Indonesian? Short Sword for Comment

David R · 7th March 2022, 08:54 PM

I always find it interesting when something looks like a "user" rather than a "poser". I am profoundly ignorant of blades from this area, but also very interested in them..... to me this looks like a "user"!

RobT · 8th March 2022, 12:43 AM

A. G. Maisey,

Thanks for the hilt ID. I agree with you that it is likely a homemade hilt. As I said before, the blade appears to be older than the hilt. Perhaps the original hilt was damaged and sword's owner couldn't afford a professionally made replacement. The carver did a nice abstraction for an amateur but better still, if it is a homemade hilt made by a member of traditional Indonesian society for an heirloom blade, it is unlikely that the hilt shape would be culturally inappropriate for the sword. I still wonder about the oddly shaped steel ferrule however. Was it part of the original hilt or was it made by a local smith for the new hilt?

David R,

Users are mostly what I collect. I have a few "Prince's" pieces but I am mostly interested in the type blade carried by the professional soldier or the baker's son.

Sincerely,
RobT

A. G. Maisey · 8th March 2022, 02:18 AM

Definitely culturally appropriate.

I'd sooner not guess on the ferrule.

8th March 2022, 12:43 AM	#2
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 533	Thanks A. G. Maisey, Thanks for the hilt ID. I agree with you that it is likely a homemade hilt. As I said before, the blade appears to be older than the hilt. Perhaps the original hilt was damaged and sword's owner couldn't afford a professionally made replacement. The carver did a nice abstraction for an amateur but better still, if it is a homemade hilt made by a member of traditional Indonesian society for an heirloom blade, it is unlikely that the hilt shape would be culturally inappropriate for the sword. I still wonder about the oddly shaped steel ferrule however. Was it part of the original hilt or was it made by a local smith for the new hilt? David R, Users are mostly what I collect. I have a few "Prince's" pieces but I am mostly interested in the type blade carried by the professional soldier or the baker's son. Sincerely, RobT

7th March 2022, 08:54 PM	#1
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,114	I always find it interesting when something looks like a "user" rather than a "poser". I am profoundly ignorant of blades from this area, but also very interested in them..... to me this looks like a "user"!

8th March 2022, 02:18 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,989	Definitely culturally appropriate. I'd sooner not guess on the ferrule.