Comments requested

JeffS · 1st September 2005, 10:19 PM

Hello

I would love to receive any information or suggestions concerning this Sewar. I originally thought it was a Keris, but learned on Bladeforums of my mistake. I recently received this from my mother's husband who's father collected it in Sumatra between 1915 - 1918.

-- Jeff
BTW - This is a great forum. I'm looking forwad to learning about collecting Ethnographic weapons.

kai · 2nd September 2005, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dizos

I would love to receive any information or suggestions concerning this Sewar.

Welcome Jeff,

This seems to be a really nice piece with well-tempered edge (that dark zone extending from the tip along the edge).

Please post close-ups if possible - this would help assessing the materials utilized.

Quote:

I'm looking forwad to learning about collecting Ethnographic weapons.

Well, you'd probably be better off if you were to sell this right away

- this stuff can be pretty addictive...

Regards,
Kai

Battara · 2nd September 2005, 07:21 AM

Kai has a good point about the addiction problem.....uh.....anyway, it looks like the bands on the scabbard and the hilt are silver with the pommel of the sewar and the bottom of the scabbard possibly being of bone, though better closeups would be more helpful and help determine materials better (especially if bone or ivory). The black part of the hilt of course is horn.

Alam Shah · 2nd September 2005, 03:23 PM

A very nice sewar indeed.

Welcome to the forum.
You can search this forum for more info, under "sewar", "sewah", "siwah".

JeffS · 3rd September 2005, 06:12 AM

Quote:

This seems to be a really nice piece with well-tempered edge (that dark zone extending from the tip along the edge).

What you are seeing there is a shadow from the scanner instead of a temper line. The blade flats are contoured - almost grooved, sort of fuller like. Sorry, not sure what the correct terminology is. Hopefully the larger pics will help you see what I mean. I also included a closeup to show the grain texture in the steel.

Quote:

The black part of the hilt of course is horn.

Actually it is some type of dark hardwood. I don't recognize the type though.

Thanks again for helping me learn about this. This is very exciting. I'm brand new to the world of ethnographic weapons, though I do have a Kinjal I purchased in Turkey that I will post another time. I'm curious if it is the real deal or not.

Ferguson · 3rd September 2005, 11:51 AM

I think the dark part of the hilt is indeed carabao horn. I zoomed in on your excellent photo of the hilt and the grain looks like old horn. See how at a couple of places you see lighter streaks that are almost very fine cracks? Also, it looks like a small "bug bite" where an insect has been eating the handle, common with horn. Of course, you have it in your hand and can see better than a picture, so it may be wood.

Very nice sewar!

Steve Ferguson

1st September 2005, 10:19 PM	#1
JeffS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 345	Comments requested Hello I would love to receive any information or suggestions concerning this Sewar. I originally thought it was a Keris, but learned on Bladeforums of my mistake. I recently received this from my mother's husband who's father collected it in Sumatra between 1915 - 1918. -- Jeff BTW - This is a great forum. I'm looking forwad to learning about collecting Ethnographic weapons. Last edited by Dizos; 1st September 2005 at 10:35 PM.

2nd September 2005, 03:23 PM	#4
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	Search forum for info... A very nice sewar indeed. Welcome to the forum. You can search this forum for more info, under "sewar", "sewah", "siwah".

2nd September 2005, 07:21 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,225	Kai has a good point about the addiction problem.....uh.....anyway, it looks like the bands on the scabbard and the hilt are silver with the pommel of the sewar and the bottom of the scabbard possibly being of bone, though better closeups would be more helpful and help determine materials better (especially if bone or ivory). The black part of the hilt of course is horn.

3rd September 2005, 11:51 AM	#6
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	I think the dark part of the hilt is indeed carabao horn. I zoomed in on your excellent photo of the hilt and the grain looks like old horn. See how at a couple of places you see lighter streaks that are almost very fine cracks? Also, it looks like a small "bug bite" where an insect has been eating the handle, common with horn. Of course, you have it in your hand and can see better than a picture, so it may be wood. Very nice sewar! Steve Ferguson