Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

CharlesS · 22nd February 2005, 02:56 PM

I tend to agree that this is all European work, and also for me it's a gut thing. The hilt suggests only a similar style to the piso podang, but you really have to look for it...otherwise there are too many podang features missing. A podang hilt would more likely be decorated by engraving, or perhaps even gentle chieselling, but would keep its same basic form and characteristics...but this hilt is cast(!) into that shape. Certainly the scabbard does not suggest anything Batak. Surely can't rule it out...and I hate disagreeing with my "southern brutha from anotha mutha"(RSword), but for me this is just too European.

22nd February 2005, 02:56 PM	#11
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	I tend to agree that this is all European work, and also for me it's a gut thing. The hilt suggests only a similar style to the piso podang, but you really have to look for it...otherwise there are too many podang features missing. A podang hilt would more likely be decorated by engraving, or perhaps even gentle chieselling, but would keep its same basic form and characteristics...but this hilt is cast(!) into that shape. Certainly the scabbard does not suggest anything Batak. Surely can't rule it out...and I hate disagreeing with my "southern brutha from anotha mutha"(RSword), but for me this is just too European.