RSword Antique Blades

This is a very rare Keris with unusual handle and blade that sports an Arabic inscription in the Malay language on the scabbard the denotes a date and location for this Keris. It measures 11 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is bronze and in the form of a figure. The figure is seated, sports a humanesque face with beard and fanged teeth, is wearing some sort of sash over its shoulder that covers it back and its arms are crossed over its chest. The blade is double edged and sports a dragon with open mouth. The gangya is bronze and has floral decoration. The scabbard is made of some type of silver or nickel alloy, white metal as it is known or German Silver in some cases, with an interesting inscription on the wrangka. I was provided a partial translation that reads “Mantuan. Pendita. Adaama (???). Banjarmasin. Jamadilakhir. Hari. Sembilan. 1311. ???? tengkara (?). Dari. Pulau. Kalimantan. The rough translation into English is “Owner (?). Holyman. Adaama (??) Banjarmasin. Muslim month of Jamadilakhir. Day 9, 1311….??? tangkara (?). From Kalimantan Island.” The Arabic date translates to around 1893/1894. Likely a religious presentation given that it talks about the Holy Man. To have a Keris with an early date like this, referencing a holy man or priest, and referencing a local like Kalimantan makes this a rare and historical Keris.

$1295

Sumatran Riau Ivory and Suassa Mounted Keris Dagger. This Keris measures 10 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The Jawa Demam style hilt is well carved of ivory and in good condition with one small chip on the extension on the back. The mendak looks to be suassa which is a gold/copper alloy. The wavy blade features a longtudianal layering type of pamor. The scabbard is completely made of ivory for all components. A lovely and very nice Keris.

$795

Very nice Sumatran Minangkabau Keris with well carved ivory handle. This Keris measures 13” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is in the Jawa Demam form and is lovely for a number of reasons. The first is it has a lovely patina. The second is that most of the surface area has been carved which is an added touch. There may be an old chip in the handle where the arms cross but the patina is very good. The mendak is likely brass or bronze. It has developed a nice green patina and features carvings. The blade is wavy with shallow waves and a median ridge. The blade has a dark patina. The scabbard is very nice. It has a finely grained wood wrangka and the stem is made from a darker wood. The very bottom of the scabbard is made with the same wood as the wrangka. A very nice and complete Minangkabau Keris.

$695

Fine Sumatran Keris Dagger with Rare 21 Luk Blade. This Keris measures 13” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The Jawa Demam style handle is made from ivory and has some carvings throughout the handle. There are a couple of age cracks but the handle is solid to hold. The mendak is either copper or bronze. It has a nice patina and is well made. The blade is amazing given how many luk (waves) are forged into a blade of this size. It has a very strong median ridge and the waves are very well formed. It also has a longitudinal layering type of pamor. The scabbard is wood with brass bands with carved floral decorations. The very bottom of the scabbard is bone or ivory. A very fine Keris.

$695

Rare old Sumatran Keris dagger with fossilized elephant molar handle. This Keris measures 16 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is quite rare. It is in the Jawa Demam form but made from fossilized elephant molar. The handle has a wonderful patina and is well carved. The mendak cup is made from brass or bronze and is undecorated. Strong blade which is narrower towards the forte and then widens around the middle of the blade. It sports a longitudinally layered pamor pattern. The scabbard is wood with a silver band at the top, middle and bottom of the stem. Between the top and middle stem is a braided twine that is made to look like the braided silver wire that is below it and likely a later replacement. The very bottom of the scabbard is wood. A very nice and rare Sumatran Keris.

$750

This is a rare Malaysian Keris dagger presented at the founding of Malaysia by the first Prime Minister. This Keris measures 14 1/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is in the Jawa Demam form and carved from wood. The mendak is silver or a silver alloy. The blade is straight and double edged. It has some signs of age and has a bit of pitting and rust mixed in with the pamor pattern. The scabbard is wood with a silver plaque on the wrangka and two silver decorated bands on the stem. The plaque reads “Presented by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, Prime Minister Malaysia on the occasion of Malaysia Day 16th September 1963”. September 16th, 1963 is Malaysia Day and is the date when the modern nation of Malaysia was formally established. Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj was already the Prime Minister of Malaya and became the first Prime Minister of the newly formed nation. On that day, Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore (which subsequently left in 1965) were united to form Malaysia. This Keris was acquired in the UK and with the inscription in English it was likely a diplomatic gift to an English Dignitary to commemorate the occasion. A rare and historical Keris.

$475

Fine Sumatran Badek dagger with ivory Parrot handle. This knife measures 8 1/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle, done in ivory, depicts a parrot head which is carved in very fine detail. The eyes are done with a black stone which contrasts nicely with the ivory. There is a silver collar just above the bolster. The slightly forward curving blade shows laminations throughout. The scabbard is quite nice as well. The top and bottom piece are made of ivory and the middle stem section is made of a finely grained wood. All in all, a quality knife.

