RSword Antique Blades

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.

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.

Superb Indian shamshir with deeply chiseled handle and scabbard. This sword measures 35 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is brass and deeply chiseled in a floral and vine pattern. The pommel wheel is also deeply carved. Even the pommel cap and nut are deeply carved or decorated. Some of the finest carvings I have seen. The curved blade is forged of wootz steel. The pattern shows in a wood grain pattern. The blade is more narrow and lighter than normal so not a fighting blade but a nice compliment to the superb, chiseled handle and scabbard mounts. This sword was meant to be a prestige piece. The scabbard has matching deeply chiseled mounts. The carvings matching the handle in a fine floral pattern. There is also a long-carved border down the central portion of the scabbard with deeply chiseled floral decoration. The open section in the middle is covered in a green velvet. The hanging bands are carved in matching style to the pommel nut on the top of the handle. An absolute quality piece. Kutch, India - late 19th century.

Silver mounted Ottoman Kilij sword with early wootz blade. This sword measures 37 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard and in a straight line from the tip of the scabbard to the top of the handle. The handle consists of rhino horn slabs with very good patina, held with two rivets on each side, and with eyelet in the pommel to hold a lanyard. The tang band is silver with nice floral decorations all throughout. The cross guard is silver, nice and wide with border decorations. The scabbard is all silver mounts with decorations around the borders and the top and bottom mounts with additional decorations at both the top and bottom of the mount. The center portion of the scabbard is covered in leather with fine coil stitching to the reverse. All in very good condition with just some dents and dings to the silver as to be expected. While the handle and scabbard are likely late 18th to early 19th century the blade appears to be older. Likely a 17th century blade judging by is shallow curvature, yelman with dimple and long false edge. The blade is also forged of wootz steel showing a nice pattern. The blade also has some double grooves on each side. The wootz pattern is consistent and of very good activity. There are some areas of oxidation and a few minor microscoping pitting. A very fine and complete Ottoman Kilij sword with early style blade.

Very nice Ottoman shamshir with gold work on handle and wootz blade. This is a long shamshir measuring 38 1/4” in total length when measured in a straight line from the top of the pommel to the tip of the blade. The handle consists of rhino horn slabs and a steel tang band that is covered in very nice gold koftgari. There are a few bug nibbles to the grip mostly on one side. The cross guard is quite nice, is steel, and has a lovely gold koftgari decoration on most of the surface area. The pattern is en suite with the tang band. The curved blade is forged of damascus wootz steel. The pattern is consistent and shows as a flowing, wood grain type pattern. There is remnants of a cartouche on one side but only the cross hatching remains. A good quality Ottoman shamshir.

Very good Indian Kirach Sword with Wootz Blade. This sword measures 35 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is in an Indian Khanda basket hilt style of iron with thick gold leaf. Inside the guard and knucklebow is old padding that is missing some of the outer threading for about 50% revelaing the padding inside. The small, round grip wrapped in a green velvet. The long pommel spike on top completes the handle ensemble. The blade is single edged with a bevel with the addition of a sharpened edge on the spine side from the point of the strapping on to the tip. The forte and a good portion of the spine is covered with a backstrap that is also covered in heavy gold leaf. The blade is forged of wootz steel with a vibrant pattern of dark color with just a few dark spots on both sides. The edges are polished bright. The scabbard is a wood core covered in red velvet with a metal chape with gold leaf. The leafing on the scabbard chape not the same quality as the leafing on the handle and blade strapwork so likely a later replacement. A very fine sword.

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.

Heavy and thick Indian kard dagger with quality wootz blade. This knife measures 17” in total length when measured in its scabbard. This is a very heavy and thick kard dagger. The handle consists of two slabs of mother of pearl. One side has a solid slab of MOP. The opposite side with two pieces placed together. There is a black horn spacer beneath the grip slabs. There is a steel tang band that runs between the grip slabs. The bolster is steel. The blade is forged of a high quality wootz steel. The blade has a very active and bold pattern that shows some ladderesque features. The blade is very clean with just some minor scabbard wear. The scabbard has a wood core with leather covering and a silver alloy chape. The knife fits deep into the scabbard. A quality Indian dagger with a great wootz blade.

