RSword Antique Blades

19th century Indian sword featuring a Khanda basket hilt handle with a Kilij style blade with split tip and very precisely cut serrated edges. The split tip blade is called Zulfiqar. The sword measures 39 1/2” in total length when measured in a straight line from the tip of blade to the tip of the pommel spike. The blade is damascus steel. It is pattern welded and the blade shows interesting patterns. The serrated edges are very precisely cut and the split tip is also executed well.

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An early Indian Tegha sword with black wootz blade. Most likely 17th or 18th century. Tulwar style handle with silver koftgari in circle patterns.

Quality Indian Shamshir with Wootz and Gold Koftgari handle. The sword measures 36” when measured in a straight line from the tip of the blade to the top of the pommel. Superb Tulwar style handle of wootz steel with fine thick gold koftgari around the borders and on the quillons. The wootz in the handle is bold and active and has a darker coloration. The shamshir blade in bright polish and shallow curvature. It is likely of crucible or wootz steel as I can make out the faint shadow of a scarf weld which usually indicates a wootz blade forged onto a homogeneous steel ingot although I have seen examples where it is forged onto another piece of wootz steel. The blade has moderate curvature, and the cutting edge is quite sharp on this one. Most likely a late 18th to early 19th century sword.

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19th century Indian Tulwar sword with nice pattern welded blade. The Tulwar style handle is covered in thick gold leaf. The curved pattern welded blade exhibits layering. A circular stamp near the forte of the blade contains a form of the inscription “banda-yi shah-i vilayat”, Slave of the King of Trusteeship” along with a Trisula marking.

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19th century Indian or Afghan Khyber Sword. This is a large sword measuring 34” in total length when measured in its scabbard. Ivory handle with ferrule/bolster and tang band covered in gold koftgari. The blade with extensive gold koftgari work. The damascus blade forged of wootz steel. The pattern is subtle but active with a few faded spots. The spine covered in gold work in lovely pattern. Wood scabbard covered in red velvet with brass chape. The velvet looks period but the chape might be a later replacement. A lovely example overall.

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Indian Tegha sword with silver koftgari handle and gold inscriptions on blade. This sword measures 29 1/2” in total length when measured in a straight line from the tip of the blade to the top of the pommel. The handle is iron with thick silver koftgari overlay. The koftgari is done is a floral pattern. Some minor wear to the grip and most of the silver intact below the grip. More heavily worn on the knuckleguard. The blade is a thick, heavy tegha blade. It is forged of pattern welded steel with the patterning visible upon close inspection. The thick spine has 3 inscriptions. The first long one translates to “O Prophet of God, take your victory through God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. Victory is from God, and a near triumph”. This is a battle blessing asking for divine victory. The middle inscription roughly translates to “What God has willed has come to pass”. The third inscription on the spine translates to “Victory from God”. On the surface of the blade are two cartouche with inscriptions over a house shaped deep stampe that is covered in gold. The inscriptions on the blade line up with those on the spine. The top cartouche roughly translates to “What God has willed” and the lower cartouche translates to ‘Help from God and a victory is near at hand”. A fine Indian Tegha sword with battle invocation related inscriptions.

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Massive Indian sword with gold koftgari hilt and stamped blade. This huge sword measures 41” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle, likely from Udaipur, is large and covered in fine gold koftgari work. The gold work is about 97% there and the floral and vine patterning is quite nice. The blade is absolutely massive. The blade is 35” long and it is 2” wide at the forte. It holds a 1 3/4” to 2” width through most of the blade until it tapers down to the tip. There is a deeply stamped marking at the forte. It appears to be a trisula stamping. A number of Rajput states used this marking and the inscription around the trisula is worn a good bit. These inscriptions are often the name of the Maharajah or a deity reference. Blade is likely 18th century with the handle and scabbard late 19th century. The blade does have some areas of pitting. Edge is quite sharp. The scabbard is lovely. The wood core is covered with a purple cloth or silk brocade of floral patterns. Some dirt and staining but generally in good condition. The chape is iron covered in gold koftgari. Nice thick gold work with floral and vine patterns matching the pattern on the hilt. A big man sword for sure.

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Indian dagger with fine black wootz blade. This knife measures 14 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The knife, by itself, measures 13 1/2”. The handle consists of two slabs of a light colored horn with 4 hand cut pins on each side to secure to the tang. There is some gold koftgari decoration to the upper portion of the handle. The bolster is also covered in gold koftgar in a floral pattern. This floral pattern continues onto the base of the blade at the forte. The blade is forged of a bold, active black wootz that is in great condition. The scabbard is silver mounted with pierced silver work designs. The scabbard is covered in a red velvet that has some dirt/staining but is complete and all there. The piercing work on the silver is elaborate and creates lovely designs.

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Indian Zira Bouk Dagger with fine wootz blade. This knife measures 13 1/8” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The knife, by itself, measures 11 3/4”. The handle is a 12 faceted one with 5 facets of steel and then a facet in gold koftgari and then 5 facets of steel and then a facet in gold koftgari. The steel facets have a grain to them and could quite possible be wootz but the pattern is not consistent enough to confidently ascribe. The bolster is covered in gold koftgari with a floral design. The blade is quite nice. It has a sunken panel on each side that is a high quality, black wootz steel with an active and bold pattern. The edges and then the thickened point are in polished steel. Really amazing how the smith managed to inlay the wootz section into the highly polished steel. The scabbard is wood covered in purple velvet.

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Quality Indian dagger with robust blade and fine scabbard. This is the nicest dagger of this handle style I have ever seen. It is a large example measuring 20 1/2” in total length. The handle consists of two slab grips of mother of pearl sections with black enamel inlaid and a red enamel border. The tang band runs between these MOP slabs finishing into the bolster on one side and on the spine side it finishes with a decorative halberd shape. The pommel is a green jadeite in a beaked birdhead shape. The top has a small steel loop with a chain with silver pendent at the bottom. The blade is a khanjar shape with upswept tip. The blade has a well ground fuller along the spine and a beveled edge. The blade in very good condition with little oxidation or pitting. The scabbard, made exactly for this knife and a perfect fit, is a wood core covered in red and green velvet with decorative seams. The steel chape with floral decoration. There is a silver coin set between two gold seams with a fine pierced lanyard holding a fine chain which is wrapped around the scabbard and features a red carnelian stone set into a top and bottom bezel. A very fine Indian dagger, best of this form, in top condition and very rare top quality scabbard.

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Fine Indian Khanjar Dagger with Makhara Handle and Wootz Blade. This dagger measures 15” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is likely copper with a heavy gold leafing. The pommel is a makhara with curled lip, exposed teeth and small protruding tongue. The eyes are inset with a green stone or glass. The handle with floral decorations throughout. There are a few spots of green patina which is the copper base metal patina showing through in a few small spots. The blade is forged of crystalline wootz steel. The pattern is very tight and active. One side of the blade has a little bit of cloudiness from the forging process. Very fine gold koftgari is applied at the forte of the blade on both sides. The scabbard has a wood core. The center section is covered in a blue velvet. The top and bottom mounts on the scabbard are matching the handle. They are also probably a copper base metal covered in a heavy gold leaf with floral decorations. A very fine Indian dagger.

