A klewang?

Ferguson · 3rd March 2008, 03:21 AM

Hi folks,
Picked up this "machete" from Ebay. It's a very simple working blade. Horn hilt.
I'm guessing Aceh, Sumatra? According to a search on the forum, the hilt is Hulu tapa guda, common form? Any enlightenment welcomed.

Thanks,
Steve

Rick · 3rd March 2008, 03:39 AM

Dimensions Steve ?
A couple of unusual things about this piece; the forte seems quite long and the butter knife tip; both are something new to me in Achenese swords .

Interesting piece .

asomotif · 3rd March 2008, 09:59 AM

Hello Steve,

Nice one, old blade old handle, odd shape

Are there any signs that the blade has been cut down in the past ?

The form it has is more the form of a regular modern machete.

Best regards,
Willem

Ferguson · 3rd March 2008, 11:55 AM

Thank you gentlemen. Blade length is 16 5/8" (42cm). Hilt length is 6 3/4" (17 cm). The blade tip may have been rounded off, but not shortened much. It's only about 1/16" thick. Spine is about 7/16" (1.1 cm) thick at the ricasso.

Steve

mohd · 3rd March 2008, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferguson

Picked up this "machete" from Ebay. It's a very simple working blade. Horn hilt.
I'm guessing Aceh, Sumatra?

Yes, it looks like klewang to me. Klewang is popular in Sumba or Sumbawa in Indonesia. It is in the category of Parang. And the same blade shape is also known to be in existence in various places in Malay Archipelago. Klewang has a more straight blade compare to other Parang which generally has a slightly curved blade.

Yours is a bit unique because of the round shaped blade point. Klewang/Parang Lading normally is having a blade point in the shape that looks like either a scramasaxe or a wharncliffe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferguson

According to a search on the forum, the hilt is Hulu tapa guda, common form? Any enlightenment welcomed.

The correct spelling of Hulu Tapa Guda in Malay is "Hulu Tapak Kuda". "Hulu" is hilt while "Tapak Kuda" is horse hoof. So "Hulu Tapak Kuda" means Horse hoof shaped hilt.

Hope this might give little help to you Steve.

Henk · 3rd March 2008, 06:20 PM

Steve,

It is a Rudus I think. The tip of the blade is rounded off. Sumatra, Aceh. Hilt is Hulu Tapa Guda.

kai · 4th March 2008, 12:33 AM

Hello Steve,

I'm also convinced that this is a cut-down Sumatran sword, most probably recycling a broken blade or otherwise damaged beyond repair. I'm not sure why they didn't choose to reground a more common klewang blade tip shape. In its former life, it could have been a Rudus, a Co Jang, or one of the Ladieng types (in a wide sense).

The old blade nicely shows its sandwich construction with a steel core!

Has the hilt a crack on the other side? That wire doesn't seem to be a traditional feature with these swords.

Regards,
Kai

Tatyana Dianova · 4th May 2009, 09:08 AM

Hi Steve,
Sorry for the delayed reply, but I couldn’t upload any picture till this April, when I have finally changed my Internet provider.
I think that I have a very similar sword, but with intact tip. The handle is cracked too and fixed with insulation tape

asomotif · 5th May 2009, 01:28 AM

And a Ladieng just for sharing.
This one was a bring back in 1949/1950.

Steve's example will probably not have been a ladieng considering the concave back of the ladieng.

3rd March 2008, 03:21 AM	#1
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	A klewang? Hi folks, Picked up this "machete" from Ebay. It's a very simple working blade. Horn hilt. I'm guessing Aceh, Sumatra? According to a search on the forum, the hilt is Hulu tapa guda, common form? Any enlightenment welcomed. Thanks, Steve

4th May 2009, 09:08 AM	#8
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 701	Hi Steve, Sorry for the delayed reply, but I couldn’t upload any picture till this April, when I have finally changed my Internet provider. I think that I have a very similar sword, but with intact tip. The handle is cracked too and fixed with insulation tape Attached Images

5th May 2009, 01:28 AM	#9
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	And a Ladieng just for sharing. This one was a bring back in 1949/1950. Steve's example will probably not have been a ladieng considering the concave back of the ladieng. Attached Images

3rd March 2008, 03:39 AM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Dimensions Steve ? A couple of unusual things about this piece; the forte seems quite long and the butter knife tip; both are something new to me in Achenese swords . Interesting piece .

3rd March 2008, 09:59 AM	#3
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Hello Steve, Nice one, old blade old handle, odd shape Are there any signs that the blade has been cut down in the past ? The form it has is more the form of a regular modern machete. Best regards, Willem

3rd March 2008, 11:55 AM	#4
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Thank you gentlemen. Blade length is 16 5/8" (42cm). Hilt length is 6 3/4" (17 cm). The blade tip may have been rounded off, but not shortened much. It's only about 1/16" thick. Spine is about 7/16" (1.1 cm) thick at the ricasso. Steve

3rd March 2008, 06:20 PM	#6
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Steve, It is a Rudus I think. The tip of the blade is rounded off. Sumatra, Aceh. Hilt is Hulu Tapa Guda.

4th March 2008, 12:33 AM	#7
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	Hello Steve, I'm also convinced that this is a cut-down Sumatran sword, most probably recycling a broken blade or otherwise damaged beyond repair. I'm not sure why they didn't choose to reground a more common klewang blade tip shape. In its former life, it could have been a Rudus, a Co Jang, or one of the Ladieng types (in a wide sense). The old blade nicely shows its sandwich construction with a steel core! Has the hilt a crack on the other side? That wire doesn't seem to be a traditional feature with these swords. Regards, Kai