Mystery knife who can help ?

Kurt · 9th December 2015, 07:48 PM

My friend Alex found this dagger which has some Burmese features. But is it Burma ?
Double edged blade, carved horn hilt, showing a demon figure. Total length 38 cm.
All mountings are silver gilted with stones.
The scabbard is wood and does not look like Burma, more like India. I dont know it
and therefore I am puzzling.
Any suggestions ?
Best regards
Kurt

blue lander · 9th December 2015, 08:00 PM

I have no idea but the hilt looks Balinese to me

Henk · 9th December 2015, 08:24 PM

Looks like a balinese ukiran indeed. Maybe a priests knife from Bali or Lombok?

Sajen · 9th December 2015, 11:34 PM

Hello Kurt,

never before have seen something similar. The hilt is indeed Balinese.
What is the material between the both gold (?) fittings at the scabbard? Look as well like Balinese work. What is the handle material?
European blade? Fitted on Bali? Just a thought.

Regards,
Detlef

David · 9th December 2015, 11:39 PM

I agree that the hilt looks like it is from Bali to me. The work around the top of the sheath looks Indonesian, but the motifs don't exactly look Balinese to me. A better photo of the blade might help confirm whether it is SE Asian or European.
It's a beautiful thing for sure, but i'm not convinced yet that it is of truly ethnographic origin as a complete dagger.

ariel · 9th December 2015, 11:54 PM

There are hunting knives made by Indian masters in the 19-20 centuries for British officers/ administrators with mixed native/European motives. This may be an Indonesian analogue of it.
But what puzzles me, is the similarity of the handle and the Thai/Burmese Dha handles presented in the Robert Hales' book. Pure IMHO, though.

9th December 2015, 07:48 PM	#1
Kurt Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 196	Mystery knife who can help ? My friend Alex found this dagger which has some Burmese features. But is it Burma ? Double edged blade, carved horn hilt, showing a demon figure. Total length 38 cm. All mountings are silver gilted with stones. The scabbard is wood and does not look like Burma, more like India. I dont know it and therefore I am puzzling. Any suggestions ? Best regards Kurt Attached Images

9th December 2015, 08:00 PM	#2
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	I have no idea but the hilt looks Balinese to me

9th December 2015, 08:24 PM	#3
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Looks like a balinese ukiran indeed. Maybe a priests knife from Bali or Lombok?

9th December 2015, 11:34 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Hello Kurt, never before have seen something similar. The hilt is indeed Balinese. What is the material between the both gold (?) fittings at the scabbard? Look as well like Balinese work. What is the handle material? European blade? Fitted on Bali? Just a thought. Regards, Detlef

9th December 2015, 11:39 PM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,123	I agree that the hilt looks like it is from Bali to me. The work around the top of the sheath looks Indonesian, but the motifs don't exactly look Balinese to me. A better photo of the blade might help confirm whether it is SE Asian or European. It's a beautiful thing for sure, but i'm not convinced yet that it is of truly ethnographic origin as a complete dagger.

9th December 2015, 11:54 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	There are hunting knives made by Indian masters in the 19-20 centuries for British officers/ administrators with mixed native/European motives. This may be an Indonesian analogue of it. But what puzzles me, is the similarity of the handle and the Thai/Burmese Dha handles presented in the Robert Hales' book. Pure IMHO, though.