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Fine Indian Khanjar dagger with wootz tears of the afflicted blade. This dagger measures 17 7/8” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is made of jasper stone with a fantastic grain/pattern throughout that is reminiscent of damascus steel. The handle is faceted and done in a pistol grip shape. The guard is silver and is done in ancanthus and palmette shapes. The blade is slightly curving with two cut outs in the center of the blade with small metal balls contained within this channel. This is known as the Tears of the Afflicted. The blade at the forte is plain steel and then the rest of the blade is done in wootz steel. The scabbard with silver mounts and purple velvet over a wood core. A very fine dagger. It was published in Runjeet Singh’s catalogue: “The Goddess: The Arms and Armours of the Rajputs November 2018 London”.

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Fabulous Indian Katar dagger with silver decorated handle, wootz blade and superb silver scabbard. This Katar measures 11 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle has a heavy gilt silver leaf on the base metal grip with lovely floral decorations. The gilt silver is pretty much 100% there with no losses. The blade with beveled edges, thickened armor piercing tip and a high median ridge with sunken panels that exhibit a tight damascus wootz pattern. The scabbard is a work of art. It is a high quality silver. Raised decorations with bird and floral themes. A very high quality Indian Katar dagger in excellent condition overall. One of the nicest Katar I have seen.

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Fine and rare Indian Katar dagger with tears of the afflicted rolling ball blade. This katar measures 18 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle has chiseled animals either with gold or silver koftgari. The gold koftgari is on the outer bars and the silver koftgar on the inner bars. Among the chiseled figures are various Hindu deities, lions and tigers and two interesting ones, a lion with a snake wrapped around its body and a lion with a fish in its mouth. The katar blade is quite nice with chiseled animals at each side of the forte. The blade is forged of pattern welded steel with fine patterning throughout. The center portion of the blade has 3 open cut channels with rolling balls known as the Tears of the Afflicted. Nice scabbard with yellow velvet and brass chape. A great and rare Katar.

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Very rare Indian sword bladed mace. This mace measures 29 1/2” in total length. The handle is done in a khanda basket hilt style with wheel pommel with curved spike, hand guard and the grip is wrapped in old green fabric that is very well worn. The handle is attached to a steel shaft that is faceted. Just underneath the basket guard are two quillons. The sword blade has a thick spine that continues down to the area where it curves around to the tip of the cutting edge. What is impressive to me is that the blade seems forged integral with the shaft. I don’t think the blade is inserted. If it has it is so well done to look absolutely seam less. The blade exhibits some bold pattern welded patterns particularly near the shaft. The blade has old oxidation throughout. A very rare piece. I can’t recall seeing anything else quite like it.

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Large Fine Indian Axe with Heavy Silver Decoration on the blade. This axe measures 42 3/8” in total length. While the shape of the axe reminds you of the Bullova form the quality of this piece overall suggests it was made elsewhere. Perhaps Rajasthani. The crescent shaped axe head has a thick overlay of silver with repeating floral patterns. The silver covers the majority of the blade with just a 3/8” sliver of blade undecorated but showing a very dark patina. The axe head measures 8 1/4” tip edge tip edge and is 2 3/8” from the center of the cutting edge to the back of the blade. The crescent shaped blade is attached to the shaft via well carved and shaped socket with a lovely shape for the section attached to the blade. All surfaces of the socket and the piece attached to the blade are covered in heavy silver overlay. The shaft is a lovely piece of wood with good density, patina and grain. Silver caps adorn the top and bottom of this axe. A rare and very fine Indian Axe.

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Superb large Indian leather painted shield. This shield measures 20 1/2” X 20 1/2”. The shield is formed out of leather and has been carved and painted. The border with very fine floral carvings that has been painted in whites, greens and reds. The large surface area of the shield has been painted green and when you look closely there are stamped paisley decoration which is a fine additional touch. The center medallion with lovely decoration and colors. There is gold, red, green and white. 4 large bosses adorn the front of the shield. The back of the shield has been painted red with gold highlighted decorations. A very fine Indian shield.

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Indian Khanda sword with silver koftgari hilt. This sword measures 34" in total length with a blade that is 1 1/2" wide at the forte that widens to 2 1/4" at its widest point towards the end of the blade. The Khanda basket hilt is covered in silver koftgari. It is over 95% complete on the guard and knucklebow and down at the forte and is showing some wear on the spike and the rim of the wheel pommel. The spike is a good thick one. The blade is very sharp and is forged of layered steel. You can see the heat treating effects of the blade most notably along the cutting edge towards the bottom of the blade and around the tip of the blade. The blade has some surface scratching. A very nice Khanda of good age. Probably late 18th to early 19th century.

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Fine Indian Kutch Shamshir Sword with fine pierced copper mounts and parrot handle. Particularly fine piece with the entire scabbard with the pierced copper decoration.

Fine Indian Katar dagger with black wootz central paneled blade. This katar measures 18 1/4” in total length. The handle is steel with ribbed handle bars. The bars were covered with gold koftgari at one time but most of that has worn away over time. There is an old collection number in white on the inside bar. It reads “9.23.274”. The blade is fantastic. The central panel is a dark black wootz with amazing activity and boldness. The edges and thickened armour piercing tip are polished bright to give a great contrast to the stunning wootz. A great Katar.

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Indian shield with fine central wootz panel. This shield is a buckler size as it measures 10 3/4” by just under 11”. The shield is steel with a chiseled border depicting flowers, animals and hunters with guns. The entire border covered in gold koftgari that is worn. About 50-60% of the goldwork remains. Just inside this border is a fine carved floral decoration with gold koftgari and this section of the gold work is 100% intact. The center of the shield is made from a veneer of wootz steel. The pattern is bold and fairly consistent throughout the shield. There is a gold koftgari decoration in the very center which the gold is 100% intact. There are 4 bosses with gold koftgari that is worn and about 75% intact. The grey wootz pattern offers a very nice contrast to all of the gold work throughout. The back of the shield has a fabric lining that is mostly all there with a few areas having come slightly loose. There is a red leather pad with 4 rings and some leather strapping. Wootz shields are scarce to begin with and often the pattern is not that great. This example has a great pattern plus it is unusual for its size. A rare and fine Indian shield.

$3995

Rare Moro Kris Saber Sword.

19th century Moro Kris Sword. Wood pommel with jute wrapped grip. The blade is completely inlaid all over both sides with various talismanic symbols. Nice period scabbard.

Moro kris sword with fine twistcore blade. The pommel is wood with a very fine grain and lovely wrapped grip. The blade has a very bold and active twistcore pattern in the central fullers.

