Massive possible Sumatran Klewang? Info needed!

Atlantia · 15th February 2011, 05:48 PM

Gav, Thanks mate

Maurice,
Great picture, excellent find, thank you.
I would love to restore it completely. There are some scratches on the blade and it could do with a proper polish and etch. Is there something missing from the hilt also?

It has the feel of a large cavalry sword or hand-and-a-half sword. Anyone know what these large swords were intended for?

Here are some daylight pictures:

Maurice · 15th February 2011, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Is there something missing from the hilt also?

Maybe it was a kind of ferrule as the one Hans had in discussion on the forum:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=9780

Atlantia · 15th February 2011, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice

Maybe it was a kind of ferrule as the one Hans had in discussion on the forum:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=9780

You mean a little tiny silver ferrule?
Good link thanks.
What do you think of the sword now that you can see clearer pictures?

Best
Gene

Maurice · 15th February 2011, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia

You mean a little tiny silver ferrule?
Good link thanks.
What do you think of the sword now that you can see clearer pictures?

Best
Gene

Yes I mean the little tiny silver ferrule!
As you can see the base of Hans's blade has the same base as yours! With a little nick, where the silver ferrule "fells" behind.
I guess it could easily be the same ferrule, as it is a similar sword, with a similar blade base. And according the small recess in the handle it was not a big ferrule.

Rg,
Maurice

Mytribalworld · 16th February 2011, 07:39 AM

Hi,

here some examples of our national museums.

The size of the first one ( Tropenmuseum ) is sadly not mentioned

the descriptions give the places "Banten" and "West Java."

I'm curious about the balance of such a long thing, how does that feel?

the other one is 74 cm.

Arjan

Atlantia · 16th February 2011, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mandaukudi

Hi,

here some examples of our national museums.

The size of the first one ( Tropenmuseum ) is sadly not mentioned

the descriptions give the places "Banten" and "West Java."

I'm curious about the balance of such a long thing, how does that feel?

the other one is 74 cm.

Arjan

Hello Arjan,

Thank you for coming in on this discussion.
Here is a picture of my sword balanced on a small plastic pot. Also are two other swords for scale, an 'average' sized Shamshir, and a large Tulwar.
The Golok weighs approximately 1260g, and is 102cm overall length.
It feels both heavy and front-heavy.
It could be swung one handed, but feels like it would suit large sweeping arcs or from horseback.

Do you know anything about this size of sword? Who and how it was used?

Have you come across any of this size 'in person' before?

Regards
Gene

Amuk Murugul · 17th February 2011, 03:08 AM

Hullo again Gene,

I can't be 100% sure without actually handling the item, but yours looks like a Golok Soenda (NOT Djawa) Pandjang Sintoeng Soelangkar Perah Pingping Hajam; or simply, Golok Pandjang Soelangkar.
Originally such items were part of the prescribed implements of the Prboe (warrior) class (N.B. warrior CLASS, as opposed to WARRIOR). It formed half of a pair , the other half being a sword/sabre (not necessarily of the same length) similar to the first picture in Arjan's post.
These people were usually mounted, hence the length, which would have been of very limited use on foot.
The Golok was used for 'hacking/ chopping' (e.g through jungle growth) while the sabre was for the cut/thrust, hence it would have been much lighter.
Goloks/swords among the Soenda would normally not exceed 75-80cm in length, for ease and utility (as the Dutch found out when they were developing the 'Kalewang'). A more 'comfortable' length would be 40-60cm
BTW ..... Banten, Bandoeng, West Java, etc are all part of traditional Tatar Soenda.

Best,

Atlantia · 18th February 2011, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice

Yes I mean the little tiny silver ferrule!
As you can see the base of Hans's blade has the same base as yours! With a little nick, where the silver ferrule "fells" behind.
I guess it could easily be the same ferrule, as it is a similar sword, with a similar blade base. And according the small recess in the handle it was not a big ferrule.

Rg,
Maurice

Thanks Maurice

I'm going to try and fix the scabbard first (while I think about how to do the ferrule)

The blade has seen some use and I'm not sure how 'deep' the original etch would have been. Do you know if the laminations are meant to be clear and visible with a high contrast etch?

Best
Gene

Sajen · 18th February 2011, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia

The blade has seen some use and I'm not sure how 'deep' the original etch would have been. Do you know if the laminations are meant to be clear and visible with a high contrast etch?

Best
Gene

Hi Gene,

I am not 100% sure by this but it is very presumably. Mayby Amuk Murugul can confim this.

Regards,

Detlef

Atlantia · 18th February 2011, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi Gene,

I am not 100% sure by this but it is very presumably. Mayby Amuk Murugul can confim this.

Regards,

Detlef

Hi Detlef,

You mean a high contrast dark etch?
Like some in this thread:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...umatran+pedang

Thanks
Gene

16th February 2011, 07:39 AM	#5
Mytribalworld Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 400	Hi, here some examples of our national museums. The size of the first one ( Tropenmuseum ) is sadly not mentioned the descriptions give the places "Banten" and "West Java." I'm curious about the balance of such a long thing, how does that feel? the other one is 74 cm. Arjan Attached Images Last edited by mandaukudi; 16th February 2011 at 07:50 AM.

15th February 2011, 05:48 PM	#1
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Gav, Thanks mate Maurice, Great picture, excellent find, thank you. I would love to restore it completely. There are some scratches on the blade and it could do with a proper polish and etch. Is there something missing from the hilt also? It has the feel of a large cavalry sword or hand-and-a-half sword. Anyone know what these large swords were intended for? Here are some daylight pictures:

17th February 2011, 03:08 AM	#7
Amuk Murugul Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kaboejoetan Galoenggoeng Mélben Posts: 472	Hullo again Gene, I can't be 100% sure without actually handling the item, but yours looks like a Golok Soenda (NOT Djawa) Pandjang Sintoeng Soelangkar Perah Pingping Hajam; or simply, Golok Pandjang Soelangkar. Originally such items were part of the prescribed implements of the Prboe (warrior) class (N.B. warrior CLASS, as opposed to WARRIOR). It formed half of a pair , the other half being a sword/sabre (not necessarily of the same length) similar to the first picture in Arjan's post. These people were usually mounted, hence the length, which would have been of very limited use on foot. The Golok was used for 'hacking/ chopping' (e.g through jungle growth) while the sabre was for the cut/thrust, hence it would have been much lighter. Goloks/swords among the Soenda would normally not exceed 75-80cm in length, for ease and utility (as the Dutch found out when they were developing the 'Kalewang'). A more 'comfortable' length would be 40-60cm BTW ..... Banten, Bandoeng, West Java, etc are all part of traditional Tatar Soenda. Best,