Small "Blingy" Knife, But From Where and What Was its Purpose???

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by Ian

Gavin,

Thanks for the reference to the Minangkabau in v. Zonneveld.

With regard to the klewang he shows, the two I referred to have straight cutting edges and upturned hilts (which I suspect is the same as Charle's example). I have owned a couple of these and that is how the edge and hilt were oriented on both of them. Also, if you look at the pics I showed from v. Zonneveld's book, the upper and middle set of three all have their edges on the right hand side of the photograph, but the bottom two have their edges on the left.

As far as the split back of the scabbard, I think this has become more common on contemporary Indonesian scabbards. I do think the scabbard was more recently made than the knife.

Ian

Hi Ian,

I beg to differ. Those pictured, 265, 267, the cutting is on the inside curve.

All those I've owned and sold of that particular type from Betel nut size to sword size and those still with me, this is the case too, the edge is on the inner curve.
Of all those pictured, these two, 265 & 267 are the exception where blade orientation is concerned.

Charles should be able to chime in on these two in the book, he's owned and sold the type too. I recall one he sold from the 4th April 2018.
Seek out one of my past sold listings, Sold item s1504. I don't believe I can provide my own links here

Gavin

[Ian]

Hi Gavin,

You may be correct. My experience with these klewang is different. Since Albert v. Zonneveld is a member of this forum, he might be able to tell us how his pictures are oriented.

Ian

[Aleksey G.]

Ahhhhhhh….its like a Lopah and Panabas had a forbidden baby, and that baby is a boy…with ballz, well a ball technically. Grip curvature is gentler than in the lopahs and has an extended pommel area, while lopahs are mostly thinning to a point, ring band decoration is also common to the quality panabas…very mini panabas-ish if you ask me. Love that hilt bling.

[Aleksey G.]

on another note, a similar piece has been posted here back in 2009 on this thread. See pic and link included. Blade point is different and pommel is slightly different, but maybe wear or break on the blade and sheath adopted later.
Origin theory in that thread negates my panabas guess lol. Hope this helps.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=sacrificial

[Ian]

A larger klewang, but with scabbard of similar style to the subject of this thread appears in the "Sold" section on the Oriental Arms site. This one is labeled as a South Sumatran klewang.
.

[Gavin Nugent]

Thanks Ian,

That scabbard is almost "shaver cool"... yep I said it far too modern to gauge origins IMHO, perhaps a form seen all over the island

I feel there is mostly agreement on Sumatra at least.

You noted from the image you present were the edge is on these types?

Attached is a very fine Aceh example with an original old scabbard found in the MET. A northern scabbard phenomenon too.

Gavin