$425

Fine Javanese Court Knife with Agate Handle and Arabic Inscribed Blade. This knife measures 5 5/8” in total length. The handle is made of finely polished agate that sports a very nice red hue with streaks of white. The mendak is brass with multi colored stones or glass. The blade takes the shape of Semar which is a popular talismanic icon in Javanese culture. Etched into the blade are several inscriptions which can be translated on one side “Ya Allah, Ya Muhammad, Ya nabi (prophet) and on the other side is a verse from the Qur’an sura 36:58 which reads “Peace (Salam) from a lord most merciful. In the Mangkunegaraan in Solo there is a display of small daggers with agate hilts that are believed to have been in the possession of female abdi dalem (court attendants). It is quite possible this knife was also used by a femal court attendant. Late 19th to early 20th century. A very nice quality knife.

$375

Interesting Chinese Jian Knife Trousse Sized. This knife measures 11 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The interesting thing about this piece is that it is made exactly like a full sized Jian sword but is the size of a trousse knife. So perhaps it was used in that way or simply as a small knife or maybe something made for a child. It is very well made and great quality. The handle consists of a wood grip which is finely reeded. The pommel, ferrule and guard are brass and well done with fine decorations. The pommel has a side ring for a tassel. The hand forged double edged blade, which shows signs of lamination upon close appearance, with median ridge and V shaped tip with slight rounding. There are some areas of pitting. The scabbard, as you would expect with a full sized Jian, has a wood core with four brass mounts with dragon decor. The wood core is covered with dyed rayskin. This knife is great quality and made to the same level of detail as a full sized Jian. I would date it to the late 19th century.

$225

17th Century Dutch Marked Knife with Ceylonese Silver Mounted Scabbard. This knife measures 6 1/4” when measured in its scabbard. The knife appears to be a 17th century Dutch knife given the blade shape and the stamped marking on the blade. The blade has a thick spine that drops down to a beveled spine with a single edge. The stamp looks like a keyhole or an abstract cross. Hard to tell exactly what is the shape of the stamp. It has a detailed integrally forged bolster and then above that it has a faceted silver ferrule. The grip is also faceted and is made from bone or polished stag. There is one small chipped area but it also might be a natural area of the horn that was left in the grip scales. Nice mellow yellowish patina. The scabbard is made exactly in the form of a Piha Kaetta scabbard from Sri Lanka. It has a long silver section at the top of the scabbard with fine ribbing and other decorative features. The lower portion of the scabbard is in wood and is also ribbed. The knife fits perfectly in the scabbard. It seems made for this knife. For one reason, it is very small. I have yet to see a Piha Kaetta this small so I doubt it is from one of those knives that got paired with this knife. Second, the fit is perfect as mentioned. It accommodates the knife up to the grip without any wiggle or movement. Perhaps a Dutch knife ended up in Sri Lanka and was mounted locally. A very interesting combination and a quality knife.

$650

Rare Child Sized Caucasian Bebut Knife with laminated blade. This knife measures 9” in total length. The handle is shaped like a kindjal handle and is made from bone or ivory. It has two domed metal rivets one one side. The blade is double edged and curves up like a Bebut. The edges are sharp. The blade is hand forged and laminated. You can see the laminations in the blade upon close inspection. A very well made small knife. It could also possibly be a secondary knife to fit into the scabbard of a larger piece.

$295

Sumatran Ivory Handled Keris Dagger with Silver Mounted Scabbard. This Keris measures 11 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is ivory and carved in the Jawa Demam style. It has a silver mendak with decorations. The old blade shows layering with longitudinal lines throughout the blade. The blade has some pitting and shows a good bit of wear. The scabbard is quite nice. It has a wood wrangka with a wood stem with two sections of silver. The silver work has lovely floral designs carved throughout one side and then a nice chevron pattern on the opposite side. A nice little Keris.

$225

An interesting Indonesian Kudi Tranchang dagger. One of the smaller examples I have seen which is interesting. It measures 10 1/2” when measured in its scabbard. The handle is wood carved in an almost abstract way with nice curves. The blade takes the form of a Wayang, puppet figure, with the long nose and abstract appearance. The blade is of pamor with layering evidenced with the longitudinal lines. There is some fretwork along with back of the blade and a few punched holes. The scabbard is wood and made to shape of the blade with cutout on the back to accommodate the unusual blade shape. A very interesting and unusual Indonesian knife.

$125

Finnish Sami Laplander knife with sledding scene. This knife measures 7 1/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is probably staghorn with some nice carvings at the top of the handle. Small 2 1/2” blade. The scabbard is quite nice. On one side is shows a reindeer pulling a sled with a person at the reigns. There is a tree ahead of the sleight and there are some geometric carvings around the border. The handle doesn’t fit the scabbard very well and the patina/color of the handle is a bit different than the scabbard so my guess is that they are both old pieces but married together at some point in its life. Still a very nice carving/artwork on the scabbard to enjoy.

sold

Very good Tibetan belt knife. This well made knife measures 7 5/8” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle consists of white bone grips with circle decoration with a horn and steel pommel cap and steel ferrule. The blade is sharp with some pitting, signs of sharpening and use. The scabbard with a top mount of steel with a copper band in the middle that supports a strip of metal to the back of the scabbard that fits into the lanyard ring which holds the leather belt loop. Then there is a section of rayskin. Then you have a metal sleeve at the bottom with some beaded metal trim work. A nice Tibetan utility belt knife.

