SURPRISE! Wootz Steel in a Most Unexpected Place!...An Aceh Podang/Peudueng

[Loedjoe]

Could the pommel mount be gold, rather than brass? Not that it matters much, with such fine workmanship.

[CharlesS]

Originally Posted by Loedjoe

Could the pommel mount be gold, rather than brass? Not that it matters much, with such fine workmanship.

The pommel mounts are gold...not really sure why I said brass. I knew better. You have a good eye!

[Gavin Nugent]

Another real neat sword Charles, congrats.

It seems both you and Rick have had some nice SEA swords with Wootz blades.

Here is an Amanremu from the Kelling Hall collection with what appears to be a Wootz inserted edge;

http://www.swordsantiqueweapons.com/s195_full.html

Gavin

[CharlesS]

Originally Posted by SwordsAntiqueWeapons

Here is an Amanremu from the Kelling Hall collection with what appears to be a Wootz inserted edge;

http://www.swordsantiqueweapons.com/s195_full.html

Gavin

First time I have seen anything like that Gavin. VERY interesting. I wonder if the smith had only a small wootz ingot and decided to use it in that manner???

[Rick]

Originally Posted by CharlesS

First time I have seen anything like that Gavin. VERY interesting. I wonder if the smith had only a small wootz ingot and decided to use it in that manner???

Gav, lovely sword .
I wonder if all the cold shuts on your example occurred because the smith knew he would lose the wootz pattern if he heated the blade too much, thereby resulting in the aforementioned cold shuts .

[CharlesS]

The use of a leather scabbard here(with the peudueng) really surprises me. I have always understood that leather does not hold up well in tropical conditions.

Perhaps someone else knows more about this???

[Andrew]

Love it. Thanks for sharing, Charles.

[Gavin Nugent]

Hi Charles,

Your sword came from a very high end collection and I suspect the inventory number 209 was left in place on the scabbard?
I would leave it, it is healthy even if shrunken a little.

Charles, Rick, I really don't know what the intention was when forging the amanremu, I'd say they maker had an idea and insight in to wootz, perhaps from those who traded the ingots? I just don't know...the end result wasn't pretty but is important in the study of wootz in Sumatra.
Wootz in Sumatra is a study that I think would be worth while as personally I think your wootz blade was formed in Sumatra, not traded.

Gavin

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by CharlesS

The use of a leather scabbard here(with the peudueng) really surprises me. I have always understood that leather does not hold up well in tropical conditions.

Perhaps someone else knows more about this???

Hi Charles,

all peudeuangs I have seen and/or owned had leathered scabbards.

The Dutch marechaussees used klewangs in tropical conditions which also had leathered scabbards......

Kind regards,
Maurice

[asomotif]

Originally Posted by Maurice

Hi Charles,

all peudeuangs I have seen and/or owned had leathered scabbards.

The Dutch marechaussees used klewangs in tropical conditions which also had leathered scabbards......

Kind regards,
Maurice

Maurice,

I believe these scabbards are of very light wood with a thin layer of leather.

Best regards,
Willem

[CharlesS]

Originally Posted by Maurice

Hi Charles,

all peudeuangs I have seen and/or owned had leathered scabbards.

The Dutch marechaussees used klewangs in tropical conditions which also had leathered scabbards......

Hi Maurice,

I am a a little surprised by leather or leather covered scabbards on native made blades. I had understood that leather does not hold up well in such climates...but I may be totally wrong.

As for this one's original leather scabbard, I still have it and keep it with the sword, but there is so much sand or grit so deep in the scabbard that I dare not use it for fear of ruining the finish to the blade and the exposed wootz.