Gayo? sikin panjang with talismans in etched raised relief

Oliver Pinchot · 15th February 2015, 08:41 PM

The Arabic inscription on the bolster reads, THERE IS NO GOD BUT ALLAH!
and beneath that, MUHAMMAD.

I will pass along your comments to Anne, Loedjoe.

Loedjoe · 16th February 2015, 08:09 AM

Many thanks Oliver, both for the reading of the inscription, and for passing on my thanks to Anne.

kronckew · 16th February 2015, 01:01 PM

there is a low gold alloy called suasa used in indonesia and other parts of SE asia & the phillipines. discussed HERE on the forum. used frequently in aceh where these sikin come from. it has just enough gold in it to prevent oxidation of the copper/silver part of the alloy, especially if handled and cleaned.

apparently in islamic sections, like aceh, pure gold was too ostentatious for a devout mulslim to adorn himself and his weapons, a true muslim is humble before allah and not vain. suasa however, being low gold content, was acceptable. a belief not held universally, but allowed lower income people to afford gold jewellery and decorated items.

the sikin swords are still made, last contact i had with my supplier in indonesia, he'd found only two smiths still making them, and he'd not heard from them since the tsunami. i hope he has since. i've not heard from him recently either. rebels in the area.

my sikin was made for him by one of the smiths, i managed to talk him out of it at a price that made both of us happy. sadly no suasa or inscriptions, just a razor sharp blade.

p.s. - the dark specks on the blade are reflections of birds overhead)

16th February 2015, 01:01 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	there is a low gold alloy called suasa used in indonesia and other parts of SE asia & the phillipines. discussed HERE on the forum. used frequently in aceh where these sikin come from. it has just enough gold in it to prevent oxidation of the copper/silver part of the alloy, especially if handled and cleaned. apparently in islamic sections, like aceh, pure gold was too ostentatious for a devout mulslim to adorn himself and his weapons, a true muslim is humble before allah and not vain. suasa however, being low gold content, was acceptable. a belief not held universally, but allowed lower income people to afford gold jewellery and decorated items. the sikin swords are still made, last contact i had with my supplier in indonesia, he'd found only two smiths still making them, and he'd not heard from them since the tsunami. i hope he has since. i've not heard from him recently either. rebels in the area. my sikin was made for him by one of the smiths, i managed to talk him out of it at a price that made both of us happy. sadly no suasa or inscriptions, just a razor sharp blade. p.s. - the dark specks on the blade are reflections of birds overhead) Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 16th February 2015 at 01:43 PM.

15th February 2015, 08:41 PM	#1
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 462	The Arabic inscription on the bolster reads, THERE IS NO GOD BUT ALLAH! and beneath that, MUHAMMAD. I will pass along your comments to Anne, Loedjoe.

16th February 2015, 08:09 AM	#2
Loedjoe Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Oxford (UK) Posts: 96	Many thanks Oliver, both for the reading of the inscription, and for passing on my thanks to Anne.