a sewar ?
 

Yesterday, I took a long drive to Holland to get a keris I bought on a Belgian internetsite. The seller told me he had some other stuff, too. He wondered if I was interested...and I was :D

When I finally got there, I found (amongst other things) this knife. I believe it's a sewar, but I could be wrong. The wooden handle is well carved and resembles a keris handle from Sumatra. The blade is strong and layered (this can be seen on the back of the blade).

Total length : 28,5 cm.

Here are some pics

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...eelding048.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...eelding049.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...eelding050.jpg

Here are some more pics of the handle which is really beautiful.

As you may notice, there a initials onthe back the handle : T P

Also on the front (on the chest of the figure), I can see a letter : K, B or R

Has anyone seen something like this ?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...eelding051.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...eelding052.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...eelding053.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...eelding056.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...eelding057.jpg

Freddy,

Looks more as a Tumbok Lada. The keris hilt doesn't belong there. I think the letters are a later addition on the hilt. Could be ordered by a Dutch soldier. Kind of souvenir bringback in those days.

I asked the person who sold the pieces to me where he got them.

They were given as a kind of payment for services he had rendered years ago to an eldery Indonesian man. He was told the pieces came to Holland when this man came to live in Europe.

The seller had them quite some years as he is now also retired.

Hello Freddy,

when you follow strong to Albert Zonneveld it is a Sewar. Other, like Henk, say that it is a Tumbok Lada. But who I am to give the correct classification. But maybe Albert read this threat and can clear this!? See also this threat:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8203
The handle is indeed not original, it's a keris handle from Cirebon. The original handle is maybe long time before broken and the owner give it this handle.
Nice dagger!

sajen

I've been examining the handle on this knife and I'm not sure if it is wood. It's a very hard material. Could it be bone or even ivory ?

Is there anyway to tell without damaging the piece ?

Perhaps
 

A hot pin to the underside ?
Smells like burning hair ?
Could be horn .

If it were bone wouldn't the core be visible somewhere ?

Hello Freddy,

from the pictures it look like wood. When it will be ivory from elephant I miss the typical cracks. How look the handle in up from his head? You can see any porosity? This will be a sign that it is bone or antler. Is it possible to remove the handle from the tang? You try the hot needle proof?

sajen

Here's a pic of the back of the handle. Between the first and second row of 'curls' there's a small imperfection. What do you think, Sanjen ?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...lding065-1.jpg

When I look to this picture it's possible that this handle is from bone or antler.
No change to remove the handle?

sajen

Hi Freddy,

Nice one.
I would call it a sewar, regardless of the type of handle.
but that again I am not very strict with all these names.

Handle looks very much like wood to me.
Wood can be very hard.
Take a normal javanese ukiran and try to make a dent in it with your fingernail.
Your nail might break, but that will be all :D

Ps. couldn't you stick to the african arms ;) keris fever all over again :p

Hello Freddy,

That's a nice sewar blade. If it does fit the scabbard well, it may be Minang Kabau.

I agree that the hilt seems to be a later replacement.

Regards,
Kai