Origin of the Tombak?

khalifah muda · 16th August 2010, 05:44 PM

Another fine example:

Rick · 16th August 2010, 11:12 PM

Couple more; one smooth finished and a fairly short blade; the other, recent Madura C. 1980's

BigG · 18th August 2010, 06:29 AM

It'll would be good if khalifah Muda can show his tombak stems and bases too...

khalifah muda · 19th August 2010, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigG

It'll would be good if khalifah Muda can show his tombak stems and bases too...

Well BigG, the base and stem is just a normal finish, no frills or brass fittings.

BigG · 29th August 2010, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khalifah muda

Well BigG, the base and stem is just a normal finish, no frills or brass fittings.

The shape of the stem is what I am looking for.. If only Jentayu would show pics of his excellent collection of Malay tombaks & lembings especialy their decorative features on the stems and the shapes of those stems..

katana · 25th September 2010, 06:20 PM

Hi Bill,
I am wondering whether this has anything to do with the naming of Tombaks..........

".....Tombac, as spelled in French, or Tombak is a brass alloy with high copper content and 5-20% zinc content..............The term tombak derives from the Javanese derived Indonesian (erroneously termed Malay) word tembaga- meaning copper. Tembaga entered Dutch usage concurrent with their colonisation of Indonesia (see Dutch East Indies). Likely, the term was used generically to describe Indonesian high-copper brass items, including gamelan gongs. It is one of the very few Indonesian or Malay loan words used in English, German or Dutch.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tombac

Perhaps, its simply due to brass decoration

Kind Regards David

Bill M · 26th September 2010, 01:04 AM

David, can't quite make the jump. Copper?

16th August 2010, 05:44 PM	#1
khalifah muda Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Singapore Posts: 54	Another fine example: Attached Images

16th August 2010, 11:12 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Couple more; one smooth finished and a fairly short blade; the other, recent Madura C. 1980's Attached Images

18th August 2010, 06:29 AM	#3
BigG Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Singapore Posts: 75	It'll would be good if khalifah Muda can show his tombak stems and bases too...

25th September 2010, 06:20 PM	#6
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Bill, I am wondering whether this has anything to do with the naming of Tombaks.......... ".....Tombac, as spelled in French, or Tombak is a brass alloy with high copper content and 5-20% zinc content..............The term tombak derives from the Javanese derived Indonesian (erroneously termed Malay) word tembaga- meaning copper. Tembaga entered Dutch usage concurrent with their colonisation of Indonesia (see Dutch East Indies). Likely, the term was used generically to describe Indonesian high-copper brass items, including gamelan gongs. It is one of the very few Indonesian or Malay loan words used in English, German or Dutch. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tombac Perhaps, its simply due to brass decoration Kind Regards David

26th September 2010, 01:04 AM	#7
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	David, can't quite make the jump. Copper?