Help identify Klewang

[Gustav]

It isn't mainly the Pamor, which allows to think of Bali as the very possible origin of the blade.

As I wrote, such overall shape of handle is found in many places in SEAsia. Important - it's faceted, and such feature is more likely distinctive for Sulawesi and West Java. Yet I don't think it's the appropriate handle for this blade.

[David]

Still wondering why we are calling this a klewang. It doesn't look like any form of klewang i am familiar with.

[kai]

Hello David,

It is not a klewang as the name is understood on Java nor, obviously, the Dutch-Indo military klewang.

In most other regions the name klewang (including spelling variants) is utilized in a much wider sense (and even contradicting the Javanese definition), usually for somewhat tip-heavy blades.

Regards,
Kai

[David]

Originally Posted by kai

Hello David,

It is not a klewang as the name is understood on Java nor, obviously, the Dutch-Indo military klewang.

In most other regions the name klewang (including spelling variants) is utilized in a much wider sense (and even contradicting the Javanese definition), usually for somewhat tip-heavy blades.

Regards,
Kai

Thanks for the explanation Kai. Such blades are somewhat outside my field of study so i am simply trying to determine if calling this blade a klewang is a bit of a misnomer. This doesn't seem to be a tip-heavy blade and it certainly isn't a Javanese klewang nor the Dutch-Indo military type, so i am trying to figure out if we could be calling it a klewang at all, but if everyone else is fine with that description who am i to argue.

[kai]

Hello Gustav,

I also believe this is a variant (with slightly more curved tip) of the blade published by Paravicini (1923; reproduced in AvZ, Fig. 295) which also belongs to the pengentas family of blades from Bali. IMVHO it is likely to also have been utilized in the funeral rites.

As I wrote, such overall shape of handle is found in many places in SEAsia. Important - it's faceted, and such feature is more likely distinctive for Sulawesi and West Java.

Faceted hilts are really rare (except for the quite different Sundanese gobang hilts). I'd love to see a close contender from anywhere in the archipelago!

Yet I don't think it's the appropriate handle for this blade.

Dominique, are there any signs that this blade has been rehilted?

We know that there is a variety of hilts (and blades) associated with the tiuk/blakas pengentas family of blades. Since this blade lends itself to hacking and possibly also pulling action, I reckon that a hilt which avoids slipping may help. Thus, it might be the function leading to an unusual hilt: Barring any new evidence to the contrary, I'd be inclined to believe that this hilt originated from Bali (or Lombok), too.

Regards,
Kai

[asomotif]

The construction of the ferrule gives me the impression that the ferrule is more recent than the handle and surely more recent than the blade.

Best regards,
Willem

[Gustav]

Hello Kai,

a somewhat similar handle is depicted in AvZ, page 89, as Matana knife.

[Gustav]

I had the same impression as Willem.

[A. G. Maisey]

The problem with the word "klewang, kelewang" is that it has a different meaning for collectors, especially collectors outside the area of origin of the klewang, than for native speakers of Malay, Bahasa Indonesia and Javanese.

In all three of these languages a klewang is defined as a sword, and in BI and Javanese it must be broad and curved. According to Wilkinson it was very much favoured by the people from Aceh.

But my understanding of the way in which collectors use the word is that it can be tagged onto just about any short, heavy tool/weapon used for chopping.

In respect of the item under discussion here, it is probably correctly termed "madhik". This is a very ancient Balinese tool/weapon:-

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21896

[Gustav]

Now there is another a little bit mysterious Bali-Sulawesi specimen, with similar handle -

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?p=187966

Blade looks Balinese, sheath - Sulawesi. Handle isn't really faceted, but close.

Now has somebody a "Matana knife" in he's collection?

.................................................. .............

What leads me to think the handle (of our "Mardhik") isn't original is the way blade is mounted to it - at the very upper part; the handle looks to big.

Or has somebody seen such handles on Bali? That would make things easier.

[David]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

The problem with the word "klewang, kelewang" is that it has a different meaning for collectors, especially collectors outside the area of origin of the klewang, than for native speakers of Malay, Bahasa Indonesia and Javanese.

In all three of these languages a klewang is defined as a sword, and in BI and Javanese it must be broad and curved. According to Wilkinson it was very much favoured by the people from Aceh.

But my understanding of the way in which collectors use the word is that it can be tagged onto just about any short, heavy tool/weapon used for chopping.

In respect of the item under discussion here, it is probably correctly termed "madhik". This is a very ancient Balinese tool/weapon:-

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21896

Thanks Alan. That is very helpful information.