Impressive Datu Quality Moro Kris Sword with Large Ivory Jungayyan Pommel. This sword measures 29 1/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. It sports a large and spectacular Jungayyan ivory pomel. The pommel measures 7 1/4” from front to back. It is well carved and in very good condition. One of the largest carved ivory pommels I have seen. There is a nice silver band at the top and bottom of the handle with the grip wrapped in straight and twisted rattan. The wavy blade with twin silver asang asang at the forte with some nice fullering in this section as well. The scabbard is wood with a silver band and nice rattan bands. A truly impressive and high quality Moro Kris sword.

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Beautiful Silver Horsehoof Pommel Moro Kris Sword. This sword measures 30” in total lenth when measured in its scabbard. The handle is quite nice. It consists of a large octagonal faceted horsehoof shaped silver pommel. Then the grip is wrapped in layered twine with fancy knotting on the side. There is a silver ferrule at the base of the grip. At the top of the blade are two silver clamps. The wavy blade shows lovely laminations down the center of the blade that are framed by a dark hardened edge zone running down the edges and around the tip. The scabbard is lovely with nice wood throat and well carved bottom with rattan wrap including some diagonal banding mixed in. The scabbard in good condition. A Datu quality Moro Kris with rare silver horsehoof pommel.

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Very rare Moro Kris sword with Jungayyan Carabao Horn Handle and Multirow Twistcore blade. This fine sword measures 29 1/2” when measured in its scabbard. The handle is very rare. It is a Jungayyan pommel but it made from Carabao Horn. The Jungayyan pommel measures 6 1/2” from front to back and is 2 1/2” at its widest point across the top. The grip is tightly wrapped in twine with a fine stitch along the back of the handle. Not only is the Carabao Horn Jungayyan pommel very rare the blade exhibits a very rare multirow twistcore pattern. Most twistcore you see on Moro swords are a single row typically found in the center of the blade. This blade has at least 4 rows and it even appears to go out to the edges of the blade and while not in a defined row it is additional space of twistcore so 4 narrow rows with the twist star pattern and then upon close inspection you can see the twist pattern along the edge of the blade. The blade has a slight forward cant to it. There is a narrow fuller and a shallow wider fuller but these areas are well worn. This is an old blade. There is a fair amount of oxidation and wear to it. The scabbard is wood and is carved out of a single piece of wood. This is an opportunity to acquire a one of a kind Moro sword. You are unlikely to see a similar example.

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Rare Spanish American War Filipino Katipunan Marked and Dated Sword. This sword has a lot going on and many features to point out. The sword measures 27 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The sword features a handle with a wood grip. There is a split to the underside of the handle. The wood grip has a steel pommel cap and a steel ferrule above and below it. There is a steel guard with a downturned quillon. The guard is forged integral with the knucklebow and it is peined on top and finished with a steel washer or nut. The blade has a wider belly and a long false edge. The tip of the blade has some wrinkling. The scabbard is amazing. It is made from a single piece of wood. There is a broken section at the back of the scabbard along with some cracking to the back as well. The very top of the scabbard is dated 1901. Below that you have a block with some type of tree carved with two suns above it. At the bottom of the block is a heart with a sun face in a triangle with 3 additional suns, one at each corner of the triangle. Some very strong Katipunan and Filipino First Replublic symbolism. Below that you have a number of cities or provinces carved into the scabbard. I can make out the words, Bataan, Filipinas, Rumbolez or Bumbolez, Balanoa, and Eahtt. Running down and between these words you have a flying sun. Then you have a very nicely raised and faceted section to the scabbard that concludes in a detailed snake head. One the very top carved facet is the words “32nd US Vols” and on the next ridge down is carved “A 15 de Enero”. The 32nd US Vols was the 32nd US Volunteer Infantry that served in the Philippine Insurrection from 1899-1901. This ties with the date on the top of the scabbard. Definitely a sword with some historical and symbolic significance.

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Fantastic high quality Filipino Luzon silver mounted sword with 33 luk wavy blade. This sword measures 32 1/2” in total length. The handle consists of a carabao horn grip with a fine silver plaque on each side depicting a floral scene. The horn with some minor scuffs and signs of wear. The pommel cap is silver and the guard is silver with chiseled lines throughout. The guard overlays the pommel cap and is secured with multiple washers. The blade is superbly forged with a strong median ridge and fine undulations and waves on a very high luk blade. Not sure I have seen a Filipino sword with this many waves. I count 33 luk on this sword which is a huge amount. The blade is smooth with some oxidation throughout. A fantastic Filipino sword dating to the late Spanish Colonial Period.

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Superb Moro Panabas Sword with Fine Handle and Blade. This sword measures 32 1/4” long when measured in a straight line from the tip of the blade to the top of the handle. The handle measures slightly over 17” long and appears to be made for two handed use. The lower portion of the handle with rattan bands of various colors. The wood portion of the handle with very fine carvings. The grip is faceted with raised sections around the handle. Makes for a nice grip in the hand. The wood has a lovely patina. The handle in very good shape with just a few small chips around the pommel. There is some remnants of the lime inlay still in many sections of the handle. The handle and the blade have a nice arching curve to give the sword tremendous cutting power. The blade has a thick spine and is very well forged. The finish/polish to the blade is a cut above what you typically find on a panabas. There are some heat treated zones along the cutting edge and the blade is quite sharp. The fretwork at the tip of the blade is superb. This is a very fast sword. It is lightweight, yet the blade has a strong spine and sharp edge. One of the nicest Moro Panabas I have seen.

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Top quality and rare Filipino Talibon sword with carved scabbard and textile. This is about as good as it gets for this type of sword. These 19th century examples are getting very hard to find and it is very rare to find one in this condition and with a textile belt loop. The sword measures 27 1/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle has a finely braided rattan grip with the canted pommel showing 3 points. The surface of the front side of the handle is carved including several crosses and the button is intact. The reverse side is non carved. The grip has many facets. The deep bellied and curved blade is forged of laminated steel. It sports a thick spine with thumbrest as is found on these earlier examples. The blade alone is 20” long and 1 7/8” at its widest point. The spine at the forte is 1/2” thick. The scabbard is nicely shaped with facets and a fair amount of floral carving. The carved belt loop sports a rare textile belt loop. The bottom of the scabbard also with button. A complete example with no damage. All the wood is intact. The long needle point is intact. As good as it gets.

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Exquisite matched pair of Filipino Talibon sword with figural carving. This set dates to the Spanish American war period. The male figure in uniform of the period. Katipunan or Insurgent period triangle with three stars at the top of the scabbard. Talibon blade with thick spine. The other sword with Filipino woman carved on pommel and on the scabbard. Amazing piece.

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This is a very rare Naga hilted Moro knife. This knife measures 16 3/4” in total length. The handle consists of the wood pommel that curves at the top and finishes in a Naga. There are two silver “eyes” at the top of this carved section of the handle. Silver pins also are located at the very top of the handle and down its “back” as it curves to the lower section of the handle. Wood with lovely patina. The ferrule looks to be silver with etched designs. The blade is interesting. Not really your typical barong shaped blade this one takes on more an almost bowie style shape. The cutting edge of the blade is quite sharp and then on the top of the blade the spine runs until you have the downturned long clip point. That area of the blade is sharp as well. Blade with oxidation and small areas of microscopic pitting. A very rare Moro piece with the fine Naga hilt.

