TJIKEROEH : signed, dated ..... delivered

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody!

ENJOY!

1st.pic. Top to Bottom:

- Classification: GolokWalanda1896-TJIKEROEH-NATAMADJA
Blade:LxAOLxWxT=33x48x5x0.85cm.
Handle: Horn

- Classification: GolokWalanda1909-TJIKEROEH-KARTADIMADJA
Blade:LxOALxWxT=36.5x51x3.92x0.86cm.
Handle: Wood
(Local version of Kapmes Koloniaal / Kapmes NI M1862-65)

- Classification: GolokWalanda-TJIKEROEH-TANOEDIMADJA
Blade:LxOALxWxT=47x62.5x3.96x1.02cm.
Handle: Antler
(Handle-style borrowed from Hirschfanger; this was part of 'Indies Fashion' dress regalia)

- Classification: GolokWalanda1902-TJIKEROEH-SOERADIMADJA
Blade:LxOALxWxT=31x45.5x3.78x0.70cm.
Handle:Bone
(Handle-style borrowed from Hirschfanger; this was part of 'Indies Fashion' dress regalia)


BACKGROUND:

At the time, Tjikeroeh and Tjipatjing were adjacent (1km. apart) villages (kampoeng) which were part of Tjikeroeh sub-district (desa). People often become confused as to whether they mean Tjikeroeh the village, or Tjikeroeh the sub-district (i.e. which includes Tjipatjing) .

ADIMADJA - smith, produced traditional tools/weapons.

NATAMADJA (son) - Pioneer in local gun repair.
Entered govt. service looking after the maintenance of military weapons and acquired gun-repair skills. Upon completion, returned to Tjikeroeh and opened a smithy/gun-repair shop in 1854, with the military being one of his clients (e.g. providing arms for the Marechaussee during the Atjeh campaign).

KARTADIMADJA (grandson) - Opened smithy/gun-repair shop Tjikeroeh (1881-1929).
Produced 1500 klewangs for the Marechaussee in Atjeh.

TANOEDIMADJA (grandson) - Joined brother's work-shop (1882).

NATADIMADJA (grandson) - Did not enter family business.

SOERADIMADJA (great-grandson)

SOEMADIMADJA (great-grandson, son of NATADIMADJA) - Pioneer in local gun-manufacture.
Trained by his uncles, joined workshop at the age of 14 (1894). His aptitude for guns so impressed the colonial authorities that they sent him to study firearms manufacture in The Netherlands . Upon return, he set up a firearms factory using 'modern' production techniques acquired in The Netherlands. One of his clients was the military.

As demand for the products/services grew, more people from Tjikeroeh village were trained in the business, some of them later striking out on their own as competitors. When demand outgrew Tjikeroeh's capacity, people from Tjipatjing village were consequently trained. So subsequently, both villages were adept in the various aspects weapons-smithing.
The bubble burst when production of military equipment was shifted to Europe at the turn of the 20th C and to the new Artillerie Constructie Winkel (ACW)-Bandoeng in 1923 .

SOEMADIMADJA focused on firearms manufacture.
His sons, Saoed and Pipik carried on this endeavour.
In 1963, when licenses for private companies to manufacture firearms were revoked, they shifted to the manufacture of air-rifles.
They were the pioneers of local air-rifle manufacture.
However, they were not allowed to produce larger than 4.5 mm air-rifles with a barrel of at least 35 cm length.

Today, both Tjikeroeh and Tjipatjing still retain this legacy. It is said that among these people, making a gun is, literally, childs-play.


Best,