Very Interesting Piso Podang With Inserted Edge
 

Here is another recent pick up that seemed like a rather mundane piso podang until I had the blade polished and it revealed an inserted hardened edge more commonly seen on Chinese blades. I have to think this is a Chinese influence on a native made blade...or would that sort of ability have been available in Indonesia or Malaysia??...so perhaps a Chinese trade blade?? I have no idea, but interesting, nonetheless.

Note also the the unique two toned hilt.

The polisher, a forumite, also thought that elements of the two toned hilt might have a gold element to them, perhaps "white gold". Until tested, this is pure speculation.

The scabbard is new.

Hello Charles,

Another nice one! Not sure wether this is more likely Malay rather than Batak...


Have you verified at the back of the blade that it's not sandwich construction?

Either way, IMHO this just shows that this is not a European trade blade (or recycled battle pick up) but most likely the craft of a local bladesmith.


Please get it tested! At least, there appear to be a few examples with silver hilts.

High-karat white gold is a modern alloy (and a pain to work with): While suasa has been utilized in different colors when faith or limited funds prohibited the use of pure gold, high-karat gold has always been worn to show the real color throughout SEA...

Since the parts of this hilt seem to be solid, I guess this was made from brass and white brass.

Regards,
Kai

Very nice example Charles. Interesting two tone hilt and very neat blade. By the way Kai, an inserted hardened edge is sandwhich construction. That core plate is inserted between softer "cheeks" and forged together. While China is certainly a common place for this type of construction I would not rule out India either. I have had a number of Indian swords over the years that were also of a tripartite or sandwhich construction with hardened inserted edge. You also see a lot of this type of forging throughout the archipelego so the influence could really be from anywhere but as you mention not commonly seen in Piso's.

Hadn't thought about the Indian possibility....good point Rsword.

Charles, Nice blade and interesting handle! I think it could very well have been made by a smith of Chinese decent...the Chinese migrated all over Asia as we all know. I can recall at least a few examples on the forum of Thai, Lao, Malaysian, Indonesian and Philippine blades with Chinese motifs and Chinese characters on the blade or fittings. Thanks for sharing!

Yes Charles have that piece tested for white metal or silver.

Likely in Feb., Battara,with you-know-who!! :p