VOC marked pedang

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by David R

Like the eyelash marks and half moons etc seen on Arab and North African blades?

Exactly in the same manner. Various markings on European blades might be perceived in many different ways symbolically in various cultural spheres.
For example, the cross and orb often used on German blades, in the Sudan may be seen in tribal parlance as drum and sticks, important in tribal status.
The half moons often have key symbolic relation in the cosmology in tribal folk religions, much as the other astral symbols such as sun, moon, star .
The dual moons on takouba blades (dukari) are seen as imbuing magic in the blade.

As Alan has noted, the merit of this weapon depends entirely on the perspective of the person observing it, and it is a good example of a Javanese weapon following the traditions of that culture. This is the very manner in which most ethnographic weapons should be viewed, with consideration toward its likely place in the cultural traditions of the people and regions it is from.