Large and impressive Indian Zirah Bouk dagger. This knife measures 17 1/4” in total length. The handle is very interesting. It features ten facets/grooves around the handle. It is likely forged of damascus steel as there are hints of pattern in the grooves. Large metal bolster. The blade is forward curving with a thickened 4 1/2” section at the tip of the blade. This thickened section with a prominent medial ridge. There is also a beveled edge along the edge towards this thickened section. The bolster and forte with silver koftgari done in floral decorations. The blade is likely a crucible steel as I see hints of pattern in the blade. A great and quite rare Indian Zirah Bouk dagger with unusual and unique handle.

Fine Persian Battle Axe with Swan Finial and Wootz Blade. This axe measures 26” in total length. The axe head with square poll and crescent shaped blade. The top of the axe with a steel swan. The square block on the back is chiseled with a rabbit. The sides are chiseled with birds. The axe head is forged of wootz steel. The pattern is evident upon close inspection. The shaft is steel and faceted. It is decorated with silver koftgari. The decoration is worn. The shaft is solid. There are a couple of wrinkles in the metal but overall the shaft holds firm and solid. A great Persian battle axe.

Very Fine Persian Battle Axe with Superbly Chiseled Wootz Blade. This axe measures 25 1/2” in total length. The crescent shaped axe head is forged of wootz steel. The pattern is evident upon close inspection. The blade on each side is superbly chiseled with an Arabic inscription within a field of foliage. The sides of the poll are deeply chiseled as is the square block. The sides with foliage and the block with a picture of Persian nobility. The shaft is steel and solid. There is one section where it has rusted. A very fine Persian battle axe.

Fantastic and Rare Carved Ivory Moro Jungayan Barong hilt. This is one of the finest carved ivory handles (one of the few carved ones I am aware of) for a Moro barong that exists. It is a very large handle measuring 7” from the top of the handle to the very bottom. The top of the pommel is huge. It measures 6 1/8” from crest to beak and it is 1 3/8” at its widest point. Each side of the grip and the top of the pommel has very good deeply carved scenes. The sides of the grips with scrolling vine carvings and the top with bamboo and leaves. The style of carving is very Chinese. There are a couple of restorations that are done so well you couldn’t tell unless you looked extremely closely at it. Likely the hilt of a wealthy Chinese-Filipino Datu.

Moro Saber Sword with very rare blade profile. This sword measures 25 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle consists of a wood grip with braided twine wrap and a wood Kakatua pommel with lovely patina. Very rare blade profile. The blade is double edged but then transitions to a saber style tip. So one cutting edge runs straight from the fretwork to the tip. The other cutting edge runs straight from the silver asang-asang and then angles to the tip like a saber blade tip would be shaped. There are twin narrow fullers on each side. The blade exhibits a fine “hamon” above and below the fuller with some faint lamination showing throughout the blade. There is also good old oxidation and a couple of nicks along the cutting edge. Very fine elephants trunk and fretwork on the opposite side. The scabbard is a thick wood. The top piece is held to the bottom piece with some string and rattan. Very fine textile wrap at the top of the stem. There are some chips and some losses to the wood on the scabbard but overall it is holding firm when the blade is inserted. This is an old Kris. Probably mid 19th century. With a very rare blade style to boot.

Very fine Spanish Filipino Colonial Period Bicol Sword with massive thick blade. This sword measures 21 1/4” in total length. The handle is a dark carabao horn with faceted and carved grip depicting fine floral decorations and an animal head pommel with curling lips exposing big teeth, narrow set eyes and ears. Tall pommel nut on top. The ferrule is brass and faceted to match the grip. The blade is a thick and heavy blade with a step down spine that rolls into a clipped point. Very sharp edge. Quite a rare sword of the Filipino Spanish Colonial period.

Very nice Filipino Visayan Tenegre sword with abstract pommel. This sword measures 24” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle consists of an iron ferrule that is faceted to match the facets of the grip and pommel. The pommel is done in an abstract monster head. Similar swords often have the monster head carved out in great detail but this example takes on the shape but is abstract as it doesn’t show any features like the eyes, mouth, etc. Very sharp blade. The blade is flat on one side and the opposite side with a very strong beveled edge. The spine side drops into a strongly angled false edge. A bevel has been added to the false edge. Very sharp point. The scabbard is wood with a leather throat and brass bands. A superb fighting sword.