$95

Nice Indonesian Keris Sajen knife. This knife measures 9 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The knife is made of pamor steel with the figural handle and blade forged together. The figure with head, shoulders, arms by side and legs. The blade has a visible pamor pattern that continues into the figure. The wood scabbard nicely houses it. A very nice small Keris Sajen. These objects were used as powerful talismans for spirtual purposes. It was believed they hold magical power for protection, good fortune, etc.

$125

Very nice Moro Barong sword with interesting blade markings. This sword measures 24 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is a finely burled wood with lovely grain with carved tail and beak. There is one chip to the tail on just one side and a few age lines. Lovely two tone colors and as mentioned the grain is lovely. The grip has 2 silver ferrules with two braided rattan sections. The long and wide leaf shaped blade is quite sharp and exhibits a very slight hamon from where the edge was heat treated but this faint line exists about 3/4” up from the edge and is visible on both sides. One side of the blade has a sideways H marking and the opposite side has a crescent moon with an X marking. The scabbard is quite nice. It is two wood halves glued together with some twisted twine at the top. The very top of the scabbard has intricate carvings as does the very bottom/toe piece of the scabbard which often doesn’t survive. A nice and complete Moro barong with unusual blade markings.

$450

Spanish–American War Period Filipino Sword (First Philippine Republic)

A fine Filipino sword dating to the Spanish–American War / First Philippine Republic period, measuring 28½ inches in overall length. The hilt features a carved wooden grip with incised linear decoration, fitted with a brass backstrap, ferrule, and three-branch shell guard, incorporating a triangular offset guard and a downward-turned quillon.

At the base of the blade is a brass ferrule reminiscent of the tunkou found on Chinese swords, decorated with simple line engraving. The blade is notably sharp and exhibits a distinctive profile, being narrow at the forte and gradually widening toward the tip. One face of the blade is flat, while the reverse displays a long false edge, contributing to both cutting efficiency and visual interest.

The blade shows surface scratches consistent with service wear, and the tip displays some wrinkling, all commensurate with age and use. Overall, this is a very fine and representative Filipino sword from the First Republic era of the Spanish–American War, reflecting the regional craftsmanship and martial influences of the period.

$495

Nice all leather African Mandingo knife with tassels. This knife measures 12” in total length when measured in its scabbard including the tassels at the bottom of the scabbard. The Mandingo make very fine leather swords and knives and the workmanship in this piece is quite good and is likely 3rd quarter of the 20th century. The handle is leather with fine stitching of alternating light and dark colors. There is a black leather design which pairs nicely with the reddish base color. The blade is well made and sharp. It swells in the middle of the blade and then has an elongated point. The scabbard is ensuite to the handle with the red leather base, alternating rows of light, dark and red stitching and then the tassels are very nicely done. It also includes a braided leather belt loop. A very well made and attractive African knife.

$95

Interesting small Sulawesi Badek knife. This knife measures 7 1/4” when measured in its scabbard. The knife features a long pistol handle shaped grip of wood with a single edge blade. The blade is made from laminated steel and the pattern is visible in the blade upon close inspection. The scabbard is wood with simple carvings at the very top. A nice small Badek knife.

$95

Nice small Nepalese Kothimora Kukri knife. This knife measures 8 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is polished black horn with brass pommel cap and brass ferrule. The blade is quite nice with forward curve and carvings along the spine. In very bright polish or possibly chrome plated. The scabbard has very nice white metal mounts with peacock and floral carvings. Underneath the metal mounts is black velvet. There is a loose metal band at the top of the scabbard. A nice kid sized Kukri made in the Kothimora style.

$95

Well made small Nepalese Kukri knife. This knife measures 10 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle consists of a horn grip with a carved divider section in the middle with two metal bands on each side of the raised section. The upper and lower sections around this raised section with inlaid metal pins. The pommel cap is brass with a lion face and the ferrule is brass. The blade is likely chrome plated, is forward curved and has twin fullers from the bend to the tip. The scabbard is leather over wood with metal mounts. The leather has some simple line carvings to the front.

$75

Interesting and unusual Asian knife. This knife measures 8” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle consists of a wood grip with Chinese or Asian symbols carved on each side. The pommel, ferrule and guard are brass. The double edged blade with median ridge comes to a V point. The tip has been chipped and is squared off. The edges of the blade have not been sharpened. The scabbard is brass with punched symbols throughout.

$95

Syrian Jambiya dagger with silver koftgari decoration. This knife measures 7 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle and scabbard are made of steel. There are two nice looking rivets to the handle. The handle and scabbard are covered on both sides with silver koftgari. The top of the scabbard has a band with two belt loops welded to the top. The curved blade with silver koftgari decoration at the forte.

