Indonesian? Short Sword for Comment

RobT · 8th March 2022, 12:43 AM

A. G. Maisey,

Thanks for the hilt ID. I agree with you that it is likely a homemade hilt. As I said before, the blade appears to be older than the hilt. Perhaps the original hilt was damaged and sword's owner couldn't afford a professionally made replacement. The carver did a nice abstraction for an amateur but better still, if it is a homemade hilt made by a member of traditional Indonesian society for an heirloom blade, it is unlikely that the hilt shape would be culturally inappropriate for the sword. I still wonder about the oddly shaped steel ferrule however. Was it part of the original hilt or was it made by a local smith for the new hilt?

David R,

Users are mostly what I collect. I have a few "Prince's" pieces but I am mostly interested in the type blade carried by the professional soldier or the baker's son.

Sincerely,
RobT

8th March 2022, 12:43 AM	#10
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 566	Thanks A. G. Maisey, Thanks for the hilt ID. I agree with you that it is likely a homemade hilt. As I said before, the blade appears to be older than the hilt. Perhaps the original hilt was damaged and sword's owner couldn't afford a professionally made replacement. The carver did a nice abstraction for an amateur but better still, if it is a homemade hilt made by a member of traditional Indonesian society for an heirloom blade, it is unlikely that the hilt shape would be culturally inappropriate for the sword. I still wonder about the oddly shaped steel ferrule however. Was it part of the original hilt or was it made by a local smith for the new hilt? David R, Users are mostly what I collect. I have a few "Prince's" pieces but I am mostly interested in the type blade carried by the professional soldier or the baker's son. Sincerely, RobT