Interesting Javanese sword for comments

Bill M · 10th August 2007, 04:38 PM

High quality silver pommel and scabbard fittings. Blade is 19" and OAL is 24"

Blade is flat on the other side.

Comments? Never seen one like it. guessing Javanese? Open to suggestions of other areas.

josh stout · 10th August 2007, 07:01 PM

That is quite interesting. I can't place the fittings, but the blade form reminds me strongly of a Buganese parang. It definitely does not look like the golok types found from central Java to western Java.
Josh

Rick · 10th August 2007, 08:53 PM

The blade reminds me of Tjikeroeh work without the decoration .

Battara · 10th August 2007, 09:18 PM

The chasing work on the silver is well done and impressive.

kai · 10th August 2007, 11:36 PM

Hello Bill,

Looks like a nice, laminated blade!

From what areas have blade edges with chisel grind been well documented? The Visayans and Borneo seem to figure most prominently with additional examples from Sulawesi, Moluccas, etc. Can we try to gather a comprehensive list (and also specify blade types for areas were chisel grind is not the rule)?

Regards,
Kai

Bill M · 11th August 2007, 04:04 AM

CORRECTION: I just noticed that the blade is cut on both sides. I was showing my wife how it was like a talibon and realized I had made a mistake. Sorry. Hope this helps to identify it.

Note the opening in the scabbard.

VVV · 11th August 2007, 05:42 PM

It looks West Java, as Rick also suggests (sheath, blade and most of the hilt).
But usually the (mostly horn) hilt ends slightly curved and with a flat top.
Very interesting parang variation!

Michael

ashoka · 11th August 2007, 06:14 PM

a variation of this rare form..

http://www.ashokaarts.com/edgedweapons/ew-42.html

CharlesS · 11th August 2007, 06:25 PM

I'm so glad Ashoka added that...I had wanted t mention it as a reference, but was not sure of the rules on such to a retail site.

Great reference. Note the hilt shape, minus the cross guard; also the similarity in blade contour.

VVV · 1st September 2007, 11:00 AM

I am more and more leaning towards that this is of Sulawesi origin, like Josh first stated.
The reason is that a golok with a similar hilt variation in Leiden was collected in Sulawesi.
The brother of the one at the Ashoka link is in Tropen and was also collected in Sulawesi.
I haven't seen any golok collected in W Java with that hilt top. All of them have the flat top.
Of course two reference swords are not that many...

Michael

John43 · 7th September 2007, 01:53 PM

Hello im new and i want to ask a question in this gr8 forum.

I can buy a sword from somebody and want to know a litle more of it .
I surched over the internet and couldnd find annything that looks like it.
The handgrip is from buffelhorn with eyes of bone.
The scabber is from silverplated buffelhorn.
Maybe someone can tell me where it comes from and eventuelly the age ?
The seller said he had it from an indonesian old man who was fighting for the knill during the the wars that happend there.
Sorry for my crappy english i am from holland.
I wil place the pics now.

I hope someone can tell me a litle abouth it
ty for your time.
Cant wait for the answer

regards
John

10th August 2007, 04:38 PM	#1
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Interesting Javanese sword for comments High quality silver pommel and scabbard fittings. Blade is 19" and OAL is 24" Blade is flat on the other side. Comments? Never seen one like it. guessing Javanese? Open to suggestions of other areas. Attached Images

11th August 2007, 04:04 AM	#6
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	CORRECTION: I just noticed that the blade is cut on both sides. I was showing my wife how it was like a talibon and realized I had made a mistake. Sorry. Hope this helps to identify it. Note the opening in the scabbard. Attached Images

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10th August 2007, 07:01 PM	#2
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	That is quite interesting. I can't place the fittings, but the blade form reminds me strongly of a Buganese parang. It definitely does not look like the golok types found from central Java to western Java. Josh

10th August 2007, 08:53 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	The blade reminds me of Tjikeroeh work without the decoration .

10th August 2007, 09:18 PM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	The chasing work on the silver is well done and impressive.

10th August 2007, 11:36 PM	#5
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	Hello Bill, Looks like a nice, laminated blade! From what areas have blade edges with chisel grind been well documented? The Visayans and Borneo seem to figure most prominently with additional examples from Sulawesi, Moluccas, etc. Can we try to gather a comprehensive list (and also specify blade types for areas were chisel grind is not the rule)? Regards, Kai

11th August 2007, 05:42 PM	#7
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	It looks West Java, as Rick also suggests (sheath, blade and most of the hilt). But usually the (mostly horn) hilt ends slightly curved and with a flat top. Very interesting parang variation! Michael

11th August 2007, 06:14 PM	#8
ashoka Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 61	a variation of this rare form.. http://www.ashokaarts.com/edgedweapons/ew-42.html

11th August 2007, 06:25 PM	#9
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	I'm so glad Ashoka added that...I had wanted t mention it as a reference, but was not sure of the rules on such to a retail site. Great reference. Note the hilt shape, minus the cross guard; also the similarity in blade contour.

1st September 2007, 11:00 AM	#10
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	I am more and more leaning towards that this is of Sulawesi origin, like Josh first stated. The reason is that a golok with a similar hilt variation in Leiden was collected in Sulawesi. The brother of the one at the Ashoka link is in Tropen and was also collected in Sulawesi. I haven't seen any golok collected in W Java with that hilt top. All of them have the flat top. Of course two reference swords are not that many... Michael

7th September 2007, 01:53 PM	#11
John43 Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4	Hello im new and i want to ask a question in this gr8 forum. I can buy a sword from somebody and want to know a litle more of it . I surched over the internet and couldnd find annything that looks like it. The handgrip is from buffelhorn with eyes of bone. The scabber is from silverplated buffelhorn. Maybe someone can tell me where it comes from and eventuelly the age ? The seller said he had it from an indonesian old man who was fighting for the knill during the the wars that happend there. Sorry for my crappy english i am from holland. I wil place the pics now. I hope someone can tell me a litle abouth it ty for your time. Cant wait for the answer regards John