Tjikeroeh parang - western style

kronckew · 20th December 2025, 09:23 PM

Found this mark on a recent acquisition of mine that appeared to be a stirrup guarded bull nosed parang made in Tjikeroeh. The blade mark looks rather western to me, anyone have a clue what the mark is? I personally think it is not Javan & the mark looks European. Blade may be a European sabre cut down to be a hanger/cutlass.

Ian · Yesterday, 06:40 AM

Wayne, does this one have TJIKEROEH engraved on the reverse forte? When I first saw your picture, it did not strike me as being from Tjikeroeh. The foliate engraved design down the blade has some resemblance, but on Tjiker swords it is usually contained within a fuller, and I cannot recall seeing a heavily engraved border around that design on a Tjiker sword before.

The grip of the hilt seems to be finely ridged and I've also not seen that, or a stirrup guard, on a Tjiker sword before.

Unless it bears the "Tjikeroeh" mark, I think this sword is more likely from elsewhere.

Here's a blown up view of the sword...

TVV · Yesterday, 07:09 AM

This looks like a cut down Ethiopian saber to me. The Saint George mark is found on European blades imported into Abyssinia during the 2nd half of the 19th century, like the one I have on a blade reworked into a kaskara. Often there would be a Lion of Judah on the opposite side.

Tim Simmons · Yesterday, 07:24 AM

Is that grip a turn of 19th century/ww1 German sabre grip?

I now wonder if this possibly a not often seen German export , Romanian artillery officers sabre?

TVV · Yesterday, 06:06 PM

All kinds of countries used lionhead hilts, but this is an Ethiopian pattern. See a similar sword here:

http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread...opian+lionhead

kronckew · Yesterday, 07:46 PM

TVV:

Can you show a photo of the whole stirrup hilted sword?

TVV · Yesterday, 08:44 PM

A quick internet search produced this image:

Name: Ethiopian sword 1.jpg
Views: 40
Size: 38.7 KB

You may also want to check this link:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SWORDS/comm..._guard_sabres/

kronckew · Today, 03:36 AM

Oops! I meant the whole sword belonging to the one in TVV's post #3 above which is more takouba-like.

TVV · Today, 04:31 AM

Sure, it is a kaskara, with a blade that was reforged into a broadsword from what used to be a curved Ethiopian blade.

Name: kaskara 02a.jpg
Views: 12
Size: 464.9 KB

Name: kaskara 02a.jpg
Views: 12
Size: 464.9 KB

20th December 2025, 09:23 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,266	Tjikeroeh parang - western style Found this mark on a recent acquisition of mine that appeared to be a stirrup guarded bull nosed parang made in Tjikeroeh. The blade mark looks rather western to me, anyone have a clue what the mark is? I personally think it is not Javan & the mark looks European. Blade may be a European sabre cut down to be a hanger/cutlass. Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 20th December 2025 at 10:47 PM.

Yesterday, 06:40 AM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,614	Wayne, does this one have TJIKEROEH engraved on the reverse forte? When I first saw your picture, it did not strike me as being from Tjikeroeh. The foliate engraved design down the blade has some resemblance, but on Tjiker swords it is usually contained within a fuller, and I cannot recall seeing a heavily engraved border around that design on a Tjiker sword before. The grip of the hilt seems to be finely ridged and I've also not seen that, or a stirrup guard, on a Tjiker sword before. Unless it bears the "Tjikeroeh" mark, I think this sword is more likely from elsewhere. Here's a blown up view of the sword... Attached Images

Yesterday, 07:24 AM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,939	Is that grip a turn of 19th century/ww1 German sabre grip? I now wonder if this possibly a not often seen German export , Romanian artillery officers sabre? Last edited by Tim Simmons; Yesterday at 07:52 AM. Reason: Add imfo

Yesterday, 08:44 PM	#7
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,744	A quick internet search produced this image: You may also want to check this link: https://www.reddit.com/r/SWORDS/comm..._guard_sabres/

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Yesterday, 07:09 AM	#3
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,744	This looks like a cut down Ethiopian saber to me. The Saint George mark is found on European blades imported into Abyssinia during the 2nd half of the 19th century, like the one I have on a blade reworked into a kaskara. Often there would be a Lion of Judah on the opposite side. Attached Images

Yesterday, 06:06 PM	#5
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,744	All kinds of countries used lionhead hilts, but this is an Ethiopian pattern. See a similar sword here: http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread...opian+lionhead

Yesterday, 07:46 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,266	TVV: Can you show a photo of the whole stirrup hilted sword?

Today, 03:36 AM	#8
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,266	Oops! I meant the whole sword belonging to the one in TVV's post #3 above which is more takouba-like.

Today, 04:31 AM	#9
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,744	Sure, it is a kaskara, with a blade that was reforged into a broadsword from what used to be a curved Ethiopian blade.