Sumatra sword , sikin parang

[Pendita65]

Hi Dave,

some really nice swords you have, and how are the hilts, No dry cracks?

Regards, Martin

[DaveF]

Originally Posted by Pendita65

Hi Dave,

some really nice swords you have, and how are the hilts, No dry cracks?

Regards, Martin

I'm afraid they've all got a crack, Martin. They're not too bad and I've not tried to treat them other than regular rubs with raw lanolin in the hope that it'll reduce the chance of the cracks worsening. I must have read somewhere that that helps. I've just seen soaking in baby oil recommended as a lengthy treatment. ( http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12008 ) . Any suggestions?

[kronckew]

My sikin, modern made by one of the few remaining smiths in the mountains near the Aceh area for a local dealer I have bought a few other items from. He was reducing his own collection and offered/sold me this one. Sadly haven't heard from him since the tsunami.

[Ian]

My examples are shown here

[JeffS]

Photo of mine from my database.

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by DaveF

I'm afraid they've all got a crack, Martin. They're not too bad and I've not tried to treat them other than regular rubs with raw lanolin in the hope that it'll reduce the chance of the cracks worsening. I must have read somewhere that that helps. I've just seen soaking in baby oil recommended as a lengthy treatment. ( http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12008 ) . Any suggestions?

No worries, I've never seen old ones like these with no age cracks. Nice group of swords!

Regards,
Maurice

[DaveF]

Originally Posted by Maurice

No worries, I've never seen old ones like these with no age cracks. Nice group of swords!

Regards,
Maurice

Thanks, Maurice. I've a couple of swords with black horn hilts that haven't cracked. Maybe they're not as old, or do some types of horn crack more readily than others?

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by DaveF

Thanks, Maurice. I've a couple of swords with black horn hilts that haven't cracked. Maybe they're not as old, or do some types of horn crack more readily than others?

Most of the Achenese gliwangs I have seen had age cracks (some cracks larger and wider than others).
Probably, because of the heavy and thick blades, these types often have larger cracks than other Indonesion swords with horn hilts.
Some cracks are filled with some kind of substance (wax or other material in the same colour as the hilt), put in there by collectors or dealers to mask the crack.

[Maurice]

Some have large cracks, some have minor cracks and some have no cracks or filled cracks.

Here an amanermoe in my collection with a minor crack.

[Maurice]

And one of my Roedoïh oelèë Tjangge with minor crack.