A rare Karo Batak knife for sharing & discussion

Sajen · 11th November 2018, 04:51 PM

I have recently purchased a rare Karo Batak knife with Djulung-Djulung blade but I wouldn't call this knife Andar-Andar since a A-A coming normally with a sukul (handle) nganda but this knife has a sukul djering. On plate 100 from Volz is shown a very similar knife (picture 9).
The knife is 51,4 cm long inside scabbard, 39,5 cm without, the blade alone is 29,5 cm and 7 mm thick near the handle, weight is 251 gram.
Handle is scribed buffalo horn with a possible low grade gold ferrule with silver bands, scabbard mounts from silver. Scabbard mouth is deeply carved in traditional manner.
The last two pictures show it together with two Karo Kalasans from my collection for size comparison.
All comments are very welcome!

Regards,
Detlef

Sajen · 11th November 2018, 04:54 PM

Some more pictures.

Athanase · 11th November 2018, 05:59 PM

Very, very beautiful acquisition, congratulations!

Sajen · 11th November 2018, 06:56 PM

Thank you very much Severin!

Battara · 11th November 2018, 09:34 PM

Very nice Detlef. And it has silver bands - you know that I love bling! 😊

Sajen · 11th November 2018, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Very nice Detlef. And it has silver bands - you know that I love bling! 😊

Thank you Jose and yes, I know!

Regards,
Detlef

CharlesS · 12th November 2018, 12:57 PM

Detlef, nice knife and very rare blade form! Congrats. I especially like the hilt and scabbard carving.

Sajen · 12th November 2018, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Detlef, nice knife and very rare blade form! Congrats. I especially like the hilt and scabbard carving.

Thank you Charles, it was the first Batak knife with a Djulung-Djulung blade which crossed my way so I needed to purchase it!

Regards,
Detlef

kai · 13th November 2018, 09:45 PM

Hello Detlef,

Congrats on a good grab and a really fine piece!

Quote:

I have recently purchased a rare Karo Batak knife with Djulung-Djulung blade but I wouldn't call this knife Andar-Andar since a A-A coming normally with a sukul (handle) nganda but this knife has a sukul djering. On plate 100 from Volz is shown a very similar knife (picture 9).

Andar-andar and julung-julung are synonyms AFAIK. Very much like kalasan, they do come in all sizes and with lots of different hilt types!

Quote:

The knife is 51,4 cm long inside scabbard, 39,5 cm without, the blade alone is 29,5 cm and 7 mm thick near the handle, weight is 251 gram.

While this one may be on the shorter side of things, I'd opt for shortsword rather than knife as a description of function; as you know, the word piso refers to any kind of blade in Karo.

Quote:

Handle is scribed buffalo horn with a possible low grade gold ferrule with silver bands, scabbard mounts from silver.

As already mentioned by others: a really nice hilt; the carved/cut motifs appear to be a bit unusual! Any hints that the ferrule may be fire-gilded?

Quote:

Scabbard mouth is deeply carved in traditional manner.
The last two pictures show it together with two Karo Kalasans from my collection for size comparison.

A very nice match with the kalasan with blonde (or greenish) horn hilt!

Regards,
Kai

Sajen · 14th November 2018, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

Congrats on a good grab and a really fine piece!

Hello Kai,

thank you very much.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

Andar-andar and julung-julung are synonyms AFAIK. Very much like kalasan, they do come in all sizes and with lots of different hilt types!

Not really sure about this. Volz describe only one sword/knife as Andar-Andar and this one has a somewhat other blade shape as the ones he describe as Djulung-Djulung and here he speak only about bladeshapes.

But you are correct when we go with our member Albert. And the very few swords of this type I've seen has had always sukul ngangan.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

While this one may be on the shorter side of things, I'd opt for shortsword rather than knife as a description of function; as you know, the word piso refers to any kind of blade in Karo.

Yes, any kind of blade is is named piso by the Karo. In hand I would call it a long dagger.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

.....; the carved/cut motifs appear to be a bit unusual! Any hints that the ferrule may be fire-gilded?

Yup, have the same impression and frankly said is the carving much cruder as for example the scabbard mouth carving. A later addition? Possible IMO.
To be sure about the selut I need to let test it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

A very nice match with the kalasan with blonde (or greenish) horn hilt!

Thank's again, they are indeed a nice pair!

Regards,
Detlef

Sajen · 14th November 2018, 10:24 PM

Someone can share an Andar-Andar for comparison? Would be nice to see other examples of this rare type.

11th November 2018, 04:51 PM	#1
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,779	A rare Karo Batak knife for sharing & discussion I have recently purchased a rare Karo Batak knife with Djulung-Djulung blade but I wouldn't call this knife Andar-Andar since a A-A coming normally with a sukul (handle) nganda but this knife has a sukul djering. On plate 100 from Volz is shown a very similar knife (picture 9). The knife is 51,4 cm long inside scabbard, 39,5 cm without, the blade alone is 29,5 cm and 7 mm thick near the handle, weight is 251 gram. Handle is scribed buffalo horn with a possible low grade gold ferrule with silver bands, scabbard mounts from silver. Scabbard mouth is deeply carved in traditional manner. The last two pictures show it together with two Karo Kalasans from my collection for size comparison. All comments are very welcome! Regards, Detlef Attached Images

11th November 2018, 04:54 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,779	Some more pictures. Attached Images

11th November 2018, 05:59 PM	#3
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	Very, very beautiful acquisition, congratulations!

11th November 2018, 06:56 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,779	Thank you very much Severin!

11th November 2018, 09:34 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Very nice Detlef. And it has silver bands - you know that I love bling! 😊

12th November 2018, 12:57 PM	#7
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Detlef, nice knife and very rare blade form! Congrats. I especially like the hilt and scabbard carving.

14th November 2018, 10:24 PM	#11
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,779	Someone can share an Andar-Andar for comparison? Would be nice to see other examples of this rare type.