Mysterious sword

Albert · 9th January 2020, 08:13 PM

A while ago I added this item to my collection

Unfortunately, I cannot pinpoint the exact origin.

Can anybody help?

francantolin · 9th January 2020, 08:49 PM

Hello Albert.

These small swords are called golok or parang , they come from Malaysia or Philippines.
Handle seems made of Horn and silver fittings ! Really nice !

Specialists on the forum can give you more details

Albert · 9th January 2020, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by francantolin

Hello Albert.

These small swords are called golok or parang , they come from Malaysia or Philippines.
Handle seems made of Horn and silver fittings ! Really nice !

Specialists on the forum can give you more details

Thank you Francantolin.
Do you have examples of 'lookalikes'?

Ian · 10th January 2020, 12:23 AM

Hello again Albert:

Good to see you back again with such an interesting sword. What speaks to me loudest about your sword and scabbard is the silver work. This looks very much mainland SE Asia to me. The heavy silver mounts on the hilt and throat/chape of the scabbard look like Shan work, with the use of twisted wire and curlicues (spirals, etc.). The manner in which the chape ends, with a flat toe slightly raised on the edges is also common to Shan work, as is the use of multiple silver bands spaced along the wooden sheath. That's high quality work on your example. I would not be surprised of the silver work post-dated the blade and hilt.

Whether one calls this a golok or klewang is somewhat moot I think, although the blade is short for a klewang it is the right shape. The hilt has some similarity to hulu iku ite in your book, and might suggest a Sumatran origin. The prominent and sharp down-turn of the hilt might suggest a Sulawesi origin too. My best guess is a Sumatran klewang with later "foreign" silver work added for prestige. However, you literally wrote the book on these swords and I definitely defer to your judgement.

Attached are pictures of a silver-wrapped dha and scabbard showing typical Shan silver work. Note the prominent use of silver wire and the ornamental motifs.

Thanks for showing this sword and I look forward to hearing the thoughts of others.

Ian

.

Rick · 10th January 2020, 03:15 AM

Here is 'wire and button' decoration on the ferrule bands of a Philippine spear.

Ian · 10th January 2020, 01:27 PM

Good point Rick. Similar decorations to what you show are seen on the hilts of some 20th C gunong and Mindanao kris.

9th January 2020, 08:13 PM	#1
Albert Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 194	Mysterious sword A while ago I added this item to my collection Unfortunately, I cannot pinpoint the exact origin. Can anybody help? Attached Images

10th January 2020, 12:23 AM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,197	Hello again Albert: Good to see you back again with such an interesting sword. What speaks to me loudest about your sword and scabbard is the silver work. This looks very much mainland SE Asia to me. The heavy silver mounts on the hilt and throat/chape of the scabbard look like Shan work, with the use of twisted wire and curlicues (spirals, etc.). The manner in which the chape ends, with a flat toe slightly raised on the edges is also common to Shan work, as is the use of multiple silver bands spaced along the wooden sheath. That's high quality work on your example. I would not be surprised of the silver work post-dated the blade and hilt. Whether one calls this a golok or klewang is somewhat moot I think, although the blade is short for a klewang it is the right shape. The hilt has some similarity to hulu iku ite in your book, and might suggest a Sumatran origin. The prominent and sharp down-turn of the hilt might suggest a Sulawesi origin too. My best guess is a Sumatran klewang with later "foreign" silver work added for prestige. However, you literally wrote the book on these swords and I definitely defer to your judgement. Attached are pictures of a silver-wrapped dha and scabbard showing typical Shan silver work. Note the prominent use of silver wire and the ornamental motifs. Thanks for showing this sword and I look forward to hearing the thoughts of others. Ian . Attached Images Last edited by Ian; 10th January 2020 at 12:33 AM.

10th January 2020, 03:15 AM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,290	Here is 'wire and button' decoration on the ferrule bands of a Philippine spear. Attached Images

9th January 2020, 08:49 PM	#2
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 871	Hello Albert. These small swords are called golok or parang , they come from Malaysia or Philippines. Handle seems made of Horn and silver fittings ! Really nice ! Specialists on the forum can give you more details

10th January 2020, 01:27 PM	#6
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,197	Good point Rick. Similar decorations to what you show are seen on the hilts of some 20th C gunong and Mindanao kris.