Iron hilt of talwar and piso pedang

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by werecow

This seems like a gray area. I (seem/hope) to have won this silver hilted piso podang this week:

Attachment 244033
Attachment 244034
Attachment 244035

Were it not for the laminated Sumatran blade (which is what drew me in), the scabbard style, and the provenance I might have guessed Indian. But given those factors, clearly a piso podang.

A one of a kind as far as I know.
Congrats! I've seen it in the auction.
I guess it is Sumatran, but I don't know to nail down the exact area. I guess somewhere Central Sumatran?
It doesn't look Batak to me....

What was the provenance by the way?

[werecow]

I haven't been able to confirm it (yet?) but the auctioneer's description says:

according to owner, from the heritage of "Willem Steinbuch 1888-1965, Resident of Jambi and Palembang 1932-1936"

(Several lots at this auction have that same description.)

It looks like that is this guy.

[Maurice]

Most people assume that podangs are used by some dayak tribes in Borneo (Iban or Dusun tribes), or by the Batak's in Sumatra.
However the podang was used in different parts of Sumatra also, for instance in Djambi.
Djambi is a good possibility, with the description of the auction.

[werecow]

Indeed, that would make sense. Thanks for your input!

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by werecow

Indeed, that would make sense. Thanks for your input!

Here an early 20thC photo of a native of Sarulangun, a regency in Jambi.

[werecow]

With a back scabbard no less! Movies tell me that that guy is a superhuman warrior.

[Ian]

Very nice sword werecow., and with provenance. Let's all hope you were the successful bidder and can post more pictures.