unknown klewang;identification help please

drac2k · 2nd November 2013, 03:52 AM

I just picked up this unusual sword with a group of other exotic weapons and I'm not sure what to make of this one.It has a very heavy, sharp cleaver like blade approx. 23" and a thickness of 5/16" @ the base.The handle looks to be horn, with a brass guard.The scabbard is has sheet silver foil over it with sections missing as shown.
Any comments would be appreciated.

Sajen · 2nd November 2013, 05:25 AM

Hello Drac2k,

very nice piece, have to look tomorrow again but it's surely from Sumatra. Handle could be rhino horn, please post close ups.

Regards,

Detlef

drac2k · 2nd November 2013, 05:33 AM

Thanks, the handle does have that look.

VVV · 2nd November 2013, 12:09 PM

Congratulations!

This is an extremely rare find.

It is from south Sumatra. Usually it has more silver fittings on the hilt than yours (bands, nose, and sometimes an eye - see reference pictures).
Yours is the first "naked version" I have seen (unless you find traces from silver fittings on the hilt?).

Here is the only picture I know of it when carried.
It shows a chief from the region of Rawas, but the picture was taken in Palembang.

Michael

CharlesS · 2nd November 2013, 02:35 PM

See also: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13812

drac2k · 2nd November 2013, 07:23 PM

Thanks for the great information ! Some of the silver inlay is missing from the scabbard and based on how thin the silver ferrule fitting is, I believe that there could have been more silver on the handle, that could have fallen off or been removed.
I thought that this could have been a European blade, refashioned into this native form;I even think I see a crown on the blade, which I tried to photographed (if one stares long enough at a blade, they can imagine all sort of things).Based on the heaviness of the blade, if it is European, I would guess it to be 18 th century.
Regards,
David

Sajen · 3rd November 2013, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VVV

Congratulations!

This is an extremely rare find.

It is from south Sumatra. Usually it has more silver fittings on the hilt than yours (bands, nose, and sometimes an eye - see reference pictures).
Yours is the first "naked version" I have seen (unless you find traces from silver fittings on the hilt?).

Here is the only picture I know of it when carried.
It shows a chief from the region of Rawas, but the picture was taken in Palembang.

Michael

Hello Michael,

two beautiful examples you have there. Good that you comment, my guess of origin would have been Palembang but now I remember that these swords are from Bengkulu.
What do you think, could the handle from the one in question from rhino horn?

Regards,

Detlef

Gavin Nugent · 3rd November 2013, 01:32 AM

Congratulations and a cheap buy too.

About the hilt, it is bovine, not Rhino, this is clearly shown in the images above, especially at the top side of the pommel area.

Gavin

drac2k · 3rd November 2013, 02:44 AM

Bovine it is then. How did you know it was a cheap buy(even though it was)!You guys ran me away from ebay(almost),outbidding me on sundangs and such and now you've followed me to other sites............okay, how are you tracking my computer ;John Snowden has got nothing on you!
On a more serious note, I got this sword and 21 other pieces @ an auction I discovered 15 min., before it started;most of them great pieces(there were a couple of dogs in there), for very little money.I'm kicking myself for not buying more, however the pictures weren't great and the lots went very fast! some were European swords,but 7 or 8 were ethnographic and I'll get my wife to do a group picture to share with the forum.
David

2nd November 2013, 03:52 AM	#1
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,232	unknown klewang;identification help please I just picked up this unusual sword with a group of other exotic weapons and I'm not sure what to make of this one.It has a very heavy, sharp cleaver like blade approx. 23" and a thickness of 5/16" @ the base.The handle looks to be horn, with a brass guard.The scabbard is has sheet silver foil over it with sections missing as shown. Any comments would be appreciated. Attached Images

2nd November 2013, 12:09 PM	#4
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Congratulations! This is an extremely rare find. It is from south Sumatra. Usually it has more silver fittings on the hilt than yours (bands, nose, and sometimes an eye - see reference pictures). Yours is the first "naked version" I have seen (unless you find traces from silver fittings on the hilt?). Here is the only picture I know of it when carried. It shows a chief from the region of Rawas, but the picture was taken in Palembang. Michael Attached Images

2nd November 2013, 05:25 AM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,788	Hello Drac2k, very nice piece, have to look tomorrow again but it's surely from Sumatra. Handle could be rhino horn, please post close ups. Regards, Detlef

2nd November 2013, 05:33 AM	#3
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,232	Thanks, the handle does have that look.

2nd November 2013, 02:35 PM	#5
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	See also: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13812

2nd November 2013, 07:23 PM	#6
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,232	Thanks for the great information ! Some of the silver inlay is missing from the scabbard and based on how thin the silver ferrule fitting is, I believe that there could have been more silver on the handle, that could have fallen off or been removed. I thought that this could have been a European blade, refashioned into this native form;I even think I see a crown on the blade, which I tried to photographed (if one stares long enough at a blade, they can imagine all sort of things).Based on the heaviness of the blade, if it is European, I would guess it to be 18 th century. Regards, David

3rd November 2013, 01:32 AM	#8
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Congratulations and a cheap buy too. About the hilt, it is bovine, not Rhino, this is clearly shown in the images above, especially at the top side of the pommel area. Gavin

3rd November 2013, 02:44 AM	#9
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,232	Bovine it is then. How did you know it was a cheap buy(even though it was)!You guys ran me away from ebay(almost),outbidding me on sundangs and such and now you've followed me to other sites............okay, how are you tracking my computer ;John Snowden has got nothing on you! On a more serious note, I got this sword and 21 other pieces @ an auction I discovered 15 min., before it started;most of them great pieces(there were a couple of dogs in there), for very little money.I'm kicking myself for not buying more, however the pictures weren't great and the lots went very fast! some were European swords,but 7 or 8 were ethnographic and I'll get my wife to do a group picture to share with the forum. David