Any info on this kind of Sumatran knife?

KuKulzA28 · 30th October 2011, 12:31 AM

Hmm... this is very interesting. This knife must have a very small handle right? I mean if the blade is 7.5", then the grip of the handle is probably only 1.5" to 2" right? Or is there a different grip technique?

Could the origin be discovered with the sheath style and the pommel style? I hesitate to use that since there's a lot of common hilt styles in Indonesia, for example my favorites - the makara pommel-ed pedangs and klewangs that are attributed to east Sumtra and Lombok... this one looks similar

Thanks for the added info kai and Rick.

Is "piso" the same as "pisau"?

and on a side note... "piso podang" - is the piso the same piso as kai referred to (knife)? And is "podang" simply another spelling of pedang? Iknow it might be common knowledge for Indonesian traditional weapon gurus, but I just wanted to clarify that for myself..

Thanks!

kai · 30th October 2011, 02:24 AM

Hello Vinny,

Quote:

This knife must have a very small handle right? I mean if the blade is 7.5", then the grip of the handle is probably only 1.5" to 2" right? Or is there a different grip technique?

Yes, these seem to be small backup (and possibly utility) knives. The pommel would fit into the palm like many keris do.

Quote:

Could the origin be discovered with the sheath style and the pommel style? I hesitate to use that since there's a lot of common hilt styles in Indonesia, for example my favorites - the makara pommel-ed pedangs and klewangs that are attributed to east Sumtra and Lombok... this one looks similar

It's the scabbard rather than the (pretty generic) pommel which allows placing its origin on Sumatra.

Quote:

Is "piso" the same as "pisau"?

Yup, just another way of writing.

Quote:

and on a side note... "piso podang" - is the piso the same piso as kai referred to (knife)? And is "podang" simply another spelling of pedang?

Exactly.

Regards,
Kai

Rick · 30th October 2011, 02:26 AM

It would seem to me that this knife is most comfortably held (as a weapon) in the icepick grip edge up .
I have smallish hands and this is the only comfortable grip I can find .

Hilt is 3.5 inches .

As for terminology ...

30th October 2011, 12:31 AM	#1
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Hmm... this is very interesting. This knife must have a very small handle right? I mean if the blade is 7.5", then the grip of the handle is probably only 1.5" to 2" right? Or is there a different grip technique? Could the origin be discovered with the sheath style and the pommel style? I hesitate to use that since there's a lot of common hilt styles in Indonesia, for example my favorites - the makara pommel-ed pedangs and klewangs that are attributed to east Sumtra and Lombok... this one looks similar Thanks for the added info kai and Rick. Is "piso" the same as "pisau"? and on a side note... "piso podang" - is the piso the same piso as kai referred to (knife)? And is "podang" simply another spelling of pedang? Iknow it might be common knowledge for Indonesian traditional weapon gurus, but I just wanted to clarify that for myself.. Thanks!

30th October 2011, 02:26 AM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,365	It would seem to me that this knife is most comfortably held (as a weapon) in the icepick grip edge up . I have smallish hands and this is the only comfortable grip I can find . Hilt is 3.5 inches . As for terminology ...