$75

Small Indonesian Javanese Keris knife. This little Keris measures 8 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is a dark black wood with typical Javanese style carvings and with metal mendak. The tiny blade is wavy with a silver pamor. It even features a tiny gangya. The scabbard has a nice wood wrangka with nice grain and the stem of the scabbard is brass with carvings to the front. It is very small so likely made as a Talisman.

$75

Very small well forged Keris blade. This cute little thing measures 4 1/2” in total length. The blade is very wavy and shows layering with longitudinal lines running the length of the blade. It has a separate gangya and a tiny tang. Hard to say why someone made a well crafted but such a small Keris other than it may have been a talisman.

Sold

Nice small African knife with quality leather handle and scabbard. This knife measures 10 1/2” in total length. The handle and scabbard are all leather and are very nicely worked. The scabbard has a cool ribbed section and very nice stitching. The blade is flat and double edged. It has some oxidation and a few patches of rust that would clean off with some TLC. A lovely African knife most likely of the Mandingo.

$75

Well decorated African Tuareg knife. This knife measures 9” in total length when measured in its scabbard and to the top of the loop ring at the pommel. A well crafted and lovely knife. It has a very architectural form with its use of squares, rectangle shapes of varying sizes. Each block or section is crafted with either metal or leather but of varying colors and styles of decorations. Nice clean blade. All in all, a very attractive knife.

$95

Spanish Infantry Officers Sword circa 1872. This sword measures 40 1/2” in total length. The handle consists of a grooved wood grip with brass wire, coming loose now, brass back strap and brass three branch guard with a crowned royal cipher on the guard. The long straight blade is marked at the forte on one side Fca Toledo 1872 which stands for Fabricated at the Toledo Factory in 1872. The 1872 date places this in the Alfonso XII period and likely saw service in the Philippines. The blade has a double spine with fuller feature for the first 11” o the blade and then the blade becomes double edged with an edge bevel to each side. The tip of the blade has been broken and squared off at some point in its life. The blade has a dark patina with oxidation and some pitting.

$325

Spanish Cavalry Troopers Sabre Manufactured at the Toledo Artillery Factory in 1852. I believe this is the M1840 Spanish Cavalry sword. It measures 41” in total length. The handle consists of a wood grip with swelled midsection and grooves for twisted wire which is no longer present. It has a brass backstrap with brass ferrule and brass 3 branch guard. The blade is a bit different in that it is straight instead of curved and at the forte on one side it is stamped “Art F De Toledo 1852”. The blade has two fullers and rounded “spines” at both edges for the first 12” and then you have a beveled and singled edged blade the rest of the way. The tip has been bent and rounded. The blade has oxidation throughout and some pitting. There is no scabbard. A nice mid 19th century Spanish sword.

$225

Afghan Khyber Short Sword with Persian Wootz Blade. This long dagger/short sword measures 16 3/8” in total length. The grip consists of two long steel bolsters with slab wood grips finishing in a bird beak shaped pommel. A steel band is wrapped between the two bolsters and grip slabs. The blade is a cut down Persian sword blade with lengthy inscription panel on one side and two cartouches on the opposite side one with a lion looking over its shoulder and the second with an Arabic inscription. These inscriptions typically are “Oh, fulfiller of needs” on the inscription above the lion and the lengthy inscription typically reads “There is no might, no will, save with God, the exalted, the Almighty”. The blade has a dark hue and the wootz pattern is visible and looks like a nice wood grain. A good solid short sword.

$895

Nice Indian Short Sword with Recurved Blade. The sword measures 30 1/2” when measured in its scabbard. The steel handle in typical tulwar form with good oxidation and some wear. The recurved hand forged blade could be cut down from a longer sword. It sports a thick spine and a well-cut fuller along the spine on both sides. The blade is hand forged as evidenced by the “hamon” running along the cutting edge. This indicates this blade has an inserted edge. There are also some lamination signs visible along the body of the blade. The scabbard is a munition grade wood core with canvas cover and a metal chape. Likely a sword utilized in the Indian mutiny wars of the mid to late 19th century.

$375

Lovely Indonesian Javanese Keris Sword with Pellet Wood Scabbard. This Keris measures 20 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is well carved in the typical Javanese shape and the wood is pellet wood. The mendak is an interesting one with an open wire basket look. The blade is an old one. It is thick and has a lovely pamor throughout. The scabbard is also lovely with the pellet wood forming natural dark brown spots against the light wood. It is a lovely combination. A nice Keris.

$249

Vietnamese Fighting Guom sword with laminated blade. This sword measures 34 1/4” in total length and is a provincial sword instead of the court swords that are often seen from this time period. The court swords usually had the MOP inlaid scabbard with blades that often were not fighting blades and mostly decorated. The blade on this example is sharp and laminated and the mounts are more practical for a village warrior than a court nobleman. The handle consists of a thick brass ferrule with a staghorn grip and a pommel in brass of a stylized monster head. Not unlike some of the ones you see in court swords but it is secured with a clip that extends out of the pommel on each side and the knucklebow or tang extend through this so that the pommel, while loose, will not come off. The blade has good heft, is forged of laminated steel and features a tunkou. The blade has a good amount of pock mark pitting, likely from being stored in a humid environment for a long time. The scabbard is nice. It is wood with brass mounts. Nicely shaped chape. There is a single loop towards the bottom of the scabbard. 19th century.

