Sewar

mariusgmioc · 1st December 2016, 01:44 PM

Thank you for your comments!

I know the Parrot-head sewar quite well as I had one myself... and was quite fond of it... for a while...

(I liked the writings on the blade)

So I think I will keep this one too... for a while... and when I will decide to dispose it off, I may ask for your most kind assitance (for the sake of environment of course).

PS: I have no idea about wood but in the photos of Kemuning wood that I saw, I couldn't discern the parallel stripes of lighter texture my hilt displays.

mariusgmioc · 1st December 2016, 02:21 PM

After browsing through hundreds of photos on the web, the closest match appears to be MAKASSAR EBONY.... maybe?!

Sajen · 1st December 2016, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

I have no idea about wood but in the photos of Kemuning wood that I saw, I couldn't discern the parallel stripes of lighter texture my hilt displays.

Have a look here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=kemuning or here for example: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=kemuning

mariusgmioc · 1st December 2016, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Have a look here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=kemuning or here for example: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=kemuning

Very interesting! Yes, it definitely could be Kemuning as it appears there are several varieties of Kemuning, some darker, some lighter, and some with stripes.

Thank you Detlef!

What do you think about Makassar Ebony?!

Sajen · 1st December 2016, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

Very interesting! Yes, it definitely could be Kemuning (it appears there are several varieties of Kemuning).

Thank you Detlef!

You are welcome Marius!

Battara · 1st December 2016, 04:16 PM

Actually it doesn't look like makassar to me but more a patina form of the outer part of narra tree burl. Quite prized in the region.

A. G. Maisey · 1st December 2016, 08:06 PM

Nice Marius.

I doubt that this wood is either kemuning or makassar ebony --- pic of makassar ebony below.

I do not know narra wood, in fact I've never heard of it, but I do not know names of S.E. Asian woods from outside of Jawa and Bali.

It could be sono kembang maybe, but it would need to have been quarter sawn to present that grain pattern.

If it is a root wood, or wood taken from a crotch or trunk burl it should have a high degree of chatoyancy, I cannot judge this from the photo. I doubt that it is from root, burl or crotch because the grain seems too regular. If quarter sawn it will probably have low chatoyancy or none at all, as opposed to the high chatoyancy we see in naturally distorted grain.

Sajen · 1st December 2016, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

What do you think about Makassar Ebony?!

Hello Marius,

like Alan I would rule out Makassar Ebony.

mariusgmioc · 1st December 2016, 08:58 PM

Very interesting!
Now even if I don't get an accurate answer (and I realize it would be impossible to get an accurate answer based on a fairly poor quality photo), I am sure I can learn a lot about some exotic wood.

Thank you for your help!

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 2nd December 2016, 01:24 PM

Please review http://www.wood-database.com/narra/ where some interesting wood detail is outlined ...This wood is apparently the worlds most expensive.

Battara · 2nd December 2016, 04:17 PM

Regarding narra wood, the closer to the center one gets, the redder it gets and the further away from the center, the browner it gets.

Paduk wood, narra's African cousin, is totally red like the inside of the narra tree.

Narra is all over the Philippines/Indonesia/Malaysia, but it is a nearly endangered and is no longer shipped as easily as once before. Other groups may call it under different local names. Most Moro scabbards up to the early 20th century were made of this wood, and I have noticed that Indonesians and Malayians used this wood once as well.

1st December 2016, 01:44 PM	#1
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,911	Thank you for your comments! I know the Parrot-head sewar quite well as I had one myself... and was quite fond of it... for a while... (I liked the writings on the blade) So I think I will keep this one too... for a while... and when I will decide to dispose it off, I may ask for your most kind assitance (for the sake of environment of course). PS: I have no idea about wood but in the photos of Kemuning wood that I saw, I couldn't discern the parallel stripes of lighter texture my hilt displays. Last edited by mariusgmioc; 1st December 2016 at 02:14 PM.

1st December 2016, 02:21 PM	#2
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,911	After browsing through hundreds of photos on the web, the closest match appears to be MAKASSAR EBONY.... maybe?! Last edited by mariusgmioc; 1st December 2016 at 02:39 PM.

1st December 2016, 08:06 PM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,048	Nice Marius. I doubt that this wood is either kemuning or makassar ebony --- pic of makassar ebony below. I do not know narra wood, in fact I've never heard of it, but I do not know names of S.E. Asian woods from outside of Jawa and Bali. It could be sono kembang maybe, but it would need to have been quarter sawn to present that grain pattern. If it is a root wood, or wood taken from a crotch or trunk burl it should have a high degree of chatoyancy, I cannot judge this from the photo. I doubt that it is from root, burl or crotch because the grain seems too regular. If quarter sawn it will probably have low chatoyancy or none at all, as opposed to the high chatoyancy we see in naturally distorted grain. Attached Images

1st December 2016, 04:16 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,310	Actually it doesn't look like makassar to me but more a patina form of the outer part of narra tree burl. Quite prized in the region.

1st December 2016, 08:58 PM	#9
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,911	Very interesting! Now even if I don't get an accurate answer (and I realize it would be impossible to get an accurate answer based on a fairly poor quality photo), I am sure I can learn a lot about some exotic wood. Thank you for your help!

2nd December 2016, 01:24 PM	#10
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Please review http://www.wood-database.com/narra/ where some interesting wood detail is outlined ...This wood is apparently the worlds most expensive.

2nd December 2016, 04:17 PM	#11
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,310	Regarding narra wood, the closer to the center one gets, the redder it gets and the further away from the center, the browner it gets. Paduk wood, narra's African cousin, is totally red like the inside of the narra tree. Narra is all over the Philippines/Indonesia/Malaysia, but it is a nearly endangered and is no longer shipped as easily as once before. Other groups may call it under different local names. Most Moro scabbards up to the early 20th century were made of this wood, and I have noticed that Indonesians and Malayians used this wood once as well.