Bali Ritual Knife

Battara · 7th March 2019, 09:47 PM

Greetings folks,

This is a Balinese ritual knife I got years ago, but it has taken this long to restore. The first picture will show how I got it with 90% of the silver inlay gone. Following that the pictures are of the restored piece (most of the inlay is finished).

All the inlay is silver on one side with the hilt covered by thin silver sheet, and there is a copper butt plate.

What little research I have uncovered tells me that this knife is used to exorcise evil spirits as part of burial ceremonys in Bali. These are hard to find pieces and I have only seen 2 examples. Michael Backman has an example on his website.

Enjoy.

Battara · 7th March 2019, 09:49 PM

Here is the butt:

mross · 7th March 2019, 10:24 PM

Wow, that is some nice meticulous work, inlay is crazy time consuming and not very forgiving. Nice work.

Rick · 7th March 2019, 11:54 PM

First one of these I've seen.
Any thoughts on why the pitting follows the inlay lines Jose?
Also noted, the chisel grind.. IIRC the wedung is not chisel ground.

Athanase · 8th March 2019, 03:48 PM

If it helps, I add the link to the subject of my similar knife :

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=tiuk

And another link to my betel knives one of which is really similar but without silver inlay :

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=tiuk

A. G. Maisey · 8th March 2019, 09:00 PM

I've just taken the time to follow the links back to see where the chain started, turns out it was a thread I started, but that's beside the point, in that thread there are some really good pics taken by Gavin Nugent, not weaponry so much, but Bali funeral procession scenes, I think they're worth visiting:-

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13443

7th March 2019, 09:47 PM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	Bali Ritual Knife Greetings folks, This is a Balinese ritual knife I got years ago, but it has taken this long to restore. The first picture will show how I got it with 90% of the silver inlay gone. Following that the pictures are of the restored piece (most of the inlay is finished). All the inlay is silver on one side with the hilt covered by thin silver sheet, and there is a copper butt plate. What little research I have uncovered tells me that this knife is used to exorcise evil spirits as part of burial ceremonys in Bali. These are hard to find pieces and I have only seen 2 examples. Michael Backman has an example on his website. Enjoy. Attached Images

7th March 2019, 09:49 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	Here is the butt: Attached Images

7th March 2019, 10:24 PM	#3
mross Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 478	Wow, that is some nice meticulous work, inlay is crazy time consuming and not very forgiving. Nice work.

7th March 2019, 11:54 PM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	First one of these I've seen. Any thoughts on why the pitting follows the inlay lines Jose? Also noted, the chisel grind.. IIRC the wedung is not chisel ground.

8th March 2019, 03:48 PM	#5
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	If it helps, I add the link to the subject of my similar knife : http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=tiuk And another link to my betel knives one of which is really similar but without silver inlay : http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=tiuk

8th March 2019, 09:00 PM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,897	I've just taken the time to follow the links back to see where the chain started, turns out it was a thread I started, but that's beside the point, in that thread there are some really good pics taken by Gavin Nugent, not weaponry so much, but Bali funeral procession scenes, I think they're worth visiting:- http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13443