Big sized Indonesian Tombak

Dom · 11th June 2012, 12:53 AM

congratulations Detlef
even if my knowledge is nil, concerning these weapons
I may appreciated the artistic beauty of the blade and scabbard

your refurbishment is really a must, and I like it,,
for me, handles, hilts, and blades, must be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis, as well as ... the scabbard
the edged weapon's vocation, is to be "lethal", also we must keep them in good order,
ready to use, and not as something, completely rusty and looks as a junk

the "patina" it's good, with bronze artifacts from archaeological material,
I mean being old for at least 10 centuries and more, green patina, even the brown, has a "charm", but
our weapons, aren't old as well, may be even, have been used by our great-grandfather

they should be proud, to see how we are taking care about them

thanks to have share with us

à +

Dom

Battara · 11th June 2012, 03:38 AM

Great work indeed! Love the pamor!

Indianajones · 11th June 2012, 01:23 PM

Sajen, actually I would love to know what this blade was actually used for 'tribally'. I read I am not d only novice on kerises etc.

(thankfully)

Sajen · 11th June 2012, 04:29 PM

Dom and Jose, thank's for your kind words!

Sajen · 11th June 2012, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indianajones

Sajen, actually I would love to know what this blade was actually used for 'tribally'. I read I am not d only novice on kerises etc.

(thankfully)

Hello Wouter,

can't answer your query with certain but I think heirloom and representation are a factor. I think tombaks are in this matter very similar with keris. Alan G. Maisey or our Indonesian members will be able to give a more qualified answer.

A. G. Maisey · 12th June 2012, 12:46 AM

In Jawa tombak were a more generally used weapon than the keris, and although a tombak can have a pusaka character, it does not encapsulate the same, or even similar cultural roots nor values as the keris.

For simplicity think "weapon". However, for a very long time that weapon has usually been kept without its shaft, which can be between 2 and 4 meters or more in length, making it very inconvenient to keep in an ordinary house, usually tombak are now mounted on short display shafts or as daggers.

Rulers and lords used to keep armouries stocked with tombak that were issued to levies in times of conflict, but ordinary people also kept tombak for personal defence as well as duty when called upon. In Jawa poorer people would simply use a sharpened bambu stake instead of a tombak with an iron blade.

Sajen · 12th June 2012, 06:37 PM

Hello Alan,

thank you very much for the given informations!

Regards,

Detlef

Indianajones · 16th June 2012, 10:06 PM

Indeed interesting. So originally I should 'picture these' with a long hardwood shaft and a brass ferrule?
I do know that this particular shape of spear (of Detlefs' tombak) is in many parts of Asia used specially for warfare. As for killing boar and fancy spears often have other forms. (if anyone has ever noticed n studied)

Best, Wouter

11th June 2012, 12:53 AM	#1
Dom Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Paris (FR*) Cairo (EG) Posts: 1,142	congratulations Detlef even if my knowledge is nil, concerning these weapons I may appreciated the artistic beauty of the blade and scabbard your refurbishment is really a must, and I like it,, for me, handles, hilts, and blades, must be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis, as well as ... the scabbard the edged weapon's vocation, is to be "lethal", also we must keep them in good order, ready to use, and not as something, completely rusty and looks as a junk the "patina" it's good, with bronze artifacts from archaeological material, I mean being old for at least 10 centuries and more, green patina, even the brown, has a "charm", but our weapons, aren't old as well, may be even, have been used by our great-grandfather they should be proud, to see how we are taking care about them thanks to have share with us à + Dom

11th June 2012, 03:38 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Great work indeed! Love the pamor!

11th June 2012, 01:23 PM	#3
Indianajones Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 180	Sajen, actually I would love to know what this blade was actually used for 'tribally'. I read I am not d only novice on kerises etc. (thankfully)

11th June 2012, 04:29 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,214	Dom and Jose, thank's for your kind words!

12th June 2012, 12:46 AM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,019	In Jawa tombak were a more generally used weapon than the keris, and although a tombak can have a pusaka character, it does not encapsulate the same, or even similar cultural roots nor values as the keris. For simplicity think "weapon". However, for a very long time that weapon has usually been kept without its shaft, which can be between 2 and 4 meters or more in length, making it very inconvenient to keep in an ordinary house, usually tombak are now mounted on short display shafts or as daggers. Rulers and lords used to keep armouries stocked with tombak that were issued to levies in times of conflict, but ordinary people also kept tombak for personal defence as well as duty when called upon. In Jawa poorer people would simply use a sharpened bambu stake instead of a tombak with an iron blade.

12th June 2012, 06:37 PM	#7
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,214	Hello Alan, thank you very much for the given informations! Regards, Detlef

16th June 2012, 10:06 PM	#8
Indianajones Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 180	Indeed interesting. So originally I should 'picture these' with a long hardwood shaft and a brass ferrule? I do know that this particular shape of spear (of Detlefs' tombak) is in many parts of Asia used specially for warfare. As for killing boar and fancy spears often have other forms. (if anyone has ever noticed n studied) Best, Wouter