$695

Rare Borneo Sabah Kris sword with Saramanok handle and very wavy blade. This Kris measures 26 1/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle features a very rare pommel in the form of a Saramanok, a legendary bird in Filipino lore and carved from Carabao horn. The grip with alternating bands of rattan alternating between thick and chunky and thin braided strands. The ferrule at the base of the handle is silver. The 21 luk blade is lovely. Beautiful waves with a darkened zone along the edges with the center panel showing some layering. The sword is probably late 19th century while the scabbard is more 1930’s to 1940’s but nice in its own right and fits the sword well. It has a very finely grained wood with metal alloy mounts with rattan bands. There are some strips of copper at the top and bottom mounts along with a chape of copper. Reminds me of some punal scabbard treatments. The Borneo/Sabah attribution comes from the book by Karel Sirag “Drawing The Sword”. He has 3 examples shown on page 967. He refers to the pommel as a rare curled pommel but to me it looks like the Saramanok bird. One of the swords with this type of pommel had an old tag stating “sword captured of the pirates of Tawao”. Tawao is near the border of Sabah/Kalimantan. It could be that some Moro warriors found their way to this area and served aboard pirate ships or it could be this pommel form is original to Borneo. Seems to have strong Filipino influences in any case.

$695

Large Moro Kris sword with silver wrapped grip. This sword measures 30 1/2” in total length. The handle consists of a long grip with a brass piece at the base with chiseled designs, and then alternating sections of silver bands with a center raised decorated area and then braided rattan. There is a silver band at the top of the grip. The pommel is ivory. The tail is a bit squared off and may have been broken but the patina in this area is old and matches the rest of the pommel. The blade has a silver asang asang around a nicely carved elephants trunk. Opposite of that is very nice and intricate fretwork. The blade is straight and double edged and sharp. The blade shows subtle laminations in the center of the blade and sports a “hamon” along the edge indicating the blade has high carbon edge plates. That hamon even goes around the tip of the blade. One patch of pitting on one side of the blade otherwise minimal pitting/oxidation throughout. A nice Moro sword.

$695

Very good Moro fighting sword with rattan grip. This sword measures 26 3/4” in total length. The handle consists of a wood grip completely bound in rattan including a rattan asang asang to provide added support for the gangya blade join. The other asang asang is silver. The blade features shallow curves but is very sharp. There is a strong median ridge running to the tip. The blade has fine laminations that appear like wood grain with a clear demarcation along the edge indicating an inserted edge. A very nice fighting sword.

$395

Moro Kris sword with fine banati wood pommel. This sword measures 27 1/4” in total length. The handle consists of a wood grip with cord wrap that has a dark stain. The wood pommel is beautiful. It is made of banati wood which shows a flashy and active grain that looks a bit like Tiger stripes. There is a chip to the very tip of the beak and an old imperfection/indentation in the wood but all the patina matches in that section so seems natural to the wood. The blade has shallow curved and sports a sharp edge. There is some twisted wire acting as a clamp to the gangya which is an obvious replacement of what was originally there. Well carved elephants trunk. The blade shows a darkened edge zone about half way down that runs around the tip. This is caused through the heat treatment of high carbon edges. This is a fighting sword meant for business.

$395

Interesting Borneo Murut Long saber sword with layered blade. This sword measures 37 1/8” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is wood with a pommel with floral decoration. The blade, with thick spine, has a gradual curve and is forged of layered steel. The laminations are bold throughout. Some minor areas of pitting and oxidation. Really nice pattern. The scabbard is wood with rattan bands towards the top and remnants of a rope baldric. There are missing rattan bands as evidenced by the outline that remains in the wood. Nice patina throughout. A nice sword.

$695

Very large Indian lacquered dhal shield. This is a very large shield. It’s diameter measures 26”. It is a hide shield that has been covered in a black lacquer. The lacquer is intact with no losses and just a few spots of bubbling and some crackling to the lacquer but no losses. There are 2 holes at the top where it was previously mounted. There are 4 large metal bosses to the front of the shield. The reverse with pillow pad and 2 hemp rope straps that are likely later replacements. A nice shield given its very large size. Would make an excellent display piece.

$895

Rare large enamel decorated Indian dhal shield. These enamel decorated metal shields are almost always found in much smaller buckler size. This is the largest example of this type of shield I have ever seen. It is quite large. It has a diameter of 21 1/2” and the shield is domed shape with a deep recess in the back adding to its overall size. It is all metal and has been decorated all over the front surface with various floral decorations. The enamel colors include a red background, gray and black decorations on the floral decoration. There are 4 domed bossed also decorated in the enamel. The reverse with a pillow pad and the numerals 1863 4. Not sure if this is an inventory number or possibly a year and a date. These enamel metal shields were en vogue in Victorian England and made for big wall displays of arms and armour. This one is a rarity given its large size and would make an excellent display piece.

