Very unusual SE sword

Tatyana Dianova · 3rd April 2008, 08:53 PM

Here is another very interesting sword on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWA:IT&ih=008
I am pretty sure that it is NOT a Japanese sword: the blade geometry is totally different, the blade is made from file, there is no habaki, using of rattan and the suspension ring are also not Japanese, and so on. But it is definitely Japanese inspired, old, original and SE Asian in origin. Maybe it is from Korea or Indonesia or ????

Freddy · 3rd April 2008, 09:15 PM

Nice piece.

Looks a bit like a cross between a Japanese katana and a mandau from Borneo. Especially the rattan knot looks as it comes from Borneo.

Maurice · 3rd April 2008, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddy

Nice piece.

Looks a bit like a cross between a Japanese katana and a mandau from Borneo. Especially the rattan knot looks as it comes from Borneo.

Beside the rattan knot, also the inlay in one side of the scabbard you can bring to Borneo (see pic).
Maybe this sword was left behind after a decapitated Japanese soldier in the war when the Japanese were in borneo? And later made it a toeristic piece by the malay people living in Borneo?
I'm curious about other opinions.

Tim Simmons · 3rd April 2008, 09:49 PM

Looks like the blade is made from a big old bastard file.

Bill M · 3rd April 2008, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Javagolok

Beside the rattan knot, also the inlay in one side of the scabbard you can bring to Borneo (see pic)

Hi Maurice, it does look like the paddle. thought that when I first saw the inlay.

Also, by the seller's description a rather pricey garden tool

"The useage of this knife would be for gardening purposes prunning of bonsai etc,"

ariel · 4th April 2008, 03:40 AM

One man's Ginsu is another man's Assadullah...

Seriously, I was watching it with interest, but could not imagine what would be its purpose. Very peculiar form of the blade: why would it be especially good for slicing rutabagas?

Maurice · 4th April 2008, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Marsh

Hi Maurice, it does look like the paddle. thought that when I first saw the inlay.

Hi Bill,
I wonder what that "cucumber" is on the other side....do you know?

Regards,
Maurice

Henk · 4th April 2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Marsh

"The useage of this knife would be for gardening purposes prunning of bonsai etc,"

Pruning bonsai

Battara · 4th April 2008, 06:55 PM

Often if a Japanese soldier in WWII could not afford a Japan made sword or dagger, he would commission one in one of the occuppied countries to be made in the style of a Japanese piece. I suspect this is such a piece and the blade is older, but the rest is WWII.

3rd April 2008, 08:53 PM	#1
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 701	Very unusual SE sword Here is another very interesting sword on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWA:IT&ih=008 I am pretty sure that it is NOT a Japanese sword: the blade geometry is totally different, the blade is made from file, there is no habaki, using of rattan and the suspension ring are also not Japanese, and so on. But it is definitely Japanese inspired, old, original and SE Asian in origin. Maybe it is from Korea or Indonesia or ????

3rd April 2008, 09:15 PM	#2
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Nice piece. Looks a bit like a cross between a Japanese katana and a mandau from Borneo. Especially the rattan knot looks as it comes from Borneo.

3rd April 2008, 09:49 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Looks like the blade is made from a big old bastard file.

4th April 2008, 03:40 AM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	One man's Ginsu is another man's Assadullah... Seriously, I was watching it with interest, but could not imagine what would be its purpose. Very peculiar form of the blade: why would it be especially good for slicing rutabagas?

4th April 2008, 06:55 PM	#9
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,229	Often if a Japanese soldier in WWII could not afford a Japan made sword or dagger, he would commission one in one of the occuppied countries to be made in the style of a Japanese piece. I suspect this is such a piece and the blade is older, but the rest is WWII.