Sumbawa Knife

CharlesS · 14th October 2008, 06:25 PM

Here is a nice example of a dress knife form Sumbawa. A similar example can be seen in Zonneveld's Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago on page 74, plate 283.

The silver scabbard on this one is much akin to Sumbawa scabbards seen on dressier swords.

RSWORD · 14th October 2008, 10:51 PM

That is a most unusual hilt. I haven't seen anything similar before. Could it be phallic or abstract?

VVV · 15th October 2008, 07:34 AM

It looks like the silver may have been done on either southern Sulawesi or maybe by some local Bugis on this, otherwise Sumbawa, knife?
I have heard that those knives are harvesting knives. Maybe ceremonial like when communicating with the semangat (life-essence, collective soul, local guardian spirit) of the local rice field before harvesting.

Michael

PS The ivory is usually marine/whale on these Sumbawa knives.

asomotif · 18th October 2008, 01:34 AM

Phallic ? / maybe sperm whale

But seriously, a very nice knife but the hilt seems indeed pretty phallic for an indonesian weapon. could that be hindu influence ?

Rick · 18th October 2008, 03:25 AM

Apparently they are not unknown in the area .
http://www.geocities.com/keris4u/han...gam_tandok.htm

Maurice · 18th October 2008, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Apparently they are not unknown in the area .
http://www.geocities.com/keris4u/han...gam_tandok.htm

I had some nice comments on this one, but I think it is better to keep the comments for myself and not write it down in our forum.

Rick · 18th October 2008, 04:48 PM

Agreed ..........

Athanase · 24th June 2018, 01:37 AM

I take advantage of this subject to show you my recently arrived Sumbawa rice knife. The work of the reppoussé is certainly much rougher, but I'm happy because I did not think to succeed to acquire this type knife (in my budget) before several years.
I think ivory is hippopotamus.
Total length 27cm

Sajen · 24th June 2018, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Athanase

I take advantage of this subject to show you my recently arrived Sumbawa rice knife. The work of the reppoussé is certainly much rougher, but I'm happy because I did not think to succeed to acquire this type knife (in my budget) before several years.
I think ivory is hippopotamus.
Total length 27cm

Very nice, I am green with envy!

I don't think that this are rice knives and when only ceremonial. Handle material look like elephant ivory, can you show close-ups? But you are correct, most of the times are the handle material is hippo ivory by this sort of knives. Great catch!

Regards,
Detlef

asomotif · 24th June 2018, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Very nice, I am green with envy!

Handle material look like elephant ivory, can you show close-ups? But you are correct, most of the times are the handle material is hippo ivory by this sort of knives. Great catch!

Regards,
Detlef

Could be spermwhale tooth ?

Best regards,
Willem

Sajen · 24th June 2018, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asomotif

Could be spermwhale tooth ?

Hello Willem,

could be but we need close-ups IMVHO.

Best regards,
Detlef

Paul B. · 24th June 2018, 07:53 PM

It's time to add mine which I bought in 2016.
Material handle: Dugong. It looks more like the last shown example.
Circumcision tool as I have been told.....

Athanase · 25th June 2018, 12:41 AM

I try to make close-ups, but the result is ugly.

Athanase · 20th January 2019, 04:16 PM

Hello,

I was fortunate to be able to acquire a second Sumbawa knife here :

Sajen · 20th January 2019, 05:15 PM

Hello Séverin,

Lucky man!

Such a knife is already very long on my wish list and you have now already two!

Also when the second example seems to be repaired at one time it's still a nice piece.
Can you provide measurements please? And a picture which show both examples side by side would be great! Congrats for a great purchase!

Regards,
Detlef

Athanase · 20th January 2019, 08:40 PM

By measuring the second copy I realized that I was totally mistaken about the measurement I indicated for the first knife. I had to reverse the measure with that of another dagger.

- 1st knife (light ivory handle):
Total length: 34cm
Length of the blade: 14,8cm

- 2nd knife (dark ivory handle):
Total length: 35cm
Length of the blade: 13,3cm

For photos I wait for the sun to come back ...

Sajen · 20th January 2019, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Athanase

For photos I wait for the sun to come back ...

Thank you! It can need still a long time!

Athanase · 27th January 2019, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Thank you! It can need still a long time!

Not much sun, but a little light for quick photos.

Sajen · 28th January 2019, 06:00 AM

Hello Séverin,

very nice grouping!

Thank you for the pictures!

Regards,
Detlef

14th October 2008, 06:25 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Sumbawa Knife Here is a nice example of a dress knife form Sumbawa. A similar example can be seen in Zonneveld's *Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago* on page 74, plate 283. The silver scabbard on this one is much akin to Sumbawa scabbards seen on dressier swords. Attached Images

24th June 2018, 01:37 AM	#8
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	I take advantage of this subject to show you my recently arrived Sumbawa rice knife. The work of the reppoussé is certainly much rougher, but I'm happy because I did not think to succeed to acquire this type knife (in my budget) before several years. I think ivory is hippopotamus. Total length 27cm Attached Images

24th June 2018, 07:53 PM	#12
Paul B. Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 205	It's time to add mine which I bought in 2016. Material handle: Dugong. It looks more like the last shown example. Circumcision tool as I have been told..... Attached Images

25th June 2018, 12:41 AM	#13
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	I try to make close-ups, but the result is ugly. Attached Images

20th January 2019, 04:16 PM	#14
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	Hello, I was fortunate to be able to acquire a second Sumbawa knife here : Attached Images

14th October 2008, 10:51 PM	#2
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,084	That is a most unusual hilt. I haven't seen anything similar before. Could it be phallic or abstract?

15th October 2008, 07:34 AM	#3
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	It looks like the silver may have been done on either southern Sulawesi or maybe by some local Bugis on this, otherwise Sumbawa, knife? I have heard that those knives are harvesting knives. Maybe ceremonial like when communicating with the semangat (life-essence, collective soul, local guardian spirit) of the local rice field before harvesting. Michael PS The ivory is usually marine/whale on these Sumbawa knives.

18th October 2008, 01:34 AM	#4
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Phallic ? / maybe sperm whale But seriously, a very nice knife but the hilt seems indeed pretty phallic for an indonesian weapon. could that be hindu influence ?

18th October 2008, 03:25 AM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Apparently they are not unknown in the area . http://www.geocities.com/keris4u/han...gam_tandok.htm

18th October 2008, 04:48 PM	#7
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Agreed ..........

20th January 2019, 05:15 PM	#15
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Hello Séverin, Lucky man! Such a knife is already very long on my wish list and you have now already two! Also when the second example seems to be repaired at one time it's still a nice piece. Can you provide measurements please? And a picture which show both examples side by side would be great! Congrats for a great purchase! Regards, Detlef

20th January 2019, 08:40 PM	#16
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	By measuring the second copy I realized that I was totally mistaken about the measurement I indicated for the first knife. I had to reverse the measure with that of another dagger. - 1st knife (light ivory handle): Total length: 34cm Length of the blade: 14,8cm - 2nd knife (dark ivory handle): Total length: 35cm Length of the blade: 13,3cm For photos I wait for the sun to come back ...

28th January 2019, 06:00 AM	#19
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Hello Séverin, very nice grouping! Thank you for the pictures! Regards, Detlef