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Very rare Moro Mandaya Bolo sword with floral decorated blade. Weapons from the Mandaya are fairly rare. This example is note worthy with the extensive floral decorations to both sides of the blade. This matches similar decorations found on a few Mandaya spear head that date to the late 19th to early 20th century which is where I would place this piece. The sword measures 24” when measured in its scabbard and in a straight line from the top of the handle to the upward curved tip of the scabbard. The handle is wood with upturned pommel. There is a small hole on one side of the handle. This would have originally contained a silver disc. The ferrule at the base of the handle is brass. The blade with a very wide deep belly. The blade measures 3 1/4” wide at its widest point. The blade has a long row of floral decorations that is found on both sides of the blade. There is a decorative protrusion on the cutting edge side near the forte and there is a decorative carving on the spine as well. The blade with some surface scratches. The scabbard is made in two pieces that was held together with rattan strips. Many of the rattan strips have broken or are missing so the two halves have some play. The front side has its original stain and black highlight areas. The back of the scabbard shows some loss of the dye in many areas due to wear. There is a crack and some missing wood at the bottom of the scabbard and another crack at the top of the scabbard. All in all, an impressive and rare sword and with some minor restoration to the scabbard and the missing disc and this would be a fantastic addition to the collection of Filipino weapons.

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Moro barong sword with silver inlaid covered blade. The sword measures 23 1/3” when measured without its scabbard. The handle is Binati wood with flashing grains and nice patina. There is a chip to the beak of the pommel otherwise handle in good shape. Tall silver pommel. The blade is covered extensively on both sides with silver inlay. You have extensive Arabic script, symbols, a Zhul Fiqar sword among other things. Rare to find a blade inlaid with this much script, symbols and decoration. The scabbard is a nice one, but the blade doesn’t fit all the way in. There is a metal band towards the bottom of the scabbard the restricts the movement but even if you push that down the blade doesn’t fit all the way in. So, this scabbard is not original to the blade. But I’m including it since it has probably been with this blade for a while.

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This is one of the nicest Naga swords I have either seen or owned. It measures 19 1/2” tom the top of the pommel (hair excluded) to the furthest point on the blade. The tuft of dyed hair on top of the pommel measures about 12”. The handle is cast brass or bronze and is very finely cast. The section of the grip next to the blade has very finely cast spiraled circle designs and then extending up from there you have a narrow section up to a disc and then above that a ribbed pommel with a side ring for lanyard. The blade is also much better than often encountered. It is made from very good steel that starts narrow at the forte and then widens towards the tip. The blade is 3 1/2” at its widest point which is at the end of the blade. One of the nicest Naga weapons you will see.

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Naga Kachin Dao Sword with rare carved scabbard with gold leaf. The sword, measured by itself, is 23 7/8” long. The handle features a brass ferrule with fine carvings at the base. The grip is lacquered black with remnants of a red ink inscription about the base. A few letters can still be made out. The pommel is covered in a bone plate. The blade shows a hairpin damascus pattern like you would find on Tibetan and Bhutanese swords. The blade has a strong ridge line that is just below the midpoint of the blade and then the blade bevels to the edge. The opposite side is flat. The blade has two chips to the edge towards the point. The scabbard is quite nice. One side is open faced with rattan bands and a rattan weave. One unique and rare feature are the carved figures to the front and back. On the open-faced side, you have a carved figure with crown and wings. Gold leaf has been applied and contrasts nicely with the dark black carvings that form the figure. On the opposite side you have a carved animal or mythological beast and then another carved figure of a demon or spiritual figure. The back of the scabbard with black lacquer. A very nice Dao with rare carvings on the scabbard.

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Tibetan Sword, 18th or 19th century, with gilt iron mounts to the handle and pierced iron U-Frame scabbard. Features a very rare blade pattern collectors refer to as “Jelly Roll” as the undulating pattern is very distinct and different than your typical Tibetan hairpin damascus.

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Very ornate Tibetan or Bhutanese knife with fine pierced worked scabbard and handle. This lovely knife measures 15 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is a work of art. The grip is of brass that has been very finely and delicately pierced all over. Lots of small details to be found when you look closely at the carving. The pommel cap has very intricate carvings on each side as well as the top of the pommel. The scabbard is covered with this very fine intricate pierced brass decoration. It is amazing how small the piercings are. The back of the scabbard has the only section that doesn’t have this intricate carving. It does have a brass sleeve with floral decoration, but it isn’t pierced carving like you see everywhere else. There are dozens of very small bezels that contain very small turquoise stones. Quite a few are missing. The blade is double edged with a raised median ridge on both sides. A fantastic knife.

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Fantastic Short Sword of the Ainu, the indigenous people of Japan. This sword, in the style of a Japanese wakizashi sword, but in Ainu materials and craftsmanship is great for several reasons. First, Ainu swords and knives are not very common. Second, this one is a unique size. All of the examples I have owned or seen are either dagger/knife size or sword sized. This one measures 21 1/8" when measured in its scabbard. The third feature that makes it great is its curvature. It is deeply curved for an Ainu piece. And fourth is all of the inlay on the scabbard. The handle features a large staghorn pommel with a wood grip that has been carved in diamond shapes to imitate a Japanese sword wrapped grip. You have wood diamond shapes and then what looks like a pewter. Some of the pewter diamond shapes for the grip are missing. There is a staghorn ferrule at the base of the handle and then a staghorn "tsuba". The staghorn "tsuba' has a hole for the side knife as does the scabbard but the side knife is no longer present. The scabbard is lovely. It is wood with a staghorn toe/chape and then dot and oval shapes that are inlaid with bone or staghorn. Some of that inlay is missing. These decorations are to be found on both sides of the scabbard. The top and the bottom of the scabbard have strips of bone, some of the bone strips missing, to add to the complexity of decoration to the scabbard. The blade is deeply curved and features a high ridgeline. It could be a repurposed Japanese blade. The tang has patina but no signatures are present. Even with the missing inlays (which can be restored) this is a fine and rare sword for its size and appearance.

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Very rare Korean short sword or belt dagger. Korean swords are very scarce to begin with but this is the first example of a belt dagger or short sword of this style I have seen which makes it extremely rare. This piece measures 17" in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is composed of a wood 8-faceted grip with a brass ferrule and pommel cap, also 8-faceted. The tang is peined on top and has multiple decorative washers. The 4 sided guard is also of brass with a hole on one side, in the Japanese style and also with a Japanese style seppa that is integral to the guard. There are a series of clustered dots done in sets of 3. Some slight wiggle to the guard. The blade is Japanese style with a high ridge line that runs to the tip, which is broken and squared off. There is a Chinese style tunkou at the base of the blade with a cut out. The blade has a sharp edge and has oxidation and some areas of pitting throughout. The scabbard is two slabs of wood with red laquer and fitted with matching brass mounts. Each of the brass mounts with the same style of cut out as found on the tunkou. There is a belt clip with brass stem that slides under the two middle mounts and finishes with a mushroom shaped cloud decoration. There is some loss of wood to the top of the scabbard and a long crack to one side. The wood has shrunk a bit with age so the mounts slide around a bit and the blade fits snugly into the scabbard. This sword would date to the 19th century. Like most Korean swords, it incorporates elements from both Japanese and Chinese swords. A very rare, one of a kind sword.

