What did I buy?

Ferguson · 23rd March 2011, 10:15 PM

Found this little dagger on Ebay. It's a little over 10" long, with what looks like a silver scabbard and hilt. The guard and hilt are horn. The blade was either poorly finished, or had been ground. It showed signs of pattern welding so I polished it (a lot) and etched it. It is indeed pattern welded. I don't have a feel for where it's from. Friends from here suggested either Bhutan or Indonesia, from the poor Ebay pics. I'd love your opinions with better pictures.
Thanks,
Steve

Lew · 23rd March 2011, 10:19 PM

Steve

The hilt and silver work looks Indonesian to me. Whatever it is I really like it.

Compare silver work to this keris.

Ferguson · 23rd March 2011, 10:20 PM

Here's the ebay picture.

Battara · 23rd March 2011, 11:52 PM

The okir on it could be modern Maranao from Marawi City. Or yes possibly modern Indonesia. Little hard to tell but I am leaning toward the Moro at the moment (I may change my mind, I may not

).

Robert · 24th March 2011, 01:14 AM

Beautiful knife Steve. Like Jose I love things covered in silver. It looks like the hilt is carved where it meets the guard, could you post a close-up of that area? Again a very nice piece. Congratulations.

Robert

Amuk Murugul · 24th March 2011, 03:05 AM

Hullo everybody!

Looking at the overall piece and if the actual blade were double-edged and about 20+something cm., I'd call it a 'peso teundeut' (loosely, stabbing-knife/push-knife).
Part of the quintessential accoutrements of the Soenda warrior-class of yesteryear.

Best,

mross · 24th March 2011, 06:13 PM

Nice work on the clean up! Dosen't even look like the same piece! Talk about a diamond in the rough.

DhaDha · 24th March 2011, 06:25 PM

All I can say is: Nice find!

Ferguson · 24th March 2011, 10:46 PM

Thanks Gentlemen. So the votes so far are Indonesian, and Philippine.

The blade was really roughly finished. I had to start with 150 grit sanding belts just to get the deep grinder gouges out of it. Went from there to 220, 45 micron,30 micron, then hand sanding. It's a pretty, if low contrast, pattern.

Steve

Sajen · 25th March 2011, 12:36 AM

Hello Steve,

very nice dagger. Here a second vote for Indonesian. The complete style let me think direct that it is from there but frankly said i have never seen something similar.

Regards,

Detlef

Battara · 25th March 2011, 06:01 AM

The style does look Indonesian. The okir could go either way.

23rd March 2011, 10:15 PM	#1
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	What did I buy? Found this little dagger on Ebay. It's a little over 10" long, with what looks like a silver scabbard and hilt. The guard and hilt are horn. The blade was either poorly finished, or had been ground. It showed signs of pattern welding so I polished it (a lot) and etched it. It is indeed pattern welded. I don't have a feel for where it's from. Friends from here suggested either Bhutan or Indonesia, from the poor Ebay pics. I'd love your opinions with better pictures. Thanks, Steve

23rd March 2011, 10:19 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Steve The hilt and silver work looks Indonesian to me. Whatever it is I really like it. Compare silver work to this keris. Attached Images Last edited by Lew; 23rd March 2011 at 11:10 PM.

23rd March 2011, 10:20 PM	#3
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Here's the ebay picture. Attached Images

23rd March 2011, 11:52 PM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	The okir on it could be modern Maranao from Marawi City. Or yes possibly modern Indonesia. Little hard to tell but I am leaning toward the Moro at the moment (I may change my mind, I may not ).

24th March 2011, 01:14 AM	#5
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Beautiful knife Steve. Like Jose I love things covered in silver. It looks like the hilt is carved where it meets the guard, could you post a close-up of that area? Again a very nice piece. Congratulations. Robert

24th March 2011, 03:05 AM	#6
Amuk Murugul Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kaboejoetan Galoenggoeng Mélben Posts: 460	Hullo everybody! Looking at the overall piece and if the actual blade were double-edged and about 20+something cm., I'd call it a 'peso teundeut' (loosely, stabbing-knife/push-knife). Part of the quintessential accoutrements of the Soenda warrior-class of yesteryear. Best,

24th March 2011, 06:13 PM	#7
mross Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 478	Nice work on the clean up! Dosen't even look like the same piece! Talk about a diamond in the rough.

24th March 2011, 06:25 PM	#8
DhaDha Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 165	All I can say is: Nice find!

24th March 2011, 10:46 PM	#9
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Thanks Gentlemen. So the votes so far are Indonesian, and Philippine. The blade was really roughly finished. I had to start with 150 grit sanding belts just to get the deep grinder gouges out of it. Went from there to 220, 45 micron,30 micron, then hand sanding. It's a pretty, if low contrast, pattern. Steve

25th March 2011, 12:36 AM	#10
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Hello Steve, very nice dagger. Here a second vote for Indonesian. The complete style let me think direct that it is from there but frankly said i have never seen something similar. Regards, Detlef

25th March 2011, 06:01 AM	#11
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	The style does look Indonesian. The okir could go either way.