A Very Dressy Siraui

CharlesS · 29th April 2015, 06:17 PM

Here is an unusually dressy siraui. I have always thought of these as a working man's(or woman's) utility type knife, but this one and others I have seen here are making me think again. This one has a bird head hilt with a lovely and elaborate silver bound scabbard, complete with a large rosette and silver chains(one damaged). The chape is bone and is solid as it is purely decoration and the blade doesn't go down that far in the scabbard.

A real "eye catching" siraui.

Dimensions:

Overall length: 13.5in.
Blade length: 6.25in.
Blade width: just over 3/4in. at the forte
Blade thickness: 1/4in at the forte

Sajen · 29th April 2015, 08:23 PM

Hello Charles,

a real beauty, I am green with envy!

There seems to be some very beautiful examples of this knives out there. But still think that this knives wrong labeled as siraui. Here is another nice one: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=siraui

Hope that we will be able to solve this mystery about this knives one day in the future.

Regards,
Detlef

CharlesS · 29th April 2015, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hello Charles,

But still think that this knives wrong labeled as siraui.

I think you very well may be right that these are something other than "siraui".

Van Zonneveld is very specific in his description of these, including the blades being fullered, which many, including this one, are not. Neither is the scabbard much of a match to his description.

I wonder if "siraui" refers to the reversed edge of the blade only....and the fittings do not matter???

Battara · 30th April 2015, 01:54 AM

What a great piece! Any close ups of the front of the wranga?

Robert · 30th April 2015, 07:26 AM

Yes, a most wonderful piece. I hope that you do not mind that I have taken the liberty to brighten one of your photos to help show some of the detailing of the hilt. As Jose has suggested please post close-ups showing more of the detailing of this stunning piece.

Best,
Robert

ashoka · 30th April 2015, 12:11 PM

Snap. One of the first ever pieces I bought about 30 years ago, I bought it off Evan Perry who had then decided to take a break from weapons and start collecting corkscrews... In slightly worse condition than the glitzed up version above, it obviously also had the chain originally as there is a stub left where the loop would have been.

CharlesS · 30th April 2015, 12:15 PM

Probably made by the same craftsman Stefan....they are very similar.

Have you ever heard another another name associated with these in your years as a collector and dealer?

ashoka · 30th April 2015, 12:21 PM

No idea I'm afraid. I have always been cautious labelling things with native names too much, although it is part of the game of collecting for some. This has been languishing in a box for many years, I though the shape so wacky and there aren't many of them around.

29th April 2015, 06:17 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	A Very Dressy Siraui Here is an unusually dressy siraui. I have always thought of these as a working man's(or woman's) utility type knife, but this one and others I have seen here are making me think again. This one has a bird head hilt with a lovely and elaborate silver bound scabbard, complete with a large rosette and silver chains(one damaged). The chape is bone and is solid as it is purely decoration and the blade doesn't go down that far in the scabbard. A real "eye catching" siraui. Dimensions: Overall length: 13.5in. Blade length: 6.25in. Blade width: just over 3/4in. at the forte Blade thickness: 1/4in at the forte Attached Images

30th April 2015, 07:26 AM	#5
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Yes, a most wonderful piece. I hope that you do not mind that I have taken the liberty to brighten one of your photos to help show some of the detailing of the hilt. As Jose has suggested please post close-ups showing more of the detailing of this stunning piece. Best, Robert Attached Images

30th April 2015, 12:11 PM	#6
ashoka Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 61	Snap. One of the first ever pieces I bought about 30 years ago, I bought it off Evan Perry who had then decided to take a break from weapons and start collecting corkscrews... In slightly worse condition than the glitzed up version above, it obviously also had the chain originally as there is a stub left where the loop would have been. Attached Images

29th April 2015, 08:23 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,125	Hello Charles, a real beauty, I am green with envy! There seems to be some very beautiful examples of this knives out there. But still think that this knives wrong labeled as siraui. Here is another nice one: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=siraui Hope that we will be able to solve this mystery about this knives one day in the future. Regards, Detlef

30th April 2015, 01:54 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,257	What a great piece! Any close ups of the front of the wranga?

30th April 2015, 12:15 PM	#7
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Probably made by the same craftsman Stefan....they are very similar. Have you ever heard another another name associated with these in your years as a collector and dealer?

30th April 2015, 12:21 PM	#8
ashoka Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 61	No idea I'm afraid. I have always been cautious labelling things with native names too much, although it is part of the game of collecting for some. This has been languishing in a box for many years, I though the shape so wacky and there aren't many of them around.