Short spear, India/Indonesia?

stekemest · 5th February 2026, 03:59 PM

Dear Forum, I need your help again – this short spear (?) comes from an old museum collection. I suspect it might be from India/Indonesia. Does anyone know anything more about it?

Thank you in advance.
Peter

Sajen · 5th February 2026, 07:55 PM

Hello Peter,

It's for sure not Indonesian, too crudely worked.

Regards,
Detlef

Tim Simmons · 5th February 2026, 08:34 PM

To me the tip looks like an Indonesian spear. I had some very fancy worked metal spears of the same shape particulary at the base. I have no idea why this item almost looks like two picese put together. I am sure it is not. We have enough opinionated experts to pour cold water on anything new or unresearched. Hopefully we might see something similar in time.

RobT · Yesterday, 12:57 AM

Hi All,

A rather odd piece. While the blade appears, as Sajen pointed out, to have been very crudely done, all the haft (or perhaps hilt) components look to be quite well done indeed. Also, while the blade doesn’t appear to be up to standard for an Indonesian piece, it is shaped like a tumbuk. Could this be a badly beaten up and corroded tumbuk blade with 1 luk at the base that meant enough to someone to have warranted a hilt made especially for it?

Sincerely,
RobT

Ian · Yesterday, 07:56 AM

I would suggest cleaning the blade, polishing it back to bright, and seeing what's underneath the oxidation. Etching may help identify a pamor or lamination. I would not venture any comment until that is done. I'm leaning towards what Detlef has said.

5th February 2026, 03:59 PM	#1
stekemest Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 186	Short spear, India/Indonesia? Dear Forum, I need your help again – this short spear (?) comes from an old museum collection. I suspect it might be from India/Indonesia. Does anyone know anything more about it? Thank you in advance. Peter Attached Images

Yesterday, 12:57 AM	#4
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 609	Corrosion? Hi All, A rather odd piece. While the blade appears, as Sajen pointed out, to have been very crudely done, all the haft (or perhaps hilt) components look to be quite well done indeed. Also, while the blade doesn’t appear to be up to standard for an Indonesian piece, it is shaped like a tumbuk. Could this be a badly beaten up and corroded tumbuk blade with 1 luk at the base that meant enough to someone to have warranted a hilt made especially for it? Sincerely, RobT

5th February 2026, 07:55 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,563	Hello Peter, It's for sure not Indonesian, too crudely worked. Regards, Detlef

5th February 2026, 08:34 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,958	To me the tip looks like an Indonesian spear. I had some very fancy worked metal spears of the same shape particulary at the base. I have no idea why this item almost looks like two picese put together. I am sure it is not. We have enough opinionated experts to pour cold water on anything new or unresearched. Hopefully we might see something similar in time.

Yesterday, 07:56 AM	#5
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,653	I would suggest cleaning the blade, polishing it back to bright, and seeing what's underneath the oxidation. Etching may help identify a pamor or lamination. I would not venture any comment until that is done. I'm leaning towards what Detlef has said.