sundang to me (i. e. peninsular). AFAIK, the blade is not from Mindanao nor Sulu. The pommel as well as the silverwork have a Malay feel to them, too.

Regards,
Kai

Battara · 21st September 2011, 04:07 AM

Yup I'm with Kai - definitely Malay all the way.

As far as the brass dot inlay are concerned, this came up in another thread stating that the brass may be used to word off evil spirits and influences for the Philippines and I would extend this as a possibility for the rest of the Malay/Indonesian/Philippine world as well.

CharlesS · 21st September 2011, 05:01 AM

Thanks guys.

Battara, what is the origin of that "evil spirits" idea?? I have never heard anything like it, but it's interesting.

Battara · 21st September 2011, 07:21 AM

Try this thread:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ght=brass+dots

The research is not just for dots but for brass/bronze period.

There is also this thread too:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ght=brass+dots

VVV · 21st September 2011, 07:31 AM

Another nice catch!!!
Seems like you really have been bitten by the Peninsular Sundang bug based
on all the great ones you have posted here the last years.

Michael

kai · 21st September 2011, 09:13 AM

Hello Charles,

Quote:

Any symbolic significance to the brass inlays that anyone can think of??

This blade doesn't look antique to me - maybe more like before WW2? While the dots may still have had some meaning in Malay culture, I wouldn't discount the possibility that they were just added because they are seen in some Moro kris, too...

Regards,
Kai

CharlesS · 21st September 2011, 01:34 PM

Kai,

I am just curious; what about this blade does not look "antique"? Were it a Moro blade I think it would be much easier to "date", but I am not as familiar with Malay blades.

Could you please post some comparative examples for contrast and study?

mross · 21st September 2011, 05:12 PM

Looks cool very unique, I like it.

Spunjer · 21st September 2011, 07:12 PM

Nice one, my friend! Does it have a twisty core?

Gustav · 21st September 2011, 07:38 PM

The engravings on hilt look like a chinese work, compare it to pendok on second keris here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=chinese+keris

Is there a possibility, such (triangular) configuration of fullers on base of blade is more sumatran then malay? Have seen such on two sumatran dreesed keris blades.

kai · 30th September 2011, 09:51 AM

Hello Charles,

Sorry for the late reply!

Quote:

I am just curious; what about this blade does not look "antique"? Were it a Moro blade I think it would be much easier to "date", but I am not as familiar with Malay blades.

If this were a Moro blade, the strongly angular separation line would most likely place it in the 1920-1930 period. Thus, it seems unlikely to me that (despite their obvious creativity) any Malay bladesmith made this earlier.

Your blade looks nice (with workmanship of better quality than most Moro kris of that period) but lacks the crispness and flow I'd expect from a 19th century kris (of good quality); some details like the greneng and the jalen as well as the pretty homogenous metal and the stained wood pommel seem to support a 1920-1940 period for its origin. Wait a decade or two and I won't quibble with it being antique anymore...

Regards,
Kai

21st September 2011, 12:18 AM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Another Unique Malay Sundang I picked up this example in Baltimore last year and just had a scabbard made for it by a forumite. Note the unique elongated "stirrup", the good blade chieselling and the slightly down curved blade. The point is also more gradually tapered. Note also the worn carving on the pommel that is a unique shape in its own right. Any symbolic significance to the brass inlays that anyone can think of?? Origin? The peninsula?....Borneo?? Attached Images Last edited by CharlesS; 21st September 2011 at 05:03 AM.

21st September 2011, 12:41 AM	#2
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	Thanks for the pics, Charles! Looks like a Malay sundang to me (i. e. peninsular). AFAIK, the blade is not from Mindanao nor Sulu. The pommel as well as the silverwork have a Malay feel to them, too. Regards, Kai

21st September 2011, 04:07 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	Yup I'm with Kai - definitely Malay all the way. As far as the brass dot inlay are concerned, this came up in another thread stating that the brass may be used to word off evil spirits and influences for the Philippines and I would extend this as a possibility for the rest of the Malay/Indonesian/Philippine world as well.

21st September 2011, 05:01 AM	#4
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Thanks guys. Battara, what is the origin of that "evil spirits" idea?? I have never heard anything like it, but it's interesting.

21st September 2011, 07:21 AM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	Try this thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ght=brass+dots The research is not just for dots but for brass/bronze period. There is also this thread too: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ght=brass+dots

21st September 2011, 07:31 AM	#6
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Another nice catch!!! Seems like you really have been bitten by the Peninsular Sundang bug based on all the great ones you have posted here the last years. Michael

21st September 2011, 01:34 PM	#8
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Kai, I am just curious; what about this blade does not look "antique"? Were it a Moro blade I think it would be much easier to "date", but I am not as familiar with Malay blades. Could you please post some comparative examples for contrast and study?

21st September 2011, 05:12 PM	#9
mross Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 478	Looks cool very unique, I like it.

21st September 2011, 07:12 PM	#10
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	Nice one, my friend! Does it have a twisty core?

21st September 2011, 07:38 PM	#11
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,249	The engravings on hilt look like a chinese work, compare it to pendok on second keris here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=chinese+keris Is there a possibility, such (triangular) configuration of fullers on base of blade is more sumatran then malay? Have seen such on two sumatran dreesed keris blades.