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Taiwanese Aboriginal Sword of the Rukai people. Very complete sword with lots of snake and human ancestor figures throughout. Back of scabbard with old Chinese porcelain discs. Bottom of scabbard with arm bracelet.

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Rare Taiwanese Aboriginal sword of the Paiwan tribe. This sword measures 22 1/4” in total length. It is in uncleaned and untouched condition. The handle is faceted with 8 facets of varying sizes. The upper portion of the handle with tear dropped shaped carvings that have been filled with black dye. The handle has remnants of red dye which would have contrasted with the black very well. The iron ferrule is also faceted. Very thick blade. Is covered in a dark patina but where the bands are on the scabbard you can see the shadow on the blade. Has been untouched for a very long time. The blade is very thick and on one side has a double bevel. One along the spine and one along the edge. The opposite side has a hollow grind. There is some kind of marking on the blade on the hollow grind side. Perhaps a Chinese or Japanese mark? The scabbard is a perfect fit for the blade. There are two brass bands with Chinese style markings. An iron bar is the only other thing covering the front of the scabbard which is left open. There are a couple of holes on the scabbard that probably held additional metal work that is long gone to history. This is a good old example. 19th century.

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19th century Burmese Dha sword. Features elongated grip with extensive detailed figural carvings intertwined with foliage and other open work carvings. The pommel, guard and scabbard mounts are silver with high relief carvings. Interesting clasp on top of scabbard to hold to handle ferrule. Superb Dha.

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Fantastic Silver Mounted Burmese Dha Sword. This sword measures 34” in total length when measured in its scabbard. Very long handle measures 13 1/2” in total and is comprised of 3 sections. A silver ferrule with floral decoration, a superbly carved ivory section with open work carving, human figures, floral tendrils and then the pommel with tall silver ferrule and onion shaped silver pommel, all the silver with floral decorations. The scabbard is wood with silver mounts all with floral decoration. Nice thick blade with one narrow fuller and then two more narrow fullers above it along the spine. Angled tip. Top quality piece in great condition with fine silver mounts and lovely carved ivory grip.

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Lovely Burmese Dha Sword with Fine carved ivory grip and Buddhist Inscription on the blade. This sword measures 34 1/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle consists of a lovely carved ivory handle in high relief. You have the figure of a demon, a human and two sharp beaked birds. These figures sit amongst foliage. The depth of the carving is impressive. The human figure seems to have wings coming from his back. The pommel and ferrule are silver. The blade is more narrow at the forte and then widens towards the belly of the blade and then narrows again towards the tip. The forte of the blade has an inscription on each side in cartouche. An online translator states that the long inscription in Burmese text reads “Well-made/properly forged” or “Made strong and true”. The oval cartouche is a date which reads “year 1240 (Myanmar Era) which corresponds to roughly 1878-79. Inscriptions on Burmese Dha sword are not common especially non-story Dha blades. The spine and the blade have some additional inlays. Nice fuller on the blade. The scabbard is wood. Missing the majority of its rattan bands. A quality Burmese Dha.

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Thai Dha sword with silver inlaid blade and painted and inscribed handle. Ex Oded Shermister Collection.

Rare Thai Palace Guard Dha with Gold Niello Mounts. This sword measures 32” in total length when it is measured in its scabbard. The handle has three decorated brass components. The bottom ferrule with fine decorations and then another brass decorated element above it and then the pommel is also brass decorated. The grip is some type of cloth or braided twine that has been lacquered. The straight blade with thick spine and angled tip. The spine inlaid in gold decoration on both sides. The gold work is 99% there with some microscopic pin hole pits in a few areas. The scabbard is cloth covered with three gold niello decorated mounts. Lovely mounts with fine floral decoration. The bottom of the chape with an elephant decoration. Orange braided suspension belt is attached. The bottom two pictures show a very similar example in the National Museum of Bangkok.

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Early to mid 20th century Mongolian or Chinese Niuweidao paired swords. The handle, guards, and scabbard are done in silver with high relief carvings. The scabbard inlaid with coral, turquoise and jade stones. Raised dragon at top of scabbard and towards the chape.

Early 20th century Mongolian Sword. The handle is a green hardstone with carvings on the pommel and guard. Silver cup shaped cross guard. The blade is impressive. Deeply and precisely cut fullers which converge to a very Indian inspired Trident shaped configuration towards the tip of the blade. The scabbard done in silver with very high relief carvings and inlaid with corals, turquoise, jade stones.

Chinese Qing Dynasty Military Liuyedao Sword with Great Blade. This sword was most likely used by a member of the Qing Military Calvary unit given its blade length. The sword measures 35 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard and sports a 28 1/2” blade length that is 1 1/2” wide. This saber is a military pattern officers grade from the late 18th through the mid 19th century. The blade is very well forged and likely dates to the latter part of the 18th to early 19th century. As mentioned, the length of the sword and the overall balance of the sword is towards the tip points to this sword being calvary issued.

The handle consists of a wood grip with a recent wrap done in the color of what the original likely would have been. Heavy brass pommel, ferrule and guard. The blade features a tunkou at the forte, an element that went out of fashion around the mid 19th century. The blade is very well forged sporting a terrific hamon along the cutting edge. Forging is tight with no flaws and the blade retains its original contours. The blade is in new polish with just some minor pitting towards the tip. The scabbard with heavy brass mounts and covered in rayskin. There are some losses of the rayskin towards the bottom third of the scabbard. The wood here has warped over time and due to some wood loss the top of the blade is slightly exposed in this area.

Chinese swords of this period and blade quality are fairly scarce. The scabbard didn’t survive in perfect condition but otherwise a very fine Qing dynasty military officers sword.

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Excellent fighting Chinese Jian sword. This sword measures 25” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The sword has good heft in the hand and is complete. The handle consists of a wood grip that has a chord wrapped grip that is lacquered. There is a grommet at the top of the handle on both sides that would have accommodated a tassel at one time. All the mounts are brass that have developed a lovely patina. The pommel and the ferrule have a floral motif decoration. The guard is down turning as opposed to turning up and the mask is well carved with lovely details in the eyes and nose. The blade is robust. It measures 18 1/2” and is about 1 5/8” wide. The blade exhibits active lamination throughout and there are darkened zones along the edge. Strong median ridge lends to the beefier blade for this size sword. Lovely wood scabbard with nice grain and patina with all brass mounts exhibiting same patina as handle. They all have matching scrolling vegetal or cloud motif. One small crack to the wood scabbard on one side near the scabbard chape. A fine quality and complete Chinese Jian.

