Sword ID Indian,English, Arabian?

mykeris · 4th September 2006, 03:26 AM

Here some more close-up pics of the hilt. This sword actually was acquired from an old Minangkabau family living in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. It was told that it was their only pusaka (heirloom).

ariel · 4th September 2006, 03:35 AM

My understanding is that the word "podang" comes from Portugese "espadao" (pronounced as espadang).

RhysMichael · 4th September 2006, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

My understanding is that the word "podang" comes from Portugese "espadao" (pronounced as espadang).

That could well be arial, I have not been able to find anything on it but podang (Batak), peudeung ( Aceh) and pedang (Javanese) all mean sword don't they ?

RhysMichael · 4th September 2006, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykeris

Here some more close-up pics of the hilt. This sword actually was acquired from an old Minangkabau family living in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. It was told that it was their only pusaka (heirloom).

Thats interesting. Don't the the Minangkabau also have the strange "horned roof" houses similar to the Batak ? I wonder if there is more of a common heritage there than I ever knew about

mykeris · 4th September 2006, 04:00 AM

The blade is straight and is 36 inches long in scabbard even longer than the ordinary batak's swords of only 27 inches. Dont you think, the blade was originally taken from any English swords or something else?

Jim McDougall · 5th September 2006, 04:04 AM

Hi Brian,
I think Rhys-Michael and the others have pretty well covered the established data on these swords from N.Sumatran regions and Battak tribes. I see what you're getting at though on the probable origins of the clearly tulwar type hilt. While the typological appearance clearly suggests associations with the tulwar, the cupped pommel rather than disc seems to indicate that there could be a possibility of influence from earlier hilts of the Indian subcontinent.

The complexities of trade around the Subcontinent and the Archipelago may account for the interesting hybrid which we know as the 'piso podang'.The Hindu culture was established in Sumatra from c.7th c. and the Arabs arrived there around the 13th c. The Portuguese had established posts there from the opening of the 16th century and still prevailed in the trade circuits after the Dutch and English dominated the East Indies from the 17th century onward.

It should be recalled that the khanda, well known among the west coast of India, and closely associated the Mahrattas, in turn with Portuguese trade regions, distinctly featured a cupped pommel much as that found on
the piso podang.
It would seem plausible that trade from these regions, might bring the straight bladed khanda swords as well as the curved blade tulwars with arriving Arab trade from Northern India via Malabar Coast. It is known that the piso podang, typically brass , also occurs in iron and although typically with curved hilt, also is found with straight blades.

The blade on this example seems likely a military horsemans blade, and certainly European, thus could have arrived via these trade networks.

Just speculation on my part of course, and I'm sure that the guys who have specialized on these can correct, but seems plausible considering the things I have mentioned.

All the best,
Jim

4th September 2006, 03:26 AM	#1
mykeris Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 278	More pics Here some more close-up pics of the hilt. This sword actually was acquired from an old Minangkabau family living in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. It was told that it was their only pusaka (heirloom). Attached Images

4th September 2006, 03:35 AM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	My understanding is that the word "podang" comes from Portugese "espadao" (pronounced as espadang).

4th September 2006, 04:00 AM	#5
mykeris Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 278	The blade is straight and is 36 inches long in scabbard even longer than the ordinary batak's swords of only 27 inches. Dont you think, the blade was originally taken from any English swords or something else?

5th September 2006, 04:04 AM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Hi Brian, I think Rhys-Michael and the others have pretty well covered the established data on these swords from N.Sumatran regions and Battak tribes. I see what you're getting at though on the probable origins of the clearly tulwar type hilt. While the typological appearance clearly suggests associations with the tulwar, the cupped pommel rather than disc seems to indicate that there could be a possibility of influence from earlier hilts of the Indian subcontinent. The complexities of trade around the Subcontinent and the Archipelago may account for the interesting hybrid which we know as the 'piso podang'.The Hindu culture was established in Sumatra from c.7th c. and the Arabs arrived there around the 13th c. The Portuguese had established posts there from the opening of the 16th century and still prevailed in the trade circuits after the Dutch and English dominated the East Indies from the 17th century onward. It should be recalled that the khanda, well known among the west coast of India, and closely associated the Mahrattas, in turn with Portuguese trade regions, distinctly featured a cupped pommel much as that found on the piso podang. It would seem plausible that trade from these regions, might bring the straight bladed khanda swords as well as the curved blade tulwars with arriving Arab trade from Northern India via Malabar Coast. It is known that the piso podang, typically brass , also occurs in iron and although typically with curved hilt, also is found with straight blades. The blade on this example seems likely a military horsemans blade, and certainly European, thus could have arrived via these trade networks. Just speculation on my part of course, and I'm sure that the guys who have specialized on these can correct, but seems plausible considering the things I have mentioned. All the best, Jim