$695

Indian dagger with stone horsehead handle and pattern welded blade. This knife measures 16 1/8” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is made from stone and is black in coloration. Perhaps Basalt? It is done in the style of Khanjar handles with the curved based and the horsehead pommel. The blade is forward curving and flat on both sides. It is a stiff blade with an edge. Upon close inspection you can see laminations that are typical of a pattern welded blade. The scabbard has a wood core covered in leather with a metal chape. Circa mid 20th century.

$249

Afghan Karud dagger with leather scabbard. This knife measures 18 1/2” when measured in its scabbard. As is often found in this region the knife submerges most of the way in the scabbard with just a bit of the pommel sticking out on top. The scabbard is leather over wood with stitching to the reverse. The knife has a handle of horn, likely water buffalo or sheep, with ribbing on the grip. The slab grips are secured to the tang via 3 rivets on each side. The ferrule and bolster as well as the tang band in between the grips are steel. The blade with T-back spine with decoration on the top of the spine. The hollow ground blade finishes with a beveled edge. The point is thickened and slightly up turned. A very nice knife that is well made and dates around the middle to early 3rd quarter of the 20th century.

$175

Unusual Balinese sword with fine pamor blade. This sword is unusual in that it sports a Balinese Keris handle in the Cekah Solas style. It is finely carved and faceted in wood. The blade is a pedang blade and is forged of lovely pamor steel. The blade exhibits lovely lamellar lines the full length of the blade and from spine down to the edge. It is a really attractive blade. It is securely mounted into the handle with no wiggle. The scabbard is made for the blade and is made of two pieces of wood secured with a metal band and 2 rattan wraps. It could be a composite piece but the blade and hilt seem to have been together for a long time so it seems more likely it was a custom made piece for someone.

$395

Interesting Indonesian Pedang sword with recurved pamor blade. This sword measures 23 1/2” in total length when measured its scabbard. The handle and scabbard are a lovely brown wood with black lines which is a nice grain and gives it a nice appearance. The blade is interesting in that is is a recurved blade. The blade has a forward curve and then it curves back up in the opposite direction giving it that recurve. It is forged of pamor steel. It is a very unusual blade shape in my experience and may be based on ancient blade forms. A rare and unusual sword.

$295

Nice Indian helmet with silver koftgari. This helmet features a faceted bowl which is covered in silver koftgari. The chiseled lines give the helmet nice definition. There are plume holders on the side holding peacock feathers and a nasal guard to the front. The chain mail is intact and in good shape. There is also a spike to the top of the helmet. An attractive late 19th century Indian helmet.

$495

Old Filipino Ifugao Pinahig Sword with Lovely Textile belt. This sword measures 18 3/4’ in total length with a blade that is 2 1/2” at its widest point. So a good sized and large Pinahig. The socketed handle features lovely rattan wrap. The blade with good dark patina. The open faced scabbard with absolutely lovely textile belt with lovely colors of blue and orange. The scabbard with some chip carving to the backside. A rare and early Filipino Ifugao piece.

$295

Very nice Arabian Zanzibar Saif Nimcha sword. This sword measures 40” in total length. The handle is either horn or wood. It has a very deep and rich patina so difficult to determine. The nimcha style pommel is covered in a brass cap also of very lovely patina. The ferrule, knucklebow and the ring guard are all steel. The slightly curved blade, probably of European manufacture, with complex fullering. The blade with good patina. A nice and old, probably late 18th to early 19th century, Arabian Saif sword.

$695

Aboriginal Woomera Spear Thrower from Inland Western or Central Australia. This example measures 28 3/4” long and is 4 7/8” at its widest point. The top, which holds the spear, has an animal tooth with good patina and wrapped in rattan and the bottom with a roundish grip for holding. The surface of the front has line and dot carvings. The reverse is plain and you can see the lines where it has been hand carved without mechanical tools. An impressive ethnographic object dating to the late 19th to early 20th century.

$695

Very fine and tall African Woven Basketry Shield of the Poto tribe. The shield is 52 1/2” tall by 17” wide. It is in very good condition overall. It has lovely, inked decoration down the front of the shield. The weaving and skill to make this shield is very impressive. The back of the shield has a wood board woven into the shield with the center piece carved out and then two narrow handles laid across the top of the board with the rattan weaving going across the top. It is not a very heavy shield but is solid and very well made. This would make a fantastic display piece.

$795

Fine African Shield of the Ngbaka/Ngbundu/Ngombe/Manza/Mabo Tribes. This style and form of shield was used amongst a good number of tribes within the African Congo. It measures 55” tall by 20 1/2” wide. It is a fine basket weave shield with complex weaving throughout. The shield has some rigidity with the hump in the middle of the shield but some flexibility around the top and bottom. The shield is in very good condition with just a few losses at the bottom and top of the shield and a little bit of wear around the edges. The back of the shield has a long wood board with a carved out middle section with handle and then intricate rattan weaving all around the edges to secure it to the shield. A very fine African shield.

