It is my understanding that the swastika is considered a symbol of Ganesha in Hindu practice.

Actually Ganesh adopted the svastika as one of his symbols.

The symbol itself has existed in Hindu belief for very much longer than Ganesh, and in Hindu belief generally it is understood as a positive sign; since Ganesh is the diety who is concerned with beginnings and success, it is fitting that this symbol should have been adopted for use by Ganesh.

Ganesh has probably only existed as a Hindu deity since around the 3rd or 4th century current era, and the sect of Ganapatya where Ganesh is recognised as the supreme deity did not arise until about the 800's or 900's.

In Hindu belief we say "svastika", not "swastika". The root is Sanscrit:- "asti" which means "it is", a positive affirmation. I've forgotten the "su" and "ka" meaings, but I think "su" might be an intensifier, and "ka" indicates the word form.

Hello, this swastika ornamentation is more commonly known as "patra Cina" in Bali. Thanks :)

Now guys, this is where i am now, the hilt is to thin, the length is in my opinion ok, also i think there must be some engraving on the middle piece, or some raised sections like the picture on the right from Detlef, so i must make a new one.
I've made sheath dark because i didn't like the light color with the pelet, but i can adjust it to lighter or darker.

regards,
Ben

I've seen many genuine Bali ensembles that are worse than this. Ben. You've done a good job.

If you feel that you need to do the hilt again, may I suggest that you very carefully study the proportions of any published examples you can find and try to copy those proportions? My feeling is that hilt may be a whisker too long.

Thanks Mr Maisey, that is a very big compliment!

When i looked at it in real live, it seemed OK to me, but in the picture i does look
a bit to long.
It's no problem to get the proportions of the picture when you got the height,
but i now have the reference of this one, and a couple of nice examples!
If i get it right i shall post a picture here.
Thanks everyone for helping out!

regards,
Ben

Hi Harley,

great job you have done! :) :cool: The handle look a little bit to big/long but still ok!

Regards,

Detlef

Very nice result, :)

Thanks Guys,

Kind of stupid of me, i had made this hilt in sections, now i have shorted it a bit, let me now what you think.
I am still gonna make a new one, but if this is more in the direction, it's easier to get the proportion.

regards,
Ben

By the way, this is not the original blade, thats why it don't correspond with the middle :D

Look much better! :)

Regards,

Detlef

Thank you Detlef!

regards,
Ben

I promised a picture of the hilt when it was ready, i have chosen a whole different kind of hilt, because i didn't get the proportions right.
It's still not completely finessed, i must sand it a little more, and i want to make it darker so it fit's more by the sheath.

regards,
Ben

Ben,
It looks a good job but be sure that the sizes of the 11 notches are well balanced (not clear from your picture but the bottom notch seems smaller than the others, see an old specimen from Lombok for reference).
Regards

Hi Jean,

Thanks for mentioning that, it is smaller then the other ones, but easy to adjust.
Alan warned me a time ago that it is very difficult to work from a picture,
and i must agree to that, but still i had to try :D
The picture i was working from is coming from this forum, i don't know who ones it, (sorry for that), i put i here, so it's easier to compare.
I hope that you don't mind Jean that i save your pictures for the reference.

regards,
Ben

Hello Ben,
Of course no problem for saving my pictures!
My specimen is quite rustic and very big (14 cm, for a warrior's kris!) and it has a straight shape. The other one seems Balinese and of smaller size and more elegant so you may prefer to copy it. :)
Best regards

Thank you Jean,

I keep the one that's on there right now, I am gonna adjust it, but sometimes when i am bored i' m trying to make some hilts that I've seen, and now you told the height is even better for reference! :D

regards,
Ben