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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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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Very good long silver and ivory mounted Laotian dha sword. This long sword measures 44” in total length. The handle consists of a long tusk shaped ivory handle with nice decorated silver ferrule and decorated silver cross guard. The blade has a fairly thick spine and is more narrow at the forte and widens some towards the tip before narrowing back to the point. The scabbard is completely covered in deeply carved silver with multiple animal depictions amongst the floral and vine decorated background. A very nice and quite large Laotian dha sword.

Very good silver and ivory mounted Laotian dha dagger. This knife measures 22 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle consists of a tusk shaped ivory section with nicely carved silver ferrule. The blade with thick spine and is narrower at the forte and center of the blade before widening and then having a strong taper to the tip. The scabbard is silver with lovely carved floral decorations. Nice, braided rope baldric attached to the top scabbard mount.

Indian Kard dagger with fine wootz blade. This knife measures 11 1/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle consists of mother of pearl grip slabs that are secured to each side via 6 hand made rivets. The steel bolster and tang run between the grip slabs. The mother of pearl appears to have been done in four sections rather than there being a split on each side. The blade is wootz steel. It has a very active and fine pattern throughout. The scabbard is green velvet over wood. A very fine Indian dagger with great wootz blade.

$950

Asian or Indian Battle Axe with European Style Blade. This axe measures 26 1/4” in total length. The axe head with socket that fits over the top of the bamboo shaft and appears to just be pressure fitted. The spine goes straight out from the haft 3”. From there the cutting edge which is on the outside curves inward towards the tip. The back of the blade is like a spine and it curves at the very tip which is sharp. The blade is 4 3/4” from the top of the straight spine to the tip. The shaft is bamboo. There is a nodule in the middle. The bottom of the bamboo is covered in what looks like a very large bullet casing. I am unsure of the exact origin of this piece but with the bamboo shaft I lean towards India or possibly another Asian country with possibly a captured or traded European style axe head. The bamboo makes this a light and agile axe.

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Interesting Filipino Short Sword with Monster Pommel and Snake Head Scabbard. This sword measures 23 1/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The pommel is wood and features a monster head pommel. It has the open mouth with teeth and prominent nose like you see on Visayan monster head pommels but the ears are more prominent on this one like the Bicol bat head pommels. The grip is faceted and has a brass ferrule. The guard is wood with a downturned quillon. The wood guard reminds me of Visayan pieces and the downturned quillon over the spine of similar features on guards of the Spanish American war period. The blade is narrow at the forte with some decorative scalloping on the cutting edge. The blade widens towards the tip and then has a clipped point. The spine is thick at the forte. The blade profile reminds me of Minasbad blades. The blade has some oxidation throughout. The scabbard is wood, done in two halves, with two rattan bands. There is a carved belt hook at the top and the very bottom of the scabbard is in the shape of a snake head. The scabbard has a cut opening at the top to accommodate the downturned quillon. A very interesting and unique Filipino short sword demonstrating a variety of regional styles.

$425

Unusual Filipino Short Sword with Unique and Sharp Blade. This sword measures 18 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is wood or carabao horn with eight facets and a slight angle to the grip. The top of the pommel with a washer over the tang. The ferrule is faceted brass. The blade is interesting. It is very straight. The blade is quite narrow at the forte but the spine is thickest at this section. The cutting edge is very sharp. It reminds me of a scapel. Very straight and very sharp. There is some old gun grease on the blade on both sides that will clean off easily. The scabbard is wood with a lovely patina. There is a carved belt loop and the bottom of the scabbard turns up slightly. There is also a carved design on one side at the top of the scabbard. There is a slight loss of wood to the reverse side. I haven’t seen a Filipino knife exactly like this one before. Quite unique and interesting.

$225

Algerian Flyssa Sword with Curved Blade. This sword measures 23 1/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is wood, with nice patina, with inlaid brass wire to create a pattern on each side of the grip, with hooked pommel. The S-Shaped guard with ball shaped finials. The curved blade has an elongated point that has bent at some point in its life. The blade has carved lines and decorations on both sides as well as the spine. The wood scabbard has a lovely patina and the front side has very nice carvings. There are four brass bands with punch dot decoration. The very tip of the scabbard has broken at some point in its life and the lower portion of the blade protrudes from this open section.

