Three swords from Central Timor

Sajen · 4th July 2023, 06:06 PM

I want to show you three swords from Central Timor from my collection. K. H. Sirag described this type of Timor swords as "type c" in the book from Albert G. van Zonneveld. They always have a handle shaped like a cock's head. The blades are mostly of foreign manufacture and most of the time curved, straight blades are not common so the one in down is an exceptional case.
The top one I've shown here a long time ago before, the two others are relatively new to the collection.
The top one has a Dutch klewang blade from Hembrug, the one in the middle of an unknown foreign saber, the small one in down of unknown origin. The one in the middle missing the inserted crest and maybe a tuft of hair, see picture. The scabbard is made from two pieces of kerbau (water buffalo) horn. By all three are the fittings from silver, heavily patinated which I only partly cleaned.
Top one is 77 cm long inside scabbard, 75 cm without, blade alone is 60 cm long.
The middle one is 69 cm inside scabbard, 65,5 cm without and a blade from 51,5 cm.
The small one in down is 51 cm inside scabbard, 47,5 cm without and a blade from 33,5 cm.
When other members have similar swords feel free to show them here.

Sajen · 4th July 2023, 06:15 PM

The handles.

Sajen · 6th July 2023, 09:41 AM

Over 100 views and not one single comment?

milandro · 6th July 2023, 03:10 PM

the top one appears to be a repurposed Hembrug Dutch " Klewang"( the Army and Navy weapon still in used in the NL by the marechaussee and formerly used by the KNIL army)

Sajen · 6th July 2023, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milandro

the top one appears to be a repurposed Hembrug Dutch " Klewang"( the Army and Navy weapon still in used in the NL by the marechaussee and formerly used by the KNIL army)

Yes, you are correct! It has a blade from a Hembrug klewang like I stated in #1. These swords Karel Sirag described in the book from Albert, "Traditional Weapons Of The Indonesian Archipelago" as "type c" have most of the time repurposed blades of European manufacture.
Thank you very much for the first comment!

Regards,
Detlef

milandro · 6th July 2023, 05:39 PM

cheers , sorry I have missed that part

Maurice · 10th February 2025, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Over 100 views and not one single comment?

Nice Timor swords Detlef,

But I'm more attracted to the Timorese 'Surik' kind of swords, from the 'Antoni' tribe.
And if they have an old VOC blade, than I can't resist them.

Kind regards,
Maurice

Sajen · 10th February 2025, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice

Nice Timor swords Detlef,

But I'm more attracted to the Timorese 'Surik' kind of swords, from the 'Antoni' tribe.
And if they have an old VOC blade, than I can't resist them.

Hi Maurice,

Wow, a great sword from Pantar (my personal guess)! I prefer these swords also but they are rare and most of the time very expensive.
But when I could choose a sword from your display I would prefer the pade in up!

Best regards,
Detlef

Maurice · 10th February 2025, 08:13 PM

Hi Detlef,

Thank you.
I've had several pades in the past, but I kept this 'Tawu' because of the typical Celebes 'Sangori' carved motif on top of the hilt (where the endcap usually is), which I never had seen before.
I would not be able to choose between one or the other. I like them both equally!
I don't want to 'hack' your threat, but here a photo (2 photos

) of the carving on the hilt.

4th July 2023, 06:15 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,416	The handles. Attached Images

10th February 2025, 08:13 PM	#9
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,462	Hi Detlef, Thank you. I've had several pades in the past, but I kept this 'Tawu' because of the typical Celebes 'Sangori' carved motif on top of the hilt (where the endcap usually is), which I never had seen before. I would not be able to choose between one or the other. I like them both equally! I don't want to 'hack' your threat, but here a photo (2 photos ) of the carving on the hilt. Attached Images

4th July 2023, 06:06 PM	#1
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,416	Three swords from Central Timor I want to show you three swords from Central Timor from my collection. K. H. Sirag described this type of Timor swords as "type c" in the book from Albert G. van Zonneveld. They always have a handle shaped like a cock's head. The blades are mostly of foreign manufacture and most of the time curved, straight blades are not common so the one in down is an exceptional case. The top one I've shown here a long time ago before, the two others are relatively new to the collection. The top one has a Dutch klewang blade from Hembrug, the one in the middle of an unknown foreign saber, the small one in down of unknown origin. The one in the middle missing the inserted crest and maybe a tuft of hair, see picture. The scabbard is made from two pieces of kerbau (water buffalo) horn. By all three are the fittings from silver, heavily patinated which I only partly cleaned. Top one is 77 cm long inside scabbard, 75 cm without, blade alone is 60 cm long. The middle one is 69 cm inside scabbard, 65,5 cm without and a blade from 51,5 cm. The small one in down is 51 cm inside scabbard, 47,5 cm without and a blade from 33,5 cm. When other members have similar swords feel free to show them here. Attached Images Last edited by Sajen; 4th July 2023 at 06:32 PM.

6th July 2023, 09:41 AM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,416	Over 100 views and not one single comment?

6th July 2023, 03:10 PM	#4
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 498	the top one appears to be a repurposed Hembrug Dutch " Klewang"( the Army and Navy weapon still in used in the NL by the marechaussee and formerly used by the KNIL army)

6th July 2023, 05:39 PM	#6
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 498	cheers , sorry I have missed that part