Tjikeroeh swords

[gp]

a few more...

[Peter Andeweg]

Nice example Micheal,

The Tjikeroeh swords were made around 1870-1920 and were often made for KNIL soldiers as private purchase. These are in fact the first mass produced swords/knives from West Java. Earlier examples were often made in the region Tjiandjoer, nearby all near Bandung, but were different in shape and decoration.
The decoration pattern on yours is commonly seen on most Tjikeroe (Cikeruh) swords.

They had no military use, but were brought back to the Netherlands as reminder of their time in the Dutch East Indies.
These swords were not made for the East India company. I have seen a 19th century example which was marked VOC and dated 1698, but it was actually made in the 1840-1850's. It was probably ment as a tribute or perhaps talismanic.

Most of these swords are inspired by the German and Dutch 'hirshfanger' or the KNIL regulated Klewang models.

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo gp,

This may help:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...44&postcount=1

Best,

[gp]

Originally Posted by Amuk Murugul

Hullo gp,

This may help:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...44&postcount=1

Best,

terima kasih !

[gp]

a few more pics

[gp]

today I felt lucky and happy!
Bought a dagger with a bone as handle on the internet...
description : "trench art 1916"
no scabbard... perhaps it never had one at all
although the blade was quite dirty...
and the bone as well...
and my Bouvier the Flandres not with me anymore for some years...(passed away after 13 years)
so no danger for the handle "disappearing"...
the lettering of 1916...although difficult to read
made me think...
and I placed a bid and got it !
Today it arrived...
some virgin olive oil did do the job...
and indeed: what I suspected came through or became true !
a Tjikeroeh
perhaps not the fanciest but still one of my "treasured"ones.

Your thoughts please...

[ausjulius]

the markings are talismanic, and can be taken with a grain of salt,
they are markings mimicing various dutch weapons local blacksmiths inspected.. dutch colonial officials were issued with european made modern weapons,
indonesian people wanted to emulate dutch fashion and style.. additional the dutch colonies there had a rather large european population who would be active customers buying souvineers or a knife to use locally. but for the most part these were made for the indonesia population. there probably examples of dutch aquiring local blades in situaitons when it was expediant but this was not the norm.
these european-malay hybrid knives and swords are far more common in indonesia than they are in holland, i have collected a good number over the years when travelling there.. including a copy of one of those german checkered handled "machetes" used in aircraft in ww2 which makes me think those wer eprobably a colonial product destined for the far east or another region that were pressed into service.

[Duccio]

Speaking of goloks from Tjikeroeh, I would like to know if any expert on this type of object can give me some information on the golok of which I am attaching some photos:
it is a knife with a very corroded blade (deep rust then eliminated? Or what else?)
But the thing that intrigues me is the writing in gold letters on one side. It doesn't read very well from the photo, but it says "K_GJELLERUP".
The only reference I was able to find online is to Karl Adolph Gjellerup, Danish poet and Nobel laureate (1857-1919).
But it seems rather strange to me that a Danish poet owns a golok and makes us write his name on the blade ...
Any suggestions?
Greetings to everyone.
Duccio

[Gustav]

http://www.nationaalherbarium.nl/FMC...GjellerupK.htm

[Duccio]

Originally Posted by Gustav

http://www.nationaalherbarium.nl/FMC...GjellerupK.htm

Wow, Gustav, what speed! And surely the Gjellerup you found has a much better chance of being the owner of my golok than a poet could have!
Thank you so much!
Duccio

[Gustav]

You are welcome, Duccio.

[kai]

Hello Duccio,

a knife with a very corroded blade (deep rust then eliminated? Or what else?)

Yes, I believe so - these swords are usually made from modern steel.

The corrosion seems consistent with the blade being wrapped for storage and then sitting with quite a bit of moisture for extended periods.

I also believe Gustav pointed to the likely owner. Let me know if you decide to part with this piece, please!

Regards,
Kai

[Duccio]

Originally Posted by kai

Let me know if you decide to part with this piece, please!

Regards,
Kai

Ciao Kai,
you are the first on the list!
When I decide to part with it, I'll warn you first, rest assured.
But you have to take away a curiosity: why are you interested in a knife that, it seems to me, is not very valuable, indeed, it seems to me rather ruined?
Greetings.
Duccio

[kai]

Thanks, Duccio!

Certainly a combination of reasons: I have a substantial collection of Sunda blades and this would be a nice addition despite condition issues. I'm keen to examine the steel to check my estimate and to compare how this blade performs compared to other styles. I'm mostly into the older blades and this would be one of the younger examples.

Regards,
Kai

[gp]

stumbled upon a picture from a Dutch collector's website of cold weapons from Indonnsia:
a Bado originating from Tjikeroeh.
Grip had most likely been replaced one time or another.
Engraved with :TJIKR

website: https://aberkel13.wixsite.com/keris