Is this a siraui?

[Ian]

Thanks Detlef. I like the word “rare”. Best wishes for the New Year. Ian

[Ian]

Following Detlef's kind identification of my pisau Nias, I came across this one on eBay and acquired it today. It looks like a mini-balato, but has an overall length of only 16 inches. Note the wire loop on the scabbard throat that looks very similar to Detlef's example.

The pics come from the auction site.

Ian.

[Sajen]

Beautiful antique example with a much newer scabbard. Love the brass handle. But I wouldn't call it parang, by this length it's a piso/pisau. The wire near the scabbard throat I've seen by it's big brother, the balato as well.

Regards,
Detlef

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Beautiful antique example with a much newer scabbard. Love the brass handle. But I wouldn't call it parang, by this length it's a piso/pisau. The wire near the scabbard throat I've seen by it's big brother, the balato as well.

Regards,
Detlef

Hi Detlef:

Sorry about the "parang" terminology. I was copying that from the old thread that you linked to. I will amend that to pisau Nias.

Yes, I think the scabbard probably is more recent that the knife. Once I get this one I will clean it up to examine the brass hilt better, and will try to post more pics here.

Interestingly, this knife had been online for a while and the price had just been dropped to a third of its original asking amount. I guess someone felt generous over the Holiday Season.

Ian

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Ian

Interestingly, this knife had been online for a while and the price had just been dropped to a third of its original asking amount. I guess someone felt generous over the Holiday Season.

Hi Ian,

good that I haven't noticed the listing!

[Sajen]

This little beauty was sold last night by ebay, sadly I wasn't able to win it! It could be that this thread raised the bids!?

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Sajen

This little beauty was sold last night by ebay, sadly I wasn't able to win it! It could be that this thread raised the bids!?

Detlef, I'm sorry to hear you missed out on that one. It would not be the first time that something said here subsequently affected the price of an item online. There is sometimes a price to pay for sharing knowledge.

I have been contacted in the past by people who acknowledged that they bought a sword or knife because it was discussed here, and then offered to sell it to me because they knew I was interested in it! That was before eBay masked the names of unsuccessful bidders.