Sulawesi penai or other klewang(?)

werecow · 21st January 2025, 01:11 AM

I picked up this Indonesian klewang short sword the other week. I think it's a Sulawesi penai, but I could be mistaken. I based that mainly on the blade type and the hilt type T in this graphic:

I would appreciate your thoughts on it, especially about the age of it and maybe a more accurate place and/or ethnic group.

Some damage to the hilt, some light pitting and the scabbard is in relic condition.

I don't have the skill set to really do a proper restauration but I would like to stabilize the scabbard so that it doesn't damage further and doesn't keep falling apart on me, but I would like some advice on how best to go about this. Would it be considered acceptable to use wood glue to keep the two halves together and repair the crack, and maybe a tiny drop to keep the loose end of the last remaining bit of rattan in place?

Also, there seem to be some bits of what I'm guessing is adhesive with small bits of what perhaps looks like a white-ish metal in it on the decorated parts of the scabbard... would this scabbard originally have been covered in silver sheet? And there is also some discoloration of the lower part of the scabbard that suggests it may have had some sort of ribbon would around it.

And Albert, I did of course notice your recent book on the subject. I hope to pick up a copy soon™.

werecow · 21st January 2025, 01:27 AM

Remaining pics.

JeffS · 21st January 2025, 01:59 AM

Nice catch. Yes penai, rare handle form. I don't think the adhesive and metal bits were original - I have never seen Toraja wood carving covered in metal. The scabbard would have had a throat and a foot made of horn. You can see remnants of the peg that held the foot which helped hold the two halves tigether. I wouldn't glue the halves together but would carefully repair the split with wood glue using clamps and then use rattan to hold the halves together. You can see where rattan was wrapped around the scabbard based on the lighter wood. The thicker horizontal bands were likely finely woven rattan bands. The widely spaced angled wrap lines on one side don't match the more tightly spacedl lines on the other half, I don't understand why this would be but appears the lower half was covered with rattan similar to the remnants near the throat. Late 19C or early 20C would be my guess. Hope to hear from the experts.

Sajen · 21st January 2025, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffS

I don't think the adhesive and metal bits were original - I have never seen Toraja wood carving covered in metal.

Really not Jeff?

See here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=penai

I would guess that the penai in question is from the mid 19th century, a very good catch!

Regards,
Detlef

JeffS · 21st January 2025, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Really not Jeff?

See here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=penai

I would guess that the penai in question is from the mid 19th century, a very good catch!

Regards,
Detlef

Ah I forgot about that!

Sajen · 21st January 2025, 08:19 PM

Hello Werecow,

A very nice penai with a rare handle form. The tin foil on the scabbard was reserved for renowned headhunters, see also here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=penai
Therefore also my dating, early to mid. 19th century.

Great score on it, congrats!

Regards,
Detlef

werecow · 22nd January 2025, 02:34 AM

Thanks guys, that's very helpful! And a very interesting note on the tin foil there Detlef. Glad to hear I snagged up a good one and an oldie.

I think given that bit of history I will leave those bits of adhesive in place and simply repair the crack in the way Jeff suggests and give the blade itself a light clean just to remove any active rust.
I'm not sure how to go about replacing the rattan since I've never done this before, but maybe I'll do that in the not too distant future. If anyone knows of a good tutorial (video is probably the easiest to learn from in lieu of knowing someone with actual experience personally) that would be very helpful.
Should the scabbard wood be oiled, and if so, what would you recommend?

21st January 2025, 01:11 AM	#1
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 522	Sulawesi penai or other klewang(?) I picked up this Indonesian klewang short sword the other week. I think it's a Sulawesi penai, but I could be mistaken. I based that mainly on the blade type and the hilt type T in this graphic: I would appreciate your thoughts on it, especially about the age of it and maybe a more accurate place and/or ethnic group. Some damage to the hilt, some light pitting and the scabbard is in relic condition. I don't have the skill set to really do a proper restauration but I would like to stabilize the scabbard so that it doesn't damage further and doesn't keep falling apart on me, but I would like some advice on how best to go about this. Would it be considered acceptable to use wood glue to keep the two halves together and repair the crack, and maybe a tiny drop to keep the loose end of the last remaining bit of rattan in place? Also, there seem to be some bits of what I'm guessing is adhesive with small bits of what perhaps looks like a white-ish metal in it on the decorated parts of the scabbard... would this scabbard originally have been covered in silver sheet? And there is also some discoloration of the lower part of the scabbard that suggests it may have had some sort of ribbon would around it. And Albert, I did of course notice your recent book on the subject. I hope to pick up a copy soon™. Attached Images

21st January 2025, 01:27 AM	#2
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 522	Remaining pics. Attached Images

21st January 2025, 01:59 AM	#3
JeffS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 380	Nice catch. Yes penai, rare handle form. I don't think the adhesive and metal bits were original - I have never seen Toraja wood carving covered in metal. The scabbard would have had a throat and a foot made of horn. You can see remnants of the peg that held the foot which helped hold the two halves tigether. I wouldn't glue the halves together but would carefully repair the split with wood glue using clamps and then use rattan to hold the halves together. You can see where rattan was wrapped around the scabbard based on the lighter wood. The thicker horizontal bands were likely finely woven rattan bands. The widely spaced angled wrap lines on one side don't match the more tightly spacedl lines on the other half, I don't understand why this would be but appears the lower half was covered with rattan similar to the remnants near the throat. Late 19C or early 20C would be my guess. Hope to hear from the experts.

21st January 2025, 08:19 PM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,024	Hello Werecow, A very nice penai with a rare handle form. The tin foil on the scabbard was reserved for renowned headhunters, see also here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=penai Therefore also my dating, early to mid. 19th century. Great score on it, congrats! Regards, Detlef

22nd January 2025, 02:34 AM	#7
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 522	Thanks guys, that's very helpful! And a very interesting note on the tin foil there Detlef. Glad to hear I snagged up a good one and an oldie. I think given that bit of history I will leave those bits of adhesive in place and simply repair the crack in the way Jeff suggests and give the blade itself a light clean just to remove any active rust. I'm not sure how to go about replacing the rattan since I've never done this before, but maybe I'll do that in the not too distant future. If anyone knows of a good tutorial (video is probably the easiest to learn from in lieu of knowing someone with actual experience personally) that would be very helpful. Should the scabbard wood be oiled, and if so, what would you recommend?