Malay badik for comment.

[kai]

Hello Detlef,

I should have been more clear in my statement, yes the form of the handle is pretty generic but the angle of the handle to the blade tang is very different, Java badiks show an angle slightly over 90 degree while all other badiks have an angle to maximum from 90 degree. That was meant!

I'm not sure I understand - do you rather mean 135° or so? (90°+45°)

For this specific hilt type, I believe I've seen examples from Sulawesi in the 110°-162° range; for Sumatra, I'd estimate an 120°-150° angle or so. (I wouldn't be surprised to find an even larger range for both origins. I have a Sumatran wooden hilt close to this type which exhibits 105° - wooden hilts tend to include steeper as well as wider angles though.) Those attributed to Jawa often hone in on approx. 125°-135° (I'd stipulate that most origins are tough to verify though).

This example apparently was around 122° originally (I'd posit that the blade is a bit tilted which makes it look steeper angled nowadays, possibly 111°).

Regards,
Kai

[Sajen]

Hello Kai,

it's not so complicated like you think!

See the both attached pictures, the first show a typical Bugis badik, I've attached a 90° chevron under the handle, second picture show a typical Javanese badik which has a chevron clearly over 90° like the badik in question. Hope you understand now what I mean.

Regards,
Detlef

[kai]

Hello Detlef,

it's not so complicated like you think!

Well, I posit it's also not as easy as it seems...

See the both attached pictures, the first show a typical Bugis badik, I've attached a 90° chevron under the handle, second picture show a typical Javanese badik which has a chevron clearly over 90° like the badik in question.

I'm only speaking of the hilt type on the right; the left is different (angles, proportions, etc.) and also known from Sumatra. With the Bugis diaspora all over the place, it may be difficult to distinguish between Bugis examples and localized adaptations though.

The curved blades make it difficult to measure the angle; the hilt on the right side is close to 135° (the other is not really comparable but the base of the blade or tang is about 100°, or about 90° when following the whole blade).

Regards,
Kai