Sikin hilt - identify?

DaveA · 28th March 2015, 08:05 PM

Hello,

I recently acquired a sword whose blade is consistent with a sikin identification. However, the hilt does not match the strong implication in VZ's book that a sikin hilt is invariably forked. Nor does this hilt match what I know of the "horse-hoof" type hilts that are sometimes found on other swords from Sumatra, but I readily admit my limited expertise on that subject and this leads me to the query in this post.

See photo attached. The hilt is 4 1/2 inches long and about 1 1/2 inches high with an oval cross section, slightly flattened on the sides and increasing in size towards the down turned pommel as you can see in the photo. The pommel itself is nearly flat, with no decoration.

Any ideas what kind of hilt this is? Is it reasonable to think it could be found on a sikin?

I promise to post pictures of the whole sword once I remove a bit more rust and get it cleaned up.

Best Regards,

Dave A.

ariel · 29th March 2015, 01:34 PM

One potential explanation for the discrepancy is that the handle is a later replacement.

CharlesS · 29th March 2015, 01:49 PM

I agree with Ariel. The whole thing is much later to the blade, including the bolster, or ferrule.

asomotif · 29th March 2015, 10:01 PM

Yes, a later replacement.

The floral decoration on the ferrule is not Atjeh, nor is the hilt.
It looks also oversized. a picture of the complete weapon will give a better view on the size.

Best regards,
Willem

Sajen · 29th March 2015, 10:07 PM

Agree with the others, it's a replacement hilt. When the blade is good I would look for a matching hilt.

Regards,
Detlef

DaveA · 29th March 2015, 11:44 PM

Thank you all for your comments.

Here are a few more pictures. This is the weapon as received, before cleaning.

The overall length is 27 inches. The blade is 22 inches long measured along the spine. The blade width is 1 ½ inches. In the final 1 ¼ inch of the blade, the edge curves up in a quarter circle radius to the tip. The blade features a single wide fuller on both sides in the first 15 inches from the forte along the top edge. The blade is ⅜ inch thick at forte, tapering distally to point. The hilt is 4 ½ inches long and made of hardwood. Hilt is oval cross-section, increasing in size and turning slowly downward to pommel. It somewhat resembles the kind of hilt you might find on a sewar, but not a sikin.

Willem, I would be grateful for a link to a good example of Atjeh floral decoration.

Best Regards,

Dave A.

DaveA · 1st April 2015, 04:45 PM

Here is a close-up of the hilt on a sword currently on auction. It is identified as originating from Nias. The shape is a close match to the hilt on my sikin although this one is more clearly a horse-hoof style.

- Dave A.

Henk · 5th April 2015, 11:47 AM

In my opinion definitely recent replacements.

28th March 2015, 08:05 PM	#1
DaveA Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 413	Sikin hilt - identify? Hello, I recently acquired a sword whose blade is consistent with a sikin identification. However, the hilt does not match the strong implication in VZ's book that a sikin hilt is invariably forked. Nor does this hilt match what I know of the "horse-hoof" type hilts that are sometimes found on other swords from Sumatra, but I readily admit my limited expertise on that subject and this leads me to the query in this post. See photo attached. The hilt is 4 1/2 inches long and about 1 1/2 inches high with an oval cross section, slightly flattened on the sides and increasing in size towards the down turned pommel as you can see in the photo. The pommel itself is nearly flat, with no decoration. Any ideas what kind of hilt this is? Is it reasonable to think it could be found on a sikin? I promise to post pictures of the whole sword once I remove a bit more rust and get it cleaned up. Best Regards, Dave A. Attached Images

29th March 2015, 11:44 PM	#6
DaveA Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 413	More pictures Thank you all for your comments. Here are a few more pictures. This is the weapon as received, before cleaning. The overall length is 27 inches. The blade is 22 inches long measured along the spine. The blade width is 1 ½ inches. In the final 1 ¼ inch of the blade, the edge curves up in a quarter circle radius to the tip. The blade features a single wide fuller on both sides in the first 15 inches from the forte along the top edge. The blade is ⅜ inch thick at forte, tapering distally to point. The hilt is 4 ½ inches long and made of hardwood. Hilt is oval cross-section, increasing in size and turning slowly downward to pommel. It somewhat resembles the kind of hilt you might find on a sewar, but not a sikin. Willem, I would be grateful for a link to a good example of Atjeh floral decoration. Best Regards, Dave A. Attached Images

1st April 2015, 04:45 PM	#7
DaveA Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 413	Possibly Nias hilt Here is a close-up of the hilt on a sword currently on auction. It is identified as originating from Nias. The shape is a close match to the hilt on my sikin although this one is more clearly a horse-hoof style. - Dave A. Last edited by Robert; 6th April 2015 at 08:24 AM. Reason: Photo is as stated of an item "currently on auction."

29th March 2015, 01:34 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	One potential explanation for the discrepancy is that the handle is a later replacement.

29th March 2015, 01:49 PM	#3
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	I agree with Ariel. The whole thing is much later to the blade, including the bolster, or ferrule.

29th March 2015, 10:01 PM	#4
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Yes, a later replacement. The floral decoration on the ferrule is not Atjeh, nor is the hilt. It looks also oversized. a picture of the complete weapon will give a better view on the size. Best regards, Willem

29th March 2015, 10:07 PM	#5
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,779	Agree with the others, it's a replacement hilt. When the blade is good I would look for a matching hilt. Regards, Detlef

5th April 2015, 11:47 AM	#8
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	In my opinion definitely recent replacements.