Dagger with raised arabic script
 

This one is a bit of a mystery too. Looks Celebes in style but haven't seen reference to this type of blade with bonded script from that area before.

All the one timber with some simple ornamental carving on hilt butt and sheath. No metal sheath/hilt furniture. Just some fairly utilitarian bands that have been hot closed and burnt in around the sheath. Quite high carbon, hand forged steel.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/IMG_0102.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/IMG_0103.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/IMG_0104.jpg

Again - all thoughts welcome.

Paul

It is a badek. Hand forged? My first impression is, that the blade is rather new and made for tourist.

Thnx
 

Might be new I guess but if so there has been a lot of odd details (like hot forged sheath bands) and steel is patinated and looks to have some folding. Script is intersting too - religious tourism? Cleaned just before pic taken BTW.

Paul

Hi,

The script doesnt make any sense, just a bunch of words and numbers all jumbled up.

Many times a blade acid etched like this is a sign that it was made for sale.

I think this might be a tourist badek that got put in some old dress. New keris are often put in adapted older dress so why not a badek?.

OK, tourist badek then. Thanks all.

Still quite like it...

Paul