$595

Very nice Indian Naga spear. This spear measures 92” in total length. It features a very nice steel spearhead of socket form with ribbed edges at the base and some line decoration at the base of the blade. Nice color and patina to the steel. The spearhead has a bit of wiggle to it. I think some of the wood has rotted or deteriorated on the inside which causes it to not have a snug fit to the pole. It will display just fine but you shouldn’t hunt wild board with it. It has 2 sections of red dyed coarse animal hair with the lowest one having the hair loose. It is missing its metal finial at the bottom. All in all, this is a nice and old Naga spear. One of the nicer ones I have seen.

$395 plus shipping/handling. Will require a special tube to ship in.

Very nice long Spanish American war period Filipino Luzon sword with 1870 dated coin. This sword measures a little over 28 1/2” in total length. The handle has a reeded grip of either wood or carabao horn with lovely patina and steel ferrule and pommel also with good dark patina. The top of the pommel is a Spanish Coin that is from around 1870. It states “Diez Centimos” and also “Cien Piezas En Kilog”. The tang peining goes through the lion over the shield in the center of the coin. It dates to the provisional Spanish government in place from 1868-1871. This was a volatile time for the Spanish rule in the Philippines. The handle also has an S shaped guard. The blade is nice with a long false edge and slightly upswept tip. The blade has a nice dark glossy patina. There is floral decorations on each side of the blade at the forte. A very good and quite early Luzon sword.

$695

Flores Island Belida sword with rare twistcore blade. Belida swords are very scarce to begin with and to have an example with a super fine twistcore blade adds to the level of rarity for this example. The sword measures 35” in total length. The long handle is wood. There is a hollow out section on one side and a hole at the pommel. At one time there would have been some additional adornments around the handle that are now gone. The wood has a rich dark patina. There is an ivory section towards the bottom of the grip showing lovely color and patina. It sports a pewter guard and ferrule and a number of pewter inlays. Some of the inlays are missing. The blade is fantastic. It is narrow at the forte and widens towards the tip. It is forged of twistcore steel and demonstrates fine layering around the twistcore center panel. A rare sword with fine twistcore blade.

$1995

Very nice Filipino Talibon sword. This is an unusual Talibon variant given the handle style. The sword is a large one measuring 27 1/2” in total length. The handle is wood with a bifurcated pommel that turns down on each side but further down on one side. The grip sports brass or bronze ferrule, strap around the grip and a plate across the top of the pommel. The ferrule is faceted as is the grip. The guard is a thin brass sheet in the shape of a shield. It has a slight wiggle to it. The blade is very nice. Long blade with nice belly and a wide bevel. The opposite side is flat. Elongated tip. This Talibon variant is very well made and could represent a transition piece between the 19th century examples and the later mid 20th century examples. The blade on this one is almost on par with the good 19th century examples. It is well forged and shows many similarities to the older examples but is missing the thumb rest on the spine found on the earlier examples, but it is much nicer than the mid 20th century examples in quality of blade and hilt. The shield guard is likely a later addition. I would put this piece to the 1920-30’s with the shield guard being added later. A good quality Filipino sword.

$425

Very nice, rare set of 3 African Baule Swords with shell scabbards. These 3 are being sold as a set and offer the buyer an opportunity to acquire very good examples of these prestige knives but also a very rare diminutive or child’s example. The largest example measures 17 1/4” long when measured in its scabbard and has a scabbard that is 4 1/2” at its widest. The middle-sized example is 14” long when measured in its scabbard that is 4” at its widest. The rare small example is 9 1/2” long measured in its scabbard that is 2” at its widest. Each example is well made with fine wood handles, the middle-sized example with fine lattice work carvings and each adorned in various ways with brass tacks. All 3 have leather scabbards with red spondylus shells to the front. The smallest example the leather has pulled apart and the blade sticks out from the bottom. Each example with good blade. Each on their own represent a fine African knife and together form a wonderful collection that will display very well.

$1995

Rare published African sword empute of the Lokele. This sword is pictures on p. 214 of the book “100 African Blades from 55 Collections” by Ethan Rider. He writes:

“Short sword and sheath, empute

Lokele/So/Mba/Angba/Topoke/Genya

Democratic Republic of Congo

Late 19th Century

This empute short sword is impressive without its sheath. It has a heavy pommel made of solid iron, a wood handle wrapped in copper and brass, and a blade that is covered with incredibly precise incising. Most empute blades have no sheath, and some of the few that do have one that is slim and plain. The most elaborate empute swords come with a sheath like the one seen here: oversized and decorated with two huge iron discs. This design element is entirely unique to empute swords and is a beautiful, highly distinctive style. “

Another interesting feature of this piece is the hole at the top of the scabbard. It goes all the way through and is likely a bullet hole. No telling how that got there but what a fascinating story to know. The sword measures 16 1/2” long when measured in its scabbard. A very fine published African sword.

