Repurposed Spontoon?

[Interested Party]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

.....it also resembles both Indonesian and East Indian spear heads. The ribbed collar makes me wonder if it might be more Asian (Chinese? Malay?)...... I'll let others chime in on their opinion.

Why not the straightforward solution of a re-hilted Mediterranean dagger those often have swagged and fullered self-guards? For some reason I though on tombaks this swaged and fullered piece was separate like a mendak on a keris. Though it could have traveled.

[Interested Party]

And the lion looks Dutch to me as well, and I have to admit the more I look at it there is a family resemblance to some pedang hilts I have seen. The hexagonal hilt reminds me of the faceted foça da ponta hilts.

[M ELEY]

Hi Interested Party. Most tombak 'necks' are integral with the shaft of the blade, but you bring up an excellent point that many Mediterranian types have this collar too. I definitely think the hilt is European and as it resembles many Dutch pieces, I still think this could be the case.

Jim, you brought up my Dutch falchien that has such a leering lion haft. Interestingly, my sword was probably crafted in Shri Lanka for the Dutch market and this country also uses lions in their decor.

Mark G, this is a truly great piece! Maritime? One never knows...