A long Piso
 

Podang. Is this a local blade. I will post better pics when it arrives. It seems a long one the total length is 42.5 inches.

Nice!

Seems like a straight Piso Podang which is more rare than the curved one.
Look forward to see more pictures when it has arrived.

Michael

Nice addition Tim.....bid on this myself.....nice to see a fellow formite won it :p ;) Look forward to future pictures. Not so certain about the Samoan link :shrug:

Thanks David, I am hoping that it is a nice local blade and not a knackered pitted old thing, usually they do not come with a scabbard so fingers crossed. Sorry about out biding but life is like that. Remeber the old Charles Atlas adverts :cool: .

Finally got my hands on it
 

In spite of it not really being my thing and knowing nothing about this area I find this sword quite interesting. The blade is 96cm long and flexible like a cavalry sabre. I think it is a slashing weapon. I also think it is of native manufacture although the engraving on the back does have some semblance to European writing, but I do not think it is. The whole thing was covered in old yellowed varnish. Once removed it is possible to see that the blade is covered in the paterns of folded steel, pamor? has been etched? and in very go condition as is the scabbard except a few rattan rings are missing. If any body has some old rattan rings bits they do not need you could pm me :o Anyway here are some pics of the whole thing and close ups latter.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...y/BATAK002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...y/BATAK006.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...y/BATAK004.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...y/BATAK005.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...y/BATAK008.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...y/BATAK009.jpg

More close up
 

Engraving on the back. What is it? is it shown the right way round?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...y/BATAK011.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...y/BATAK007.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...y/BATAK012.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...y/BATAK016.jpg

More close ups of blade. The back of the blade is at the bottom of the picture.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...y/BATAK014.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...y/BATAK013.jpg
Any comments? tell me more about it?

hi all
 

engraving is
" manufacture nationale de klingenthal " making by " Couleau "
in europe we have many blades from Couleau
galvano

Galvano that is so helpful I can see it now, how fascinating! I cannot tell which period according to this link

http://users.skynet.be/euro-swords/klingenthal.htm

I did not know there was any French influence in Sumatra/Borneo. The big question is was the blade made in a manner that appealed to the region or were the blades finished in a standard European fashion and then altered with etching by and to suit the new owners?

I think I have some pictures of Sumatra mounted warrior I will look them out and post them.

Well you learn something everyday. I was well aware of French Indochina but now consderable trade and influence in Sumatra and there abouts. The Brits may as we are told have had a bigger slice of the cake but the French had very often got there first. Respect :cool: :eek:

Making limited research using the PC, this blade is likely to be from the early part of the 19th century?

Sorry to keep banging on about this but I am finding these things out as I handle it. I think these blades were definitely made by the French to appeal to the local taste. The fact that there is little to no acid attack on the engraving to the back of the blade at the forte bares this out.

couleaux frére
 

it is 19th century.
galvano

Stuff on Napoleonic Sumatra
 

Hi Galvano

That is a nice find. I have seen pisos with native made blades and wootz blades imported from Persia so why not a French blade. Many cultures in Asia and surrounding areas considered European blades to be superior to their own locally made blades and were very desirable to own.


Lew

I think this is just pattern welded steel finished to suit the Sumaran taste. Like much of French bladed weaponry it is rather nice.

This might help explain French weapons in Sumatra.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padri_War

I do not think a Dutch or British colonial administration would welcome thier enemy or recent enemy free trade to arm the bolshy natives?

I can not read the date / year on the blade's back.
Which year is it ?

I should check some books, but this is a french 'heavy' cavalry blade I think.

very nice catch.

In spite of using the finest emery paper and lighter fuel to clean where you would expect to find a date, sadly just nothing there. The blade does appear to be a version of a pattern sabre in use in Napoleonic period. The French did establish a military force on Java. I suspect there were groups that took advantage of this?

Interesting quick read. I doubt the ruling powers were happy to let the French continue to supply the region with weapons.
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-22812/Indonesia

Even better stuff.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Willem_Daendels