Beladau? Lawi Ayam? or...?

Athanase · 23rd December 2018, 06:15 PM

Hello,

Another Sumatran?/Malay? strange dagger.

The blade look like beladau blade but the hilt is very different.
The blade also looks like the Lawi Ayam but I do not really know this family of weapons and I think that the blade may not be curved enough to be classified as Lawi Ayam.

The sheath is in Suamtran/Malay style (The true color of red wood is a little browner and darker), but the adjustment with the handle is not good, I feel that it may not be the original sheath.

Length blade : 18,3cm
Thickness at the base : 5mm

Do you know the name and origin of this dagger?

kai · 23rd December 2018, 09:11 PM

Hello Séverin,

Nice grab!

Quote:

Another Sumatran?/Malay? strange dagger.

The blade look like beladau blade but the hilt is very different.
The blade also looks like the Lawi Ayam but I do not really know this family of weapons and I think that the blade may not be curved enough to be classified as Lawi Ayam.

Certainly not a lawi ayam or korambi.

The hilt clearly is a variant of a badik. The red color might point to a coastal Malay community if the scabbard is original.

Quote:

The sheath is in Suamtran/Malay style (The true color of red wood is a little browner and darker), but the adjustment with the handle is not good, I feel that it may not be the original sheath.

Does the blade fit only very loosely?

If the blade feels suitable, it may just be a bit misaligned: It looks like it may have been shifted slightly upwards.

Regards,
Kai

Sajen · 23rd December 2018, 11:03 PM

I think that it is a badik from Sumatra and a very nice one on top!

I am nearly sure that the scabbard is a recent replacement, compare the patina from the handle and scabbard and note the unpurified workmanship of the scabbard. So I am unsure if the scabbard style could be a hint for the exact origin.

Regards,
Detlef

Sajen · 23rd December 2018, 11:07 PM

And by second look I think the red colour from the scabbard body could be stained.

CharlesS · 24th December 2018, 02:16 PM

I agree with Sajen. Lovely piece with a later, but not inappropriate, scabbard. Congrats on a nice find.

Athanase · 24th December 2018, 02:41 PM

So it's Malay/Sumatran Badik.
Thank you all for your feedbacks.

A. G. Maisey · 25th December 2018, 12:13 AM

I believe we are looking at the blade of a jambiyo, most likely made in the Bugis tradition, that has been remounted as a badik, probably in Sumatera.

23rd December 2018, 06:15 PM	#1
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	Beladau? Lawi Ayam? or...? Hello, Another Sumatran?/Malay? strange dagger. The blade look like beladau blade but the hilt is very different. The blade also looks like the Lawi Ayam but I do not really know this family of weapons and I think that the blade may not be curved enough to be classified as Lawi Ayam. The sheath is in Suamtran/Malay style (The true color of red wood is a little browner and darker), but the adjustment with the handle is not good, I feel that it may not be the original sheath. Length blade : 18,3cm Thickness at the base : 5mm Do you know the name and origin of this dagger? Attached Images

23rd December 2018, 11:03 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	I think that it is a badik from Sumatra and a very nice one on top! I am nearly sure that the scabbard is a recent replacement, compare the patina from the handle and scabbard and note the unpurified workmanship of the scabbard. So I am unsure if the scabbard style could be a hint for the exact origin. Regards, Detlef

23rd December 2018, 11:07 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	And by second look I think the red colour from the scabbard body could be stained.

24th December 2018, 02:16 PM	#5
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	I agree with Sajen. Lovely piece with a later, but not inappropriate, scabbard. Congrats on a nice find.

24th December 2018, 02:41 PM	#6
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	So it's Malay/Sumatran Badik. Thank you all for your feedbacks.

25th December 2018, 12:13 AM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,892	I believe we are looking at the blade of a jambiyo, most likely made in the Bugis tradition, that has been remounted as a badik, probably in Sumatera.