Antique Indonesian Sword

**harbdeaf** · 08-17-2012, 12:24 AM

What I would like to know what kind of sword it is? I know it's not a Kris and there's different terminology for the different blades of Indonesia.

I know it's from Indonesia and it was brought over by a Dutch officer in the 1940s, around there. The family member told me it was on the wall while they were growing up. The wall hanging attachments are still on the sword.

Scabbard is pretty beat up. Looks like there's ivory on the bottom but on the top it broke off, per the previous owner. Would it mean it was actively used in the conflicts in Indonesia with the Dutch? The 1945-1950 Dutch Indonesia War of Independence?

There is discoloring on the scabbard but don't know what it is, or what it's caused by.

The middle bands are "painted on" in gold paint.

The sword's handle could be wood? horn? ivory? I can't tell. There's the same material that goes on the top of the scabbard to make the slot for the sword to go in.

The sword with the scabbard is 24 inches long.

**Thomas Linton** · 08-17-2012, 03:29 AM

Scabbard is pretty beat up. Looks like there's ivory on the bottom but on the top it broke off, per the previous owner. Would it mean it was actively used in the conflicts in Indonesia with the Dutch? The 1945-1950 Dutch Indonesia War of Independence?

With out excluding the possibility, no. Damage does not "mean" that. Could have fallen off the wall.

**Ishrub** · 08-17-2012, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by harbdeaf

Scabbard is pretty beat up. Looks like there's ivory on the bottom but on the top it broke off, per the previous owner.

The black specks indicate the white material is bone
"...identifying bone as the material is relatively easy as animal bones have very porous texture in the form of tiny canals all over the surface due to the fact that nerves and other organic materials flow through the bones. Remains of these organic textures remain embedded inside the porous surface and over a period of time decays and turns dark. However, if the bone has been bleached well, you may not be able to see the dark spots unless you put it against the light. But the canals and fine porous surface would be visible. "