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#1 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Aussie Bush
Posts: 4,136
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This one just finished on eBay and I was disappointed to be outbid for it:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=6554991416 IMO this is not, as advertised, a Moro sword, but more likely a katungung used by the Pakpak and Batak peoples of Sumatra. The katungung resembles a klewang or long pedang, has a nearly straight edge and spine to the blade, and is carried in an almost straight scabbard that widens only at the mouth (v. Zonneveld,* p. 62). Only the hilt would be atypical for a katungung, everything else looks right, including the scabbard. Someone else bought a very nice sword, probably for the wrong reason. Sayang! ![]() Ian. * Albert von Zonneveld. Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago. Zwartenkot Art Books: Leiden. 2001. |
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#2 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,186
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Ian, what I can see as possibly looking Moro is the carving at the pommel. The rest - no. Even the decor on the scabbard near the mouth openning is closer to Bali than it is to Moro stylistically.
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#3 | |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,249
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![]() I doubt that he wants to get rid of it though... ![]() |
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#4 | |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Witness Protection Program
Posts: 1,730
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,637
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Dear Ian and others,
Just came back home and read your posts on my new sword. Actually I wasn't aware exactly what kind of sword it was when I bid on it and I still don't know. But I do know that I like it. The blade looks Sumatran, the hilt looks a bit Borneo and the patterns on the scabbard looks a bit Sulawesi according to one of the main contributors to the van Z book who I discuss odd examples with now and then. Most of my collection is "textbook swords" but as an enthusiast I find my several odd ones much more challenging and exciting. Probably I share this interest with most of you? Why else have a forum like this if you could find it all in Stone, van Z, Cato etc? If anyone of you have a picture of a Katungung from the books of W Voltz (Kai or Ian?) I would really appreciate it. I am a bit hesitant because of the lacking resemblence of the hilt etc. according to the van Z book (pict 534). Hope to return the favour in the future... Thanks, Michael |
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#6 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Aussie Bush
Posts: 4,136
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Michael:
Please do post some more pictures here. The pictures with the sale were rather small and unclear. Ian. |
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#7 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,637
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OK,
Michael |
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#8 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: VISAYAS and MINDANAO
Posts: 169
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I'd be interested in seeing close-ups of the hilt. The pommel looks very Visayan in flavor...Cebuano in particular
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#9 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,637
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The Moro/Sumatran/Visayan/Peninsular sword has arrived.
Unfortunately it's dark here now but I hope that the enclosed pictures could be of some use. I am still puzzled on what it could be. I haven't had time yet to check all references but what's significant is the narrow blade. For Ian, as well as a comparison, I have put it next to a regular sized Batak Kalasan as well as an US dollar bill. Considering the size and weight it feels closer to a Kalasan than a Visayan or Moro sword? Please look at the blade close to the hilt. That part reminds me of a Visayan feature? I have a very thin Tenegre in my collection but it's still much heavier than this sword. And the seller described it as a bringback from a "WW2 Pacific Theater Veteran" (=Philippines?). So is it Visayan (a slim binangon?), a Batak Katungung or something else??? Michael |
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#10 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 951
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It looks like it s from borneo from the muruts the scabbard looks like it s made
in Sarawak not Sumatra |
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#11 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,637
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Thanks B,
Actually W also thought the hilt looked Borneo. But why is it so light and small (compared to f.i. a Pakayun)? And isn't the Muruts living in Sabah? Michael |
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#12 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Land below the wind
Posts: 135
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Doesn't look Murut to me, IMO. However, these indigenous people are found in Northern Sarawak and Kalimantan as well.
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#13 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 951
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Hi I can send pics off murut swords with this handle if you want
but if you look in the book off Wilhelm Hein Indonesische Swertgriffe page 343 you can see it |
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#14 | |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Land below the wind
Posts: 135
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![]() Quote:
Don't have the "Wilhelm Hein Indonesische Swertgriffe" but being located where I am, I could make some verifications perhaps but be warned, I'm no expert ![]() |
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