unusual Indonesian dagger for comment

Marcus · 2nd July 2016, 02:13 PM

I have this on order from Oriental arms. Artzi says the following:
This dagger with colorful with pamor spear shaped blade (May be a secondary use of a spear blade) and keris style carved and colorful hilt and scabbard is Indonesian, early - mid 20C. Blade 11 1/2 inches with a central rib. Total length 17 1/2 inches. Very good condition.

Where in Indonesia do you think this was made? If indeed the blade is a repurposed spear, might it not be older?

Marcus

CharlesS · 2nd July 2016, 05:37 PM

I think Artzi is referring to the dress(hilt and scabbard) when he says early-mid 20th century. The spear head may be older, but I finding it interesting that the base does not end in thickened ball and is not chiseled at all in a decorative way, but is just quite plain. This is NOT a must, but is very common on Indonesian tombak or spears.

mariusgmioc · 2nd July 2016, 06:09 PM

The scabbard and hilt look Balinese to me.

Interesting piece.

David · 3rd July 2016, 04:16 PM

The sheath and hilt most definitely appear to be Balinese as Marius has noted and i agree with Charles that the blade is most probably from a spear. I would image that Bali (or Lombak) is the likely origin of the blade as well.

Marcus · 16th July 2016, 04:42 PM

More pictures to share.

I can attest that the blade is lethal. A wasp crawled out of the scabbard as I was taking pictures. It was presumably a hitchhiker from one of Artzi warehouses in Israel. I dispatched it with the dagger.

DaveS · 17th July 2016, 03:30 AM

No doubt in my mind, It's definitely a remounted spear head. Probably Balinese...........Dave.

A. G. Maisey · 17th July 2016, 09:38 AM

Yes, Bali culture, but maybe from Lombok.

Recycled tombak?

Maybe, but if so it is quite unlike any Balinese or Javanese tombak I have ever seen.

In Lombok we have the sendirung and the tempius, both with blades quite similar to the one shown here, and maybe we could also include the cundrik.

Put one of these blades into a keris-like wrongko instead of the usual mundane dress and you've pretty much got what we're looking at.

2nd July 2016, 02:13 PM	#1
Marcus Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 420	unusual Indonesian dagger for comment I have this on order from Oriental arms. Artzi says the following: This dagger with colorful with pamor spear shaped blade (May be a secondary use of a spear blade) and keris style carved and colorful hilt and scabbard is Indonesian, early - mid 20C. Blade 11 1/2 inches with a central rib. Total length 17 1/2 inches. Very good condition. Where in Indonesia do you think this was made? If indeed the blade is a repurposed spear, might it not be older? Marcus Attached Images

16th July 2016, 04:42 PM	#5
Marcus Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 420	In the details More pictures to share. I can attest that the blade is lethal. A wasp crawled out of the scabbard as I was taking pictures. It was presumably a hitchhiker from one of Artzi warehouses in Israel. I dispatched it with the dagger. Attached Images

2nd July 2016, 05:37 PM	#2
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	I think Artzi is referring to the dress(hilt and scabbard) when he says early-mid 20th century. The spear head may be older, but I finding it interesting that the base does not end in thickened ball and is not chiseled at all in a decorative way, but is just quite plain. This is NOT a must, but is very common on Indonesian tombak or spears.

2nd July 2016, 06:09 PM	#3
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,903	The scabbard and hilt look Balinese to me. Interesting piece.

3rd July 2016, 04:16 PM	#4
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,119	The sheath and hilt most definitely appear to be Balinese as Marius has noted and i agree with Charles that the blade is most probably from a spear. I would image that Bali (or Lombak) is the likely origin of the blade as well.

17th July 2016, 03:30 AM	#6
DaveS Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 327	No doubt in my mind, It's definitely a remounted spear head. Probably Balinese...........Dave.

17th July 2016, 09:38 AM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,888	Yes, Bali culture, but maybe from Lombok. Recycled tombak? Maybe, but if so it is quite unlike any Balinese or Javanese tombak I have ever seen. In Lombok we have the sendirung and the tempius, both with blades quite similar to the one shown here, and maybe we could also include the cundrik. Put one of these blades into a keris-like wrongko instead of the usual mundane dress and you've pretty much got what we're looking at.