Another Acquisition--Keris style spear

Rick · 7th November 2018, 02:33 PM

Not to mention, it seems to have a separate metuk which is the iron collar at the base of the blade which I take to be (at the very least) an indication of the smith's skill.

MichaelZWilliamson · 7th November 2018, 02:35 PM

Can anyone read the label on the back of the scabbard?

Sajen · 7th November 2018, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelZWilliamson

Can anyone read the label on the back of the scabbard?

First word is for sure Tombak!

A. G. Maisey · 7th November 2018, 08:59 PM

Michael, if you could look carefully at this label , possibly through a loupe, or magnifying glass, and write down the letters as you see them, it is possible that I may be able to give sense to them.

I've run it through Photoshop and sharpened it up a bit, and here is what I think I can see:-

line 1:- tombak = spear, pandan = a type pf plant, the leaves used in cooking

line 2:- - - 00 = unintelligible, possibly a price?

line 3:- pamor = the surface patterning of the blade, rambon = a type of tobacco, this reading does not make any sense; if it were to be "pamor rambut", this might make sense, "rambut" is "hair", and this might have been classified by somebody as "pamor rambut", I cannot see it clearly enough to form an opinion.

line 4:- pake = a corruption or alternative colloquial spelling/pronunciation of "pakai", "pakai" = use, wear, take.

Let me have what you can see and I might be able to do better.

MichaelZWilliamson · 9th November 2018, 10:53 PM

Any idea what alloy the fittings are?

A. G. Maisey · 9th November 2018, 11:18 PM

Most likely brass Michael, but you have it in your hand, and by the look of things you have at least as much metallurgical knowledge as I do, so I reckon your guess would be probably better than mine.

Put it this way:- they use gold, silver, mamas, brass. I'll put money on it that the fittings (brongsong, sopal) are not gold or silver, mamas is unlikely, the fittings look too recent and mamas does not emboss well, so brass is most likely.

MichaelZWilliamson · 11th November 2018, 04:05 AM

Tombak Pand o/p? u l/j?

Pamor rambany or kambany

pake or pare

David R · 12th November 2018, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Most likely brass Michael, but you have it in your hand, and by the look of things you have at least as much metallurgical knowledge as I do, so I reckon your guess would be probably better than mine.

Put it this way:- they use gold, silver, mamas, brass. I'll put money on it that the fittings (brongsong, sopal) are not gold or silver, mamas is unlikely, the fittings look too recent and mamas does not emboss well, so brass is most likely.

What is Mamas? An alloy or a local term for a pure metal?

7th November 2018, 08:59 PM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Michael, if you could look carefully at this label , possibly through a loupe, or magnifying glass, and write down the letters as you see them, it is possible that I may be able to give sense to them. I've run it through Photoshop and sharpened it up a bit, and here is what I think I can see:- line 1:- tombak = spear, pandan = a type pf plant, the leaves used in cooking line 2:- - - 00 = unintelligible, possibly a price? line 3:- pamor = the surface patterning of the blade, rambon = a type of tobacco, this reading does not make any sense; if it were to be "pamor rambut", this might make sense, "rambut" is "hair", and this might have been classified by somebody as "pamor rambut", I cannot see it clearly enough to form an opinion. line 4:- pake = a corruption or alternative colloquial spelling/pronunciation of "pakai", "pakai" = use, wear, take. Let me have what you can see and I might be able to do better. Attached Images

11th November 2018, 04:05 AM	#7
MichaelZWilliamson Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Posts: 50	Tombak Pand o/p? u l/j? Pamor rambany or kambany pake or pare Attached Images

7th November 2018, 02:33 PM	#1
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	Not to mention, it seems to have a separate metuk which is the iron collar at the base of the blade which I take to be (at the very least) an indication of the smith's skill.

7th November 2018, 02:35 PM	#2
MichaelZWilliamson Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Posts: 50	Can anyone read the label on the back of the scabbard?

9th November 2018, 10:53 PM	#5
MichaelZWilliamson Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Posts: 50	Any idea what alloy the fittings are?

9th November 2018, 11:18 PM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Most likely brass Michael, but you have it in your hand, and by the look of things you have at least as much metallurgical knowledge as I do, so I reckon your guess would be probably better than mine. Put it this way:- they use gold, silver, mamas, brass. I'll put money on it that the fittings (brongsong, sopal) are not gold or silver, mamas is unlikely, the fittings look too recent and mamas does not emboss well, so brass is most likely.