Indonesian dagger, sewar??

[kai]

Hello Detlef,

Have get also this Indonesian dagger, the blade shape is very similar like a sewar blade but missing the blood groove all my sewar show and the blade is a little bit broader as my sewar blades and the scabbard is complete different but could be an old replacement. The blade I've cleaned a little bit from rust and show a nice pamor but again very different from the sewar blades I know which show a much finer lamination. The handle is of the hulu rumpung form (see Zonneveld, page 55).

I'd posit that this example does belong to the large sewar/siwaih family.

The scabbard does look like a more recent (post-WW2?) replacement to me. What would be your age estimate upon personal inspection?

I've seen quite a few blades without the usually pretty feeble fuller.

I also wouldn't place much emphasis on the blade shape (much variability again).

There are some examples with rather bold, contrasting pamor - nice acquisition!

I'd believe the hilt to be of the hulu lungkee rusa type - these are not unheard of as hilts for daggers but certainly rare!

Good catch! I'd be inclined to believe this comes from northern Sumatra (Aceh/Alas/Gayo).

Regards,
Kai