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Unusual Sri Lankan Piha Kaetta with a super rare glass handle and a rare all silver scabbard. This piece measures 11 1/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is most likely glass but could be rock crystal and done in a spiral and fluted method. There is a brass pommel cap with decorations to the top and a brass ferrule. The blade has a lovely thick silver overlay on the forte and along the spine. This overlay is done in a floral pattern. There is even an intricate silver inlay on the spine. The scabbard is all silver. The top of the scabbard is fine silver twisted wire and scalloped edges and then each side of the scabbard is fluted. A rare Piha Kaetta variant with a quality glass or rock crystal handle, fine silver overlaid blade and rare all silver scabbard.

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Fine and large Sri Lankan Ceylonese Piha Kaetta dagger with scabbard.

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Silver Mounted Nepalese hanshee kukri. This kukri measures 20” when measured in its scabbard in a straight line from the tip of the scabbard to the top of the pommel. Early 19th century example with a long slender blade with two grooves along the spine at the base. A wide and shallow notch at the forte of the blade. Long wooden handle with iron bolster. The scabbard is covered in black leather with quillwork ornamentation to one side with a silver chape and locket. The silver mounts are decorated in repousse work and the border of the chape is decorated in meandering vine with leaves on alternating sides. The locket is decorated with stylized flowers and an openwork border of heart-shaped leaves. A few leaves missing. The undecorated leather side seems a more recent replacement. These hanshee kukri are getting hard to find.

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Nepalese hanshee kukri with leather scabbard. Nice early example probably early 19th century. It measures 19” when measured in its scabbard and in a straight line from the tip of the scabbard to the top of the pommel. Long wooden handle with very fine grain. Iron bolster. Long heavily curved blade has a good bit of oxidation on both sides. Blade features two narrow fullers that run along the spine near the forte. Notch carved at base of blade. There are a couple of nicks to the edge of the blade. Nice leather scabbard made from a thick hide with embroidered stitches that are nicely done. A rare and sought after hanshee knife. These are getting hard to find.

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Persian jade handled Khanjar dagger with silver and enamel scabbard. This high quality dagger measures 15 1/8” when measures in its scabbard. The handle consists of two faceted dark green jade grip slabs with a decorated brass tang band around the outside. Each jade grip slab has 3 bezel with an inset stone. There is a brass plate at the base of the bezel. One is missing. The jade grip slabs have just a tad side to side movement. The khanjar shaped blade is forged of damascus wootz steel. The pattern is dark, bold and consistent throughout. There are some slight areas of scabbard wear otherwise in good shape. Gold koftgari decorates the forte of the blade on both sides. The scabbard is open work silver with enamel decoration in the background. One side depicts numerous scenes of people and animals. The opposite side with floral decorations.

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A rare Persian Pala or Kilij with some Ottoman influences. This Pala has more characteristics that point to Persia than the Ottoman empire. The slim ivory grip, wide gold cross guard and the bold wootz pattern all point to Persia. Ottoman wootz tends to be more sham in nature and this is a bold Persian wootz. the inscriptions and blade shape take on Ottoman influence but I believe this is a Persian sword. Lots of inscriptions on both sides of the blade as well as the spine. Fine gold koftgari cross guard. The wootz pattern is bold and shows hints of laddering in spots.

19th century Persian sword from the Qajar period. The sword measures 39 1/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is steel in the Persian Qajar revival form with worn silver koftgari. Finely shaped blade with crisp central fuller and then additional smaller fuller above it. Fullers cut and ground very precisely. Long false edge from the small yelman to the tip along the spine. At the forte are etched panels of Arabic inscriptions with a helmeted warrior below. There is also a cartouche on each side with etched Arabic script. The blade has very small hints of some type of pattern most notably in the fullers. Can’t really classify it as wootz steel but my guess is that the blade is a crucible steel and the pattern is not very strong. The scabbard is very nice. Silver mounts with long leather section with fine spiral stitching to the reverse. The silver mounts with some decorations.

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Fine Indian or Persian Spearhead with Black Wootz Blade. It measures 15 3/4” in total length. This spearhead is very finely crafted. The socket is very precise. Multi-faceted with a perfectly round opening to the socket. There are incised lines in V-shapes through the facets. Below that is a vase-shaped section with which the blade sets. Nice dark patina throughout this section. The blade is double edged with precisely ground fullers and a pronounced central ridge. Thickened armour point. The fullers show a lovely dark black wootz pattern. The pattern is bold and active. Some areas of oxidation and some minor pitting mostly at the thickened point. A high quality spearhead.

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Fabulous Persian Battle Axe with Wootz blade and twisted and pattern welded shaft. This axe measures 31 1/2” from the bottom of the shaft to the top of the pommel. The blade measures 8 1/2” from side to side and is 4 1/2” from the block to the cutting edge. Each side of the axe blade is deeply chiseled depicting 6 seated figures amongst the floral and foliage. The border of the axe has gold koftgari work. There is a carved floral decoration that splits the uncarved blade sections bordered by gold koftgari. The surface of the axe blade is wootz steel. The pattern is bold, easily visible and fairly consistent throughout both sides. The block has a chiseled lion and antelope and the sides with additional chiseled floral scenes with gold koftgari borders. The shaft is a work of art. You have alternating sections of twisted and spiral steel with gun barrel shaped faceted pattern welded steel.. The pattern welding in those two long sections is high quality and both the faceting and shape of these sections as well as the style of the pattern welding reminds me of fine gun barrels. Might have been made by a similar craftsman. The entire axe is solid steel, not the hollow steel you see in late Qajar pieces. This is a substantial axe and likely dates to the late 18th to early 19th century and just about as good as it gets.

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Persian sword with gold decorated mounts and a snake chiseled in high relief on the wootz blade. This sword measures 37 1/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is iron that is covered in a heavy gold leaf. The handle on both sides is carved and depicts numerous birds and some floral decorations. Even the pommel takes on the eyes and beak of a bird. The scabbard mounts are matching in that they are also heavily gold leafed with bird motifs. Makes me wonder if this might have been the sword of a falconer. Not uncommon though to find bird motif in Persian decorations. The blade is lovely. The blade is forged of wootz steel. The pattern is a lovely dark wootz pattern and for about three quarters the length of the blade a snake has been chiseled in high relief on both sides. There is a kaskara in the Met Museum in New York that has a wootz blade with a chiseled snake in high relief. At the base of the blade on one side are two cartouche with gold inlaid inscriptions. The scabbard is leather over wood with the gold leafed iron mounts. A very fine sword.

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Rare 19th century Persian Qajar Yataghan sword. This sword measures 32 1/2” in total length. The handle and scabbard are steel with Qajar scenes throughout. You see animals, florals, fish, humans in cartouches covering the handle and scabbard on both sides. It is unusual to see a Persian Qajar piece done in a Yataghan style. The other very rare feature is that the blade is wootz steel. You seldom see wootz bladed yataghans and wootz bladed yataghans in Qajar decor are even more rare.

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Central Asian shamshir sword with fine silver mounts and very unique pattern to the blade.

