Is this a siraui?

DaveF · 3rd January 2018, 01:04 PM

Hi Ian,

I saw the pisau Nias that you've just acquired on ebay at the start of last month. It was advertised as a "Dayak Warrior Sword/knife". From research on this site I thought it looked more like a Nias piece so I messaged the seller to ask whether it may be Nias. He didn't reply, but immediately changed the description to "Nias Warrior Sword/knife". As a still novice collector I lacked confidence in my own assessment and decided to swerve it, even though I thought it looked really interesting. So, I'm delighted to see that someone who really does know what they're talking about was happy to acquire it as a pisau Nias! It just shows what a fantastic resource this site is. Long may it flourish.

Ian · 6th January 2018, 04:14 PM

Dave,

I'm very pleased to hear you find the Forum helpful for your collecting. That is certainly one of its aims, to provide knowledge to collectors at all stages of their development and experience. Keep reading and keep posting, Dave.

Regards,

Ian.

Sajen · 15th January 2018, 06:26 PM

Here another Nias knife I've bought recently. Pictures from the seller. Maybe not extremely old but with laminated blade.

Ian · 15th January 2018, 07:21 PM

Nice one, Detlef.

Sajen · 15th January 2018, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Nice one, Detlef.

Thank you Ian! But have liked to get the one in post #28!

kai · 16th January 2018, 12:55 PM

Hello Detlef,

This is a kind of secondary sword (usually worn behind the balato). The blade looks promising - please let us know the blade thickness once it arrives. As you already suggested, the fittings seem younger (mid-20th c.?) to me, too.

It's a known pattern with pretty much identical style compared to the small EDC knives; there even may be a (possibly more recent?) continuum of sizes: Ian's from post #24 seems to be intermediate with traditional tip and apparently rather strong blade?

However, most of the knives are really small and the swords more in the balato size range (give or take a few inches) while the intermediate size-range usually gets covered by regular si euli (a damaged si euli scabbard is easy to recycle into a knife scabbard though).

Regards,
Kai

Sajen · 16th January 2018, 10:18 PM

Thank you Kai, soon as it arrived I will take new pictures and post the exact dimensions.

Regards,
Detlef

15th January 2018, 06:26 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,165	Here another Nias knife I've bought recently. Pictures from the seller. Maybe not extremely old but with laminated blade. Attached Images

3rd January 2018, 01:04 PM	#1
DaveF Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Lancashire, England Posts: 48	Hi Ian, I saw the pisau Nias that you've just acquired on ebay at the start of last month. It was advertised as a "Dayak Warrior Sword/knife". From research on this site I thought it looked more like a Nias piece so I messaged the seller to ask whether it may be Nias. He didn't reply, but immediately changed the description to "Nias Warrior Sword/knife". As a still novice collector I lacked confidence in my own assessment and decided to swerve it, even though I thought it looked really interesting. So, I'm delighted to see that someone who really does know what they're talking about was happy to acquire it as a pisau Nias! It just shows what a fantastic resource this site is. Long may it flourish.

6th January 2018, 04:14 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Dave, I'm very pleased to hear you find the Forum helpful for your collecting. That is certainly one of its aims, to provide knowledge to collectors at all stages of their development and experience. Keep reading and keep posting, Dave. Regards, Ian.

15th January 2018, 07:21 PM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Nice one, Detlef.

16th January 2018, 12:55 PM	#6
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Detlef, This is a kind of secondary sword (usually worn behind the balato). The blade looks promising - please let us know the blade thickness once it arrives. As you already suggested, the fittings seem younger (mid-20th c.?) to me, too. It's a known pattern with pretty much identical style compared to the small EDC knives; there even may be a (possibly more recent?) continuum of sizes: Ian's from post #24 seems to be intermediate with traditional tip and apparently rather strong blade? However, most of the knives are really small and the swords more in the balato size range (give or take a few inches) while the intermediate size-range usually gets covered by regular si euli (a damaged si euli scabbard is easy to recycle into a knife scabbard though). Regards, Kai

16th January 2018, 10:18 PM	#7
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,165	Thank you Kai, soon as it arrived I will take new pictures and post the exact dimensions. Regards, Detlef