Aceh peudeung restored

Sajen · 1st March 2026, 11:46 PM

Lately I was able to add an Aceh peudeung to my collection. It was described by a German auction house as a firangi.

But after I have received it I have seen that it was in a very bad state, someone had attached the handle with a white compound mixed with steel wool but pushed the handle not deep enough to the blade, glued a green modern synthetic hand cushion inside the handle which made it impossible for an adult hand to grip it and the handle was badly corroded. It takes me some effort to open the handle and to remove this white compound completely. I bathed the handle long in vinegar to remove the rust. After all was cleaned I reattached the handle in the correct manner. Now it's a good peudeung, not a first class peudeung but a fairly nice example IMVHO. What do you think? All comments are welcome.
It's 91 cm long, blade 75 cm and 6,5 mm thick at the spine behind the handle.

Rick · 2nd March 2026, 03:33 AM

There seems to be a pretty amazing similarity with most of the examples of this sword that I have seen; almost like they came from the same shop or manufacturer. The example I bought from Artzi has the original pad still installed. The only differences that I have seen are in the richness of the embellishments added
Do any of our members have an idea when this sword form was introduced into the Acehnese panoply of sword forms?

werecow · 2nd March 2026, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

There seems to be a pretty amazing similarity with most of the examples of this sword that I have seen; almost like they came from the same shop or manufacturer. The example I bought from Artzi has the original pad still installed. The only differences that I have seen are in the richness of the embellishments added

I would say the steel parts of the grip and guard (including langets) are highly standardized but not the rest of it (blade, pommel cap, cushion, decorative elements, scabbard).

I have two of them atm; one has a very nice, light, nimble blade with a triple fuller running into a single wide fuller that is otherwise quite similar to the one Detlef showed here, and a silver wire grip. The other has a bare steel grip and a fairly standard triple fullered saber blade like those found on 19th c nimchas and other swords. They look superficially similar, but they handle quite differently and they have quite different distal taper.

Pertinax · 2nd March 2026, 09:28 AM

Good job Detlef!

Rick · 2nd March 2026, 05:08 PM

Yes, a nice job indeed, Detlef.

Might these swords have conveyed some sort of superior rank in the Achenese military hierarchy?

Sajen · 2nd March 2026, 06:47 PM

Thank you all!
Rick, so far I know these are officer's swords which were used in the Aceh wars. But I can't tell you when these swords pop up in Aceh. I think that they are strongly influenced by the firangi swords from India, Aceh was at all times a trade spot between many cultures, India, Arabian Peninsula, European and Chinese ships coming along the Malakka street. I think that this can be seen by these swords. The high end peudeung have gold crowns on top of the handle set with diamonds. The blades differ like you can see by the posted examples and the engravings on the hand guard also.
Attached are a few more pics from my example.

Sajen · 2nd March 2026, 08:55 PM

Here are some pics of the before mentioned gold top pieces of handles.

werecow · 2nd March 2026, 11:24 PM

They are definitely influenced by Indian basket hilts, and are often mistaken for them. There's one in the World Museum here in Leiden that is mislabeled as Indian.
I don't know how far back they go but this rather cool

looking lar bango sword (18th c according to the auctioneer) has something that looks to be an earlier version of such a hilt (grip not as strongly curved near the pommel as these later examples).

werecow · Today, 05:02 AM

BTW Detlef I would be interested in hearing how you went about fastening that blade without damaging anything. I have one sword I kind of need to do that with but it is a silver hilted Yemeni saif and I am worried I will destroy it when/if I try.

1st March 2026, 11:46 PM	#1
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,617	Aceh peudeung restored Lately I was able to add an Aceh peudeung to my collection. It was described by a German auction house as a firangi. But after I have received it I have seen that it was in a very bad state, someone had attached the handle with a white compound mixed with steel wool but pushed the handle not deep enough to the blade, glued a green modern synthetic hand cushion inside the handle which made it impossible for an adult hand to grip it and the handle was badly corroded. It takes me some effort to open the handle and to remove this white compound completely. I bathed the handle long in vinegar to remove the rust. After all was cleaned I reattached the handle in the correct manner. Now it's a good peudeung, not a first class peudeung but a fairly nice example IMVHO. What do you think? All comments are welcome. It's 91 cm long, blade 75 cm and 6,5 mm thick at the spine behind the handle. Attached Images

2nd March 2026, 03:33 AM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,404	There seems to be a pretty amazing similarity with most of the examples of this sword that I have seen; almost like they came from the same shop or manufacturer. The example I bought from Artzi has the original pad still installed. The only differences that I have seen are in the richness of the embellishments added Do any of our members have an idea when this sword form was introduced into the Acehnese panoply of sword forms? Attached Images Last edited by Rick; 2nd March 2026 at 05:04 PM. Reason: Added picture.

2nd March 2026, 06:47 PM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,617	Thank you all! Rick, so far I know these are officer's swords which were used in the Aceh wars. But I can't tell you when these swords pop up in Aceh. I think that they are strongly influenced by the firangi swords from India, Aceh was at all times a trade spot between many cultures, India, Arabian Peninsula, European and Chinese ships coming along the Malakka street. I think that this can be seen by these swords. The high end peudeung have gold crowns on top of the handle set with diamonds. The blades differ like you can see by the posted examples and the engravings on the hand guard also. Attached are a few more pics from my example. Attached Images

2nd March 2026, 08:55 PM	#7
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,617	Here are some pics of the before mentioned gold top pieces of handles. Attached Images

2nd March 2026, 11:24 PM	#8
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 652	They are definitely influenced by Indian basket hilts, and are often mistaken for them. There's one in the World Museum here in Leiden that is mislabeled as Indian. I don't know how far back they go but this rather cool looking lar bango sword (18th c according to the auctioneer) has something that looks to be an earlier version of such a hilt (grip not as strongly curved near the pommel as these later examples). Attached Images

2nd March 2026, 09:28 AM	#4
Pertinax Member Join Date: Dec 2023 Location: City by the Black Sea Posts: 338	Good job Detlef!

2nd March 2026, 05:08 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,404	Yes, a nice job indeed, Detlef. Might these swords have conveyed some sort of superior rank in the Achenese military hierarchy?

Today, 05:02 AM	#9
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 652	BTW Detlef I would be interested in hearing how you went about fastening that blade without damaging anything. I have one sword I kind of need to do that with but it is a silver hilted Yemeni saif and I am worried I will destroy it when/if I try.