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Georgian Tbilisi Gold Mounted Kindjal Sword with twistcore blade dated 1795. Exceptional piece for quality of materials, condition and layered blade with Twistcore center blade with lovely pattern.

Very fine Tbilisi Kindjal with rare gold koftgari mounts and inscription to blade.

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19th century African Moroccan Nimcha sword. Large handle with enameled gold ferrule. Crossguard with decorations in gold koftgari. Scabbard with green velvet and enameled gold mounts. Even the carrying rings are gold.

Fine Moroccan Koummya Dagger with Rhino Horn handle. This dagger measures 17” in total length. The handle is a big chunk of rhino horn and the handle mounts and scabbard are all German Silver. There are a couple of bug nibbles to the side of the handle on one side. The pommel cap, the ferrule and the scabbard all have very fine designs carved into them. The blade is above average for a Koummya but does have some pitting and some oxidation. A lovely Koummya overall.

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Very fine silver and ivory mounted Moroccan Koummya dagger. This knife measures 17” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is ivory with nice striations. A small repair to the ivory at the top of the handle beneath the pommel on one side. The pommel cap is silver and very finely decorated. The blade is above average for these pieces and sports a stamped marking at the base of the blade on one side. The scabbard is silver and finely decorated over the entire surface. A very fine knife.

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Very fine example of an Omani Nimcha. The handle is ivory inlaid with gold foil discs and some red enamel inlays. Scabbard is mounted in a high quality silver. Saber style blade.

19th century Ottoman Shamshir sword. The handle, cross guard, and scabbard mounts are niello silver. Leather covered scabbard. The damascus blade of wootz steel exhibiting very nice, active and bold pattern.

Top quality Ottoman dagger with Tugrah Hallmarked scabbard and wootz blade.

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Very fine Ottoman Empire Enamel Khanjar Dagger with gold inlaid blade. This dagger measures 17 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The base metal has been completely covered on both sides in enamel in various colors including blue, green, gold and brown. The decor heavily features scrolling vine work with other unidentified art. The double-edged blade with goldwork at the forte on both sides. The blade has a very slight wiggle in the handle. The blade has a thickened point. A very similar dagger is pictured in the book “Gold & Damascus Steel, The Ottoman Art of Bladesmithing” on p. 341, item 129.

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Ottoman coral encrusted dagger. This very nice knife is made similarly to some of the Ottoman Pala out there with coral encrusted scabbards. I have an example in my gallery with a very similar base metal as this dagger. The dagger measures 16 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle and scabbard appear to be made of a gilt copper or some other base metal with some type of gilt wash to it. The front of the dagger is covered in red corals and some blue turquoise stones. One bezel is missing the coral. The front is also covered in wire fillagree work. The back of the scabbard does not have any stone work but the metal has been chased all over with intricate floral work. The blade is slightly curving and double edged. There is gold koftgari at the base of the blade on both sides as well as an Arabic inscription on both sides. There are twin fullers down the center portion of the blade on both sides. A little bit of staining on the blade and a little rusting at the very tip of the blade. The Ottoman Coral encrusted Pala swords are very desirable and this would make an excellent companion piece to any of those.

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Fine Ottoman Kilij with chiseled wootz blade and quality silver mounted scabbard. The blade with fine chiseling at the forte and superb wootz pattern. High quality silver mounts to the scabbard.

Fine Silver Mounted Arabian Shamshir with Wootz Blade. This shamshir measures 37 5/8” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle has a high quality silver grip with decorations with silver pommel and matching decorations. The sides of the grip with high quality silver wire. The crossguard is likely silver as well and is wrapped at to the top langet with silver wire. The curved shamshir blade with one wide fuller in the center portion of the blade is forged of damascus wootz steel. The pattern is fine and subtle but fairly consistent throughout. There are a few spots of minor fading but generally upon close inspection the pattern is visible. Quite possibly an Arabian forged wootz blade as opposed to an Indian or Persian import. There are a couple of spots of oxidation and one spot along the edge of the blade with some minor imperfections. The scabbard consists of a wood core with high quality decorated silver mounts. The center portion of the scabbard is covered in leather with some flaking and about 25-30% loss. Fine silver stitch cover band on the reverse side of the scabbard. This is a very good and old example of an Arabian shamshir likely dating to the mid to latter portions of the 19th century.

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Unusual Sumatran Knife with fantastic twistcore blade. I am not sure how to classify this knife. I haven’t ever seen anything quite like it. I am not even sure it is Sumatran, but the handle and scabbard style have me leaning in that direction. The knife measures 12 7/8” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is a black carabao horn with floral carvings on the sides near the top and a ridged pommel. The guard is silver or a silver alloy with beaded rim. The blade is fantastic. It is very thick with a narrow section at the forte and then it has a deep belly. The blade is forged of multi-row twistcore, the pattern very vivid and clear. The pattern locks together like the pieces of a puzzle. Gives it a very attractive look. The very tip of the blade is broken. The scabbard is wood with a floral design carved at the throat and an unusual X marking on the spine of the scabbard at the very front. There are six bands is silver or silver alloy with beaded decoration in the center. A belt clip is attached on one side. A unique piece with a fantastic blade.

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19th century Sumatran Klewang sword that features an 18K Gold grip and ferrule. This sword measures 34 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle consists of the wood pommel with interesting carvings. Some wear to the high spots but in good shape overall. The grip section, ferrule and upper band are all high quality gold, 18K. The upper band with very finely chased decorations and the same for the ferrule. The midsection grip also with fine decorations to the surface. The wood beneath has shrunk just a tad so the gold bands slide just a bit. The blade is a laminated one. You can see some layering along the edge. The blade has some blisters and some other fatigue areas. It is a fairly thin and flexible blade. The wood scabbard, which most likely is original to the sword, was covered at some point in its life with leather. The work is very good and they chose to have a belt loop with tassels at the top. Perhaps it was still being worn at that time or this feature was added for display purposes. Very rare to find the gold wrapped grip.

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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.

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Fine Madurese Keris with twistcore pamor blade. This keris measures 18 3/4” when measured in its scabbard. Handle very finely and extensively carved from ivory. The blade is quite nice. The center panel is done in a twistcore pamor pattern with additional layering to each side. The scabbard has a lovely wood throat, the wood with a lovely patina, and a nicely carved winged horse on both sides. The stem is made from a silver alloy most probably nickel silver sometimes called german silver.

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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.

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High Quality Balinese Keris Sword with Gold Washed Silver Mounts. This is a large Keris and measures 26 3/4" in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is silver that has a gold wash. The silver work is superb judging by the quality of the figure, the details in the carvings and the expression of the face. There are colored stones or glass that is at the base of the handle and also in the mendak. The blade is black with a silver pamor of fine pattern with detailed gold vines and other gold decorated figures. There are also some gold vine and fruit (?) decoration on the top of the gangya. Really nice gold work. The scabbard has a large ivory wrangka with a long silver sleeve that also has been gold washed. The top has been decorated with a figure. The very bottom of the scabbard has been dented. A quality Balinese Keris throughout.

