Help with unknown item!

Norman McCormick · 10th November 2010, 09:35 PM

Hi Guys,
This item is available locally and is described as an 'Indo Persian dagger', for obvious reasons I assume the attribution is a mistake. Being totally ignorant in your field of interest I was wondering if you would care to take a 'stab' at describing what this particular weapon is. I see it as two unrelated pieces, blade and hilt, put together perhaps by and for a colonial European. The European style hilt looks to be of good quality but I have no parameters with which to judge the blade. This is the only available photograph at the moment. My apologies if I have inadvertently crossed any boundaries with regard to your Forum etiquette.
Regards,
Norman.
P.S. I am not looking for any monetary information regarding this item.

David · 10th November 2010, 09:39 PM

Norman, this item looks like a Javanese tombak to me with a dagger mount, something which is often done with these.
Since this forum is specifically for keris i am going to transfer this over to the main forum for discussion.

Norman McCormick · 10th November 2010, 09:44 PM

Thanks David, just goes to prove I was right about my obvious lack of knowledge re this type of item.
My Regards,
Norman.

Gavin Nugent · 10th November 2010, 10:30 PM

Nice piece, the second such item of this type and quality that I have seen in as many months, the other having a bone and silver hilt....I'll see it I retained the images and post them...from memory it too was listed as Indo-Persian.....

Gav

Henk · 10th November 2010, 11:36 PM

David,

imho it doesn't look like but it is a javanese tombak. This type of hilt is very unusual for a tombak.

Gavin Nugent · 10th November 2010, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henk

David,

imho it doesn't look like but it is a javanese tombak. This type of hilt is very unusual for a tombak.

Very European, English or French put together...the hilt seems period era to the Tombok blade to me, maybe put together for Masonic regalia or something similar.

Gav

Norman McCormick · 11th November 2010, 12:03 AM

Hi,
If the hilt is European it looks late 18th early 19thC in style, would that tie in with the age of the blade?
Regards,
Norman.

David · 11th November 2010, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henk

David,

imho it doesn't look like but it is a javanese tombak. This type of hilt is very unusual for a tombak.

Well Henk, that is, of course, what i meant...

Yes, let me second that...this is a Javanese tombak and to my eyes a rather nice one at that.

asomotif · 12th November 2010, 07:56 AM

Nice piece. Nice shape of the tombak and a very classy old hilt.
But indeed not very Indonesion in style.

Maybe a close up of the gold an silver work near the base can give some more info on the origin of the hilt ?

Best regards,
Willem

10th November 2010, 09:35 PM	#1
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,597	Help with unusual Tombak!! Hi Guys, This item is available locally and is described as an 'Indo Persian dagger', for obvious reasons I assume the attribution is a mistake. Being totally ignorant in your field of interest I was wondering if you would care to take a 'stab' at describing what this particular weapon is. I see it as two unrelated pieces, blade and hilt, put together perhaps by and for a colonial European. The European style hilt looks to be of good quality but I have no parameters with which to judge the blade. This is the only available photograph at the moment. My apologies if I have inadvertently crossed any boundaries with regard to your Forum etiquette. Regards, Norman. P.S. I am not looking for any monetary information regarding this item. Attached Images Last edited by Norman McCormick; 11th November 2010 at 12:06 AM.

10th November 2010, 10:30 PM	#4
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	nice Nice piece, the second such item of this type and quality that I have seen in as many months, the other having a bone and silver hilt....I'll see it I retained the images and post them...from memory it too was listed as Indo-Persian..... Gav

10th November 2010, 09:39 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,123	Norman, this item looks like a Javanese tombak to me with a dagger mount, something which is often done with these. Since this forum is specifically for keris i am going to transfer this over to the main forum for discussion.

10th November 2010, 09:44 PM	#3
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,597	Thanks David, just goes to prove I was right about my obvious lack of knowledge re this type of item. My Regards, Norman.

10th November 2010, 11:36 PM	#5
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	David, imho it doesn't look like but it is a javanese tombak. This type of hilt is very unusual for a tombak.

11th November 2010, 12:03 AM	#7
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,597	Hi, If the hilt is European it looks late 18th early 19thC in style, would that tie in with the age of the blade? Regards, Norman.

12th November 2010, 07:56 AM	#9
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Nice piece. Nice shape of the tombak and a very classy old hilt. But indeed not very Indonesion in style. Maybe a close up of the gold an silver work near the base can give some more info on the origin of the hilt ? Best regards, Willem