Piso Podang Batak or Borneo?

erikscollectables · 24th April 2011, 08:58 PM

Very interesting, I did not know about this - these seem to be straight ones as well! Thanks for the info! Regards, Erik

Quote:

Originally Posted by rasdan

Hello,

Some of these are actually used by Malay rulers. I had attached 2 photos of the weapon in question used to escort 2 Malay Sultan. The first is Sultan Ahmad, Sultan of Pahang, the second one is Sultan Muhammad, Sultan of Negeri Sembilan. Both pictures are taken in the end of 1800's.

I have in my possession a sword like that that is from the Malay Peninsula. It looked the same like their Sumatran counterparts, but there's a bit of intricacy of design of the hilt. The hilt is made with some white metal; probably silver aloy (since it has blackish oxidation), plated with gold. I have seen another one that is in a possesion of somebody in my hometown, a slightly larger/longer sword just like mine, that is said to be a present from Sultan Abu Bakar of Johore.

p/s: Mykeris, if you are reading this, please don't laugh.

rasdan · 24th April 2011, 09:04 PM

You're welcome Erik. Mine and the other one that I had seen are straight, just like yours. But it seems form the pic, there's curved ones as well..

erikscollectables · 24th April 2011, 09:27 PM

Hello Rasdan,

I noted that too. How strange that the same type of weapon appears in these different places, Sumatra, Borneo and Malasia.

I recently saw a picture from a friend with a ruler of Kutai in Borneo with an Aceh sikin with crowns. I was quite surprised by that!

Erik

Quote:

Originally Posted by rasdan

You're welcome Erik. Mine and the other one that I had seen are straight, just like yours. But it seems form the pic, there's curved ones as well..

rasdan · 24th April 2011, 09:31 PM

Yes Erik, which makes collecting and researching more fun.

I'll try to take some pictures of my sword and post it here later.

erikscollectables · 24th April 2011, 09:42 PM

Please do so Rasdan, it seems very little has been written about this type of weapon. I will see what I can find more. This might make a nice article!

Regards, Erik

Quote:

Originally Posted by rasdan

Yes Erik, which makes collecting and researching more fun.

I'll try to take some pictures of my sword and post it here later.

VVV · 24th April 2011, 11:05 PM

Nice find Erik and thanks for the great reference pictures Rasdan.
In Gardner's book Keris and Other Malay Weapons from 1936 you can find out more about the Malay Peninsular Chenangkas.

Michael

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7338
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10183

rasdan · 25th April 2011, 05:30 AM

Hello all,

Thank you very much for the pointers VVV! Have heard of the word, but I don't know this is the one and I never noticed that in Gardner's book.

The one that CharlesS have is marvellous! Never seen one with a locally forged blade before.

Here's the photos of my chenangkas. The repair at the end of the sheath is recent. I think the main difference with Borneo and Batak ones is probably the cup design. Also the screw in the cup is flush with the cup egde compared to the slightly longer screw in Sumatran ones.

The plating at mid section of the hilt had worn off, and the white metal can be seen.

erikscollectables · 25th April 2011, 06:46 AM

Good to hear from you Michael and thanks for the info! I'll pick up Gardner immediately from my bookshelf!

And just did - never did take notice of these remarks. Also interesting the reference to blades with the cipher of the Dutch company (VOC) in the Raffles museum!

I have a piso podang with a laminated blade with VOC markings. It is clear the blade is very old and not a recent tourist example - I would say 150 years or more but it does sound very unlikely that the VOC would use laminated blades - the original ones have very simple steel blades.

My hypothesis is that European blades had more status and that was a reason for adding stamps that are not original to the blade to improve the status of the weapons.

Maybe something for a different thread....
The problem is there are also recent copies of these which makes the research much more diffuse.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VVV

Nice find Erik and thanks for the great reference pictures Rasdan.
In Gardner's book Keris and Other Malay Weapons from 1936 you can find out more about the Malay Peninsular Chenangkas.

Michael

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7338
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10183

24th April 2011, 11:05 PM	#6
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Nice find Erik and thanks for the great reference pictures Rasdan. In Gardner's book Keris and Other Malay Weapons from 1936 you can find out more about the Malay Peninsular Chenangkas. Michael http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7338 http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10183 Last edited by VVV; 24th April 2011 at 11:26 PM. Reason: added links to further references

25th April 2011, 05:30 AM	#7
rasdan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 369	Hello all, Thank you very much for the pointers VVV! Have heard of the word, but I don't know this is the one and I never noticed that in Gardner's book. The one that CharlesS have is marvellous! Never seen one with a locally forged blade before. Here's the photos of my chenangkas. The repair at the end of the sheath is recent. I think the main difference with Borneo and Batak ones is probably the cup design. Also the screw in the cup is flush with the cup egde compared to the slightly longer screw in Sumatran ones. The plating at mid section of the hilt had worn off, and the white metal can be seen. Attached Images Last edited by rasdan; 25th April 2011 at 05:43 AM.

24th April 2011, 09:04 PM	#2
rasdan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 369	You're welcome Erik. Mine and the other one that I had seen are straight, just like yours. But it seems form the pic, there's curved ones as well..

24th April 2011, 09:31 PM	#4
rasdan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 369	Yes Erik, which makes collecting and researching more fun. I'll try to take some pictures of my sword and post it here later.