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Nice Sumatran Keris Sword with Very Large Ivory Jawa Demam Figure. This Keris measures 19 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is very large and carved in the Jawa Demam figure and is done of ivory. One minor break to the extension on the back behind the head. Very fancy mendak. The straight blade with median ridge with visible layering throughout. The scabbard is wood with nice grain. A lovely Keris with a larger than normal handle.

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Superb Indonesian Javanese Golok short sword with rare thick twistcore blade. This sword measures 22 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is very finely carved from a brown wood in the form of a makhara with long upturned nose. There are two eye holes that were probably inlaid with bone or ivory at one point in time. The ferrule at the bottom of the grip is silver. The blade is impressive. First, it is very thick and heavy. Second, the body of the blade below the thick spine is forged from twistcore steel and then you have an inserted edge showing layering along the cutting edge. I can’t recall having seen a Golok with this thick and stout of a blade let along also with twistcore pattern. The scabbard has very finely grained wood veneers over a wood core and than with silver throat and silver bands. There is a broken piece of wood veneer at the very bottom of the scabbard. A very fine sword.

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Older African Mandingo Sword. This sword measures 30 3/4” in total length. There are several features to this sword that point to it being an older example. The patina to the leather is indicative of an older piece. Also, the native made blade is a better-quality example than what you typically find in mid to late 20th century examples. This example most likely dates to the early 20th century. The handle is leather wrapped with a tall brass pommel capstan. Well-made native blade with good thickness at the spine and a much stronger more rigid blade than normally encountered. The blade has a fair amount of oxidation and some rust patches. The scabbard is very nice with fine leather with great patina, lovely decorations and the shells and tassels are all lovely.

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Quality African Poto sword with fantastic scabbard. This prestige sword measures 26 1/2” from the bottom of the scabbard to the top of the pommel. The scabbard is very impressive for its size and quality. It measures 15 3/8” tall by 12” at its widest point at the top. Each side of the scabbard at the top sports three threaded screws. The scabbard has a wood core that is covered in leather and features brass tacks in an intricate design on the front and the back with fine stitching. The leather is in superb condition with only a small tear at the reverse side. The sword itself measures 25” long and the blade is 17” long and 4” at its widest point. There is lots of punch design work to the blade to go along with the open cut out work in the forte section and the two sharp projections on the sides of the blades to the slightly rounded tip. The handle is covered in brass and the pommel is a large, stitched leather ball that probably has talismanic material stuffed inside this ball. This is a fine Poto sword given its condition, quality of blade and the superb and large scabbard.

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This is a release from my private collection. It is a very fine, about as good as it gets, African Seme Sword of the Massai people. This sword measures 36 1/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is wood that has been wrapped in leather done in a way to give the grip a ribbed look. Very nice blade. It is very thick and four sided at the forte and remains that way until about 9” from the tip when it begins to flatten out from the thick four sided cross section. You still have a strong median ridge running to the tip but as the cross section flattens out you get some fullers or hollow grooves. Handling this old example one can imagine why these warriors were effective at dispatching lions. The scabbard is very nice. It is leather over wood, has the same cross section as the blade and features the original beaded belt. The stitching on the reverse of the scabbard is very fine and the leatherwork of the belt is very fine with red and white beads. The leather has dried and become fairly stiff but rare to have a complete scabbard in this kind of condition. You will be hard pressed to find a better example.

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African throwing knife of the Azande with Clan Markings. This throwing knife measures 18” when measured in a straight line top to bottom. The lower blade extension measures 8 3/4” when measured from the handle out to the tip. The upper blade extension measures 7 1/4” from the tip to where it joins to the straight blade section. The blade has very interesting clan markings throughout. On the upper extension there is a shield and two axes, on the short extension at the top there is an crocodile, on the lower extension there is a throwing knife and a sword and on the straight blade section there are numerous circular and line decorations. The grip is wrapped in some type of twine done in a complex weave. A great throwing knife with fantastic imagery.

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Superb African Recade, Ceremonial Axe of the Fon, Benin. This axe measures 22 1/2” in total length. The shaft is a hardwood with a lovely patina. The top shows Hyena with a Jeckyl in its mouth or at least that is what it looks like to me. The Hyena with a full mouth of sharp teeth. The Jeckyl with clenched teeth. There is an old chip to the upper lip of the Jeckyl but it must have happened a long time ago as the patina blends well with the rest of the wood. The eyes and ears have metal inserts (one ear on the Hyena missing). There are two brass star shaped plaques and another animal head, maybe a Water Buffalo. The back of the shaft has a small metal blade. The blade is 2 1/8” long and is 1 1/4” wide. The bottom of the shaft has a reeded brass collar with the bottom open to expose the bottom of the shaft. A rare and unusual item.

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Rare Sudanese Beja Hadendoa Dagger with Scabbard and Belt. Very rare to find these daggers complete with the belt. The knife measures 13 1/2” when measured in a straight line in its scabbard from the very bottom of the scabbard to the top of the handle. The handle is wood, in an I shape with two toned wood and nice ribbed carving along the side. The middle of the grip is wrapped in silver wire. The blade with upswept tip and medial ridge. The scabbard is leather with reptile skin added to the top and bottom of the scabbard. The scabbard is attached to the belt . The belt is leather and is supple and has a belt loop at the end. You hardly ever see these with the belt and in such good condition to boot. The belt with nice decorations.

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African Nigerian Chamba Sword. This short sword measures 22 3/4” when measured in its scabbard. The handle is done in leather strips woven together for a tight weave with a domed shaped iron pommel. The crossguard is iron, thick and down turned. The blade is double edged with a medial ridge running almost the full length of the blade. The tip is rounded. the blade bend towards the tip and has some general unevenness throughout. Some oxidation is present. The scabbard is very nice. It is a very fine brown leather over thin wood with nice stitching to the reverse. The chape is done in reptile skin. there are leather bands around the base leather. Two of which form the suspension, which is now missing, and one is at the top of the reptile skin. A seldom encountered sword.

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Nice Rhino horn hilted Ethiopian shotel sword with an English blade. This sword measures 42 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard and going in a straight line from the tip of the scabbard to the very top of the handle. The handle is made from two sections of rhino horn. The rim of the pommel with a very translucent appearance. The outer rim of the pommel with some chips and dings. White metal dome cap with engravings located on top of the pommel. Lovely English made blade and one made for export to Africa. At the forte on one side is a deep stamp with the letters GR. Above the stamp it states “Made Expressly For W.H. Stromb, London”. Blade has very nice etching above these markings. The opposite side of the blade has an inscription in Amharic and then fine etching on the blade above that marking. There is a tag on the handle that states the inscription translates to “Made by Henry Wilkinson of King Edward VII, London”. I can’t verify the accuracy of the translation but quite possible. Nice to still have the scabbard. Interestingly, it is leather over leather. Less than half of the outer layer of leather remains revealing the inner layer of leather that is still intact. Also retains the original belt which does not often survive with these. A very nice example.

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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.

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