Origin of the Tombak?

Bill M · 3rd August 2010, 12:35 AM

It seems appropriate that I ask here with the Indonesian crowd. I am researching Tombaks for a museum exhibit and find little information compared to keris.

So I thought to begin a thread on Tombaks.

Appreciate your input.

khalifah muda · 3rd August 2010, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Marsh

It seems appropriate that I ask here with the Indonesian crowd. I am researching Tombaks for a museum exhibit and find little information compared to keris.

So I thought to begin a thread on Tombaks.

Appreciate your input.

A good topic. Like to know too. Tombaks in Bahasa - Spears is English do exist all over the world, America, African, Europe, Romans, Persians, Asia (Indo-China, China, Japan, Korea), the Malay Archipelago, Aborigines.

KuKulzA28 · 3rd August 2010, 01:50 PM

Good idea for a topic. All I know is that they're called tombak and lembing for spears... and that oftentimes these spears are put on dagger handles or short shafts... but I guess they were once supposed to be on actual spear shafts. In the old days, the spear, shield, and side-arm was the warrior's weapon. Today's Silat focuses a lot more on unarmed techniques, goloks, pisau, etc., but in the olden days, a spear was one of the universal weapons of the battlefield.

That's the extent of my knowledge...

Bill M · 3rd August 2010, 05:28 PM

So, is a lembing a tombak on a long shaft? Or is it a spear?

Most of the short-shaft Tombaks I own have pamor.

I have three long shaft and they don't seem to have pamor, though I could clean and stain them to be sure. They do have scabbards.

We have a lot of literature on keris, but very little on Tombaks, yet it would seem that Tombaks have religious significance from the care taken to make the blades. Something more than just weapons.

KuKulzA28 · 3rd August 2010, 06:49 PM

I think lembing and tombaks are both spears, but different types.. I think that lembing tend to have a central ridge and be thinner (better for stabs) and tombaks tend to be broader. I am under the impression that these are spear-heads... which can be mounted as daggers or on spear-shafts...

I hope I'm helpful, but I eagerly await the responses of the experts...

tunggulametung · 3rd August 2010, 08:55 PM

From my understanding lembing generally have a shorter shaft, and meant to be thrown while tombak have a longer shaft and use for closer combat. The note from malaysian wikipedia mention that tombak generally has a wider blade. But as long as I understand nowdays people just call it tombak and never lembing

As for tombak, probably one of the most popular is Tombak Kyai Pleret (google should give more than enough information on this)
It classified as wesi aji, the precious steel.
But any cutting knife (and steel in general) seems to be "precious" in the past, at least it still celebrated in Bali (Tumpak Landep ceremony).
Attached is photo from KITLV website but I forget the caption. It shows many fighter with tombak in the background.

3rd August 2010, 12:35 AM	#1
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Origin of the Tombak? It seems appropriate that I ask here with the Indonesian crowd. I am researching Tombaks for a museum exhibit and find little information compared to keris. So I thought to begin a thread on Tombaks. Appreciate your input. Last edited by Bill Marsh; 3rd August 2010 at 12:53 AM.

3rd August 2010, 08:55 PM	#6
tunggulametung Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 238	From my understanding lembing generally have a shorter shaft, and meant to be thrown while tombak have a longer shaft and use for closer combat. The note from malaysian wikipedia mention that tombak generally has a wider blade. But as long as I understand nowdays people just call it tombak and never lembing As for tombak, probably one of the most popular is Tombak Kyai Pleret (google should give more than enough information on this) It classified as wesi aji, the precious steel. But any cutting knife (and steel in general) seems to be "precious" in the past, at least it still celebrated in Bali (Tumpak Landep ceremony). Attached is photo from KITLV website but I forget the caption. It shows many fighter with tombak in the background. Attached Images

3rd August 2010, 01:50 PM	#3
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Good idea for a topic. All I know is that they're called tombak and lembing for spears... and that oftentimes these spears are put on dagger handles or short shafts... but I guess they were once supposed to be on actual spear shafts. In the old days, the spear, shield, and side-arm was the warrior's weapon. Today's Silat focuses a lot more on unarmed techniques, goloks, pisau, etc., but in the olden days, a spear was one of the universal weapons of the battlefield. That's the extent of my knowledge...

3rd August 2010, 05:28 PM	#4
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	So, is a lembing a tombak on a long shaft? Or is it a spear? Most of the short-shaft Tombaks I own have pamor. I have three long shaft and they don't seem to have pamor, though I could clean and stain them to be sure. They do have scabbards. We have a lot of literature on keris, but very little on Tombaks, yet it would seem that Tombaks have religious significance from the care taken to make the blades. Something more than just weapons.

3rd August 2010, 06:49 PM	#5
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	I think lembing and tombaks are both spears, but different types.. I think that lembing tend to have a central ridge and be thinner (better for stabs) and tombaks tend to be broader. I am under the impression that these are spear-heads... which can be mounted as daggers or on spear-shafts... I hope I'm helpful, but I eagerly await the responses of the experts...