Tumbuk lada with Malayan rhino horn handle?

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

Rhino horn was fairly frequently used for sewars.

Sorry that I am persistent! Any evidence for this claim?

[kai]

I have seen loads of horn hilts from Sumatra and with most I believe to have sound reason from comparative analyses to regard them as made from water buffalo horn. No doubt, horns from hunted animals will have been utilized, too. However, the latter seems to be quite rare.

The texture (as well as color and translucency) of the horn can vary widely; aged (or rather weathered) water buffalo horn has a very fibrous appearance. This has been widely mistaken as a hint for rhino horn; it hardly ever is though.

Marius, we need close-ups showing the end grain of the horn from your pieces (like the jambiyah/khanjar shown in post #8), please!

Regards,
Kai

[asomotif]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Sorry that I am persistent! Any evidence for this claim?

Same here. Rhino, fairly frequently used for sewars
I am a bit of a newby in collecting indonesian arms, and maybe Detlef hasn't seen that many sewars either

Marius, no day light needed, hold the handle against a strong light source and take some pictures with light shining through. especially the scabbard mouth should be no problem for that kind of pictures.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by asomotif

Same here. Rhino, fairly frequently used for sewars
I am a bit of a newby in collecting indonesian arms, and maybe Detlef hasn't seen that many sewars either

[Sajen]

Marius, have a look to this thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=thailand

Horn (water buffalo) can show a very fibrous structur when old and weathered, I think you see the same at your sewars but I am nearly sure that it's horn, like said, it would be the first I've seen with rhino horn! Belive me, it's not a common material by sewars!

Regards,
Detlef