$1495

Interesting Timor Sword with Sundang Style handle. This sword measures 24” when it is measured in its scabbard. The handle reminds me a bit of a Malaysian sundang handle. It looks like a Kakatua bird handle. The construction is quite different though. It is made of wood with a split on each side of the lower half of the handle. The tang fits in on one side and the opposite side has a piece of metal that runs up from the ferrule. There is also a rivet on each side. The metal has some type of residue that presumably was used to help secure the handle to the tang. Has a brass ferrule and a square guard. The thin, flexible blade has a black patina with some patches of oxidation/rusting. There are quite a few nicks along the spine. Unsure what caused so many nicks in the spine of the sword. The scabbard is wood with twine wrap at the top. An unusual sword most likely of Timorese origin.

Sold

Very good African Manding dagger with scabbard. A very attractive knife that measures 13 1/8” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is wood with brass bindings and a bell shaped brass pommel. The top band is missing about half of its wrap. The brass with decorations. Very intricate work in the handle. Nice clean, sharp blade with a central fuller, double edges and chiseled decorations along the central fuller. The scabbard features leather sections of brown and black color and brass bands with decorations. The very bottom of the scabbard is leather over wood. This section the wood core has broken and it moves around. It is stable when the blade is inserted. Again, very nice workmanship throughout the scabbard. All in all, a very well made knife with intricate detailed work.

Sold

African Tuareg brass handled dagger with sheath. This knife measures 15 5/8” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is cast brass which features a cross design in the pommel within a diamond shaped outline with knobs on the two sides and the top. The slender grip is covered with X shaped designs. The ferrule with intricate line carvings. The double edged blade is hand hammered and likely shaped from scrap metal versus being forged. The scabbard is leather with fine stitching along the back and nice tooled decorations to the front. The leather is split on each side from the blade coming in contact as it is pulled and replaced. There is a single long leather tassel attached to the scabbard. An attractive knife.

$325

Very large and nice African Fang Sword. This is a huge example. In researching published examples most were in the 19 to 22” range and I did find one at 24”. This example, measured out of the scabbard, is 27 3/4” in total length. It sports a massive blade that is 20 1/4” long and 3 1/4” at its widest point. The handle is cylindrical with a brass pommel cap and an iron banded grip. Below this is a wood carved section and an extended wood section that sits in the open tang of the sword. It is wrapped at the base in metal wire. There is some wood loss that would have originally covered the extended metal piece at the top of the tang. The blade is massive. It is double edged with a long extended point. There are two fullers on both sides that have old black scale with the remaining portions of the blade polished out. There are some line carvings at the forte of the blade on both sides. The scabbard is some form of reptile skin over a wood core. A very attractive Fang sword of larger than normal proportions.

Sold

Fantastic African Chieftan Tebu dagger large example with wide blade. This is the nicest Tebu dagger I have seen or owned. It measures 20 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle has a slim grip that is covered in well worked leather that is black and brown with the mid grip of reptile skin with leather laced in between. The pommel is an iron arrowhead. The blade measures 11 7/8” long and is 2 1/2” wide at the forte. The blade has lovely geometric designs carved into it. The decoration is on both sides. The scabbard is leather with a leather armband at the top with leather tassels. The body of the scabbard is leather and ribbed. The fish tail bottom of the scabbard is covered in reptile skin. there is an old tag that states “South Africa Chieftan’s Fish Dagger”. Of course, the Tebu are found in Chad in the North of Africa. The overall quality of this piece and the size of it do indicate it was owned be a person of status and possibly a Chieftan so I can agree with that portion of the tag. A very fine Tebu dagger of great quality and size.

$525

Uzbeki Pichok Knife. Very nice contemporary knife that is well made with a handle in the Central Asian Karud style with bone grips and a decorative tang band. The ferrule and bolster have lovely enamel decoration. The blade is wide and tapering with an upturned tip. There are nice star and half-moon decorations on one side. There is a forging blister on one side of the blade near the forte. A nice and well-made knife.

$95

Unusual and small Indonesian Javanese Keris knife. This knife measures 8 3/8” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is bone and one in the typical Javanese style with carvings to the inside. The mendak is brass and is loose. The wavy blade with some blocky patterns and at the base are two birdlike figures with legs with a gold paint or fleck. The scabbard has bone wrangka and bottom piece with the stem covered in carved white metal. A curio piece of the 2nd half of the 20th century.

$49

Very small Cretan knife. This knife measures 6 1/4” in total length. The handle consists of two slabs of bone with yataghan style eared appearance with a decorated metal tang band. The small blade with some oxidation and patina. A cute small knife.

$49

Interesting small African spearhead. It measures 7 1/2” long. It is a socketed spearhead with a leaf shaped blade. The blade is 1 1/2” wide at the join of the socket and blade. Most likely is African of origin.

$25

Book Fijian Weapons and Warfare by Fergus Clunie. 1977 hardback release from the Fiji Museum. Provides historical context of the use of these weapons in Fiji. Lots of line drawings of clubs, spears and slings along with their name.

$15 On Hold

Book On Damascus Steel by Leo Figiel. 1991 book which was a prelude to the 1998 Butterfields auction of his collection. The book provides commentary around the use and forms of wootz and mechanical steel along with lots of pictures of items from his collection.

$50