$149

World War Two Chinese Kuomingtang Army Officer Dagger. This knife measures 15 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle features a faux tortoiseshell grip with a brass ferrule and a brass pommel cap with a brass strip down each side of the grip. The strip is decorated with flower and sun symbols. The pommel has a crossed flag symbol on each side and the top of the pommel with a sun. The blade is double edged with some oxidation throughout. The scabbard has a metal mid section with two brass mounts decorated with flower and sun motif. The middle metal section has some rusting in areas.

$225

Nice Algerian Flyssa sword with broader, deeper bellied blade. This sword measures 32 3/4” in total length. The handle is comprised of two slabs of well patinated wood with two rivets on each side to secure the grip to the tang. The bolster is steel and is octagonally faceted with the tang an extension running between the two grip slabs. The blade has a broader center section and a deeper “belly” than what you see on the really long flyssa. This one feels great in the hands and seems a much more practical fighting sword than those really long ones. The blade has brass inlaid decorations along the spine on both sides. Sharp blade. The tip is squared off. The spine has some numeric and symbol markings. A really good Flyssa sword.

$595

Borneo Dayak Jimpul Sword with blade decorations. This sword measures 28” in total length. The handle is staghorn and is carved in great detail. The handle is carved with leeches, endless knot decoration and some other geometric designs. The base of the grip has brass wire wrap and it is missing its organic plug. The blade is curved and the spine is thick. There is a chiseled “crowit” at the forte of the blade and then all along the spine on both sides are chiseled decorations. Towards the tip the blade has some punched hole and other carved decorations that stand out along the false edge. The blade has a sharp edge and some oxidation throughout. A good sold Borneo sword.

$495

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.

$1895

Superb near mint Burmese silver mounted Dha sword. The sword measures 32 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle consists of a silver ferrule, a lacquered rattan grip, and then another silver ferrule with an onion shaped, faceted pommel. The onion pommel is very solid. These are often hollow and get dented quite easily but this one is quite firm to the touch. Some minor dents and signs of wear to the silver to be expected. The blade is more narrow at the forte and then widens slightly towards the angled tip. The blade has wavy line decorations throughout with dots and circles. The thick spine is inlaid with brass. There are a couple of fullers on each side of the blade. The scabbard has a wood core and covered in a good quality silver. The decorations to the silver scabbard on both sides is quite nice. The rubber band at the top of the scabbard is holding together the silver on the cutting side. Over time, the blade has cut the silver so the rubber band holds it together to keep it from separating more. A quality Dha sword.

$1295

Quality Silver Mounted Filipino Bicol Saber. The quality silver mounts would suggest this was owned by a person of rank or wealth. It measures 30” in total length. The handle is carabao horn that is faceted and each facet with a scallop ending at the pommel. The pommel appears to be a bat head with long ears, each with some chips/minor losses. In its mouth is a one piece guard/knucklebow-shell guard. It is made of silver and features lovely scrolling vine and leaf decor. The ferrule at the base of the grip is also silver. The blade is long with a clipped point and sharp edge. There is oxidation throughout on both sides. A really nice higher end Bicol saber of the late 19th century.

$995

Very Nice African Sudanese Sword with tribal blade markings. This sword measures 32 1/2” in total length. The handle is cylindrical with straight, deeply incised carvings on two sides and then diagonal carvings on one side and the last side with sideways carvings. Has a faceted section at the lower grip and the pommel sits atop another faceted section. The pommel is somewhat triangular shaped. The handle material is some type of bone. It has a brass cross guard. The blade is relatively thin with a lovely cut out towards the forte of a long tailed lizard or crocodile with brass inlaid eyes. At the forte are various symbols of unknown meaning. Additional semi-circle marks throughout the blade. This is a ceremonial weapon of the Ingessana, Fur and Fundj and generally date back to around the Mahdist period of the late 19th century.

$895

Rare African Ivory handled dagger of the Yao tribe in Mozambique. This knife measures 13 1/4” in total length. The handle is a very large ivory tusk section. Very thick and chunky grip with two nails to each side. The grip is split on the sides for the tang and bolster to be inserted. There are a number of circle decorations throughout. The bolster is steel with a ribbed flat section next to the blade. The blade with double fullers on each side and symbols on the blade on one side near the forte. Possibly psuedo European blade markings done in imitation. The blade with some dark oxidation to each side. A few nicks along the edge. These are fairly rare. There are a number of examples referenced in the British Musuem that were field collected in the early 20th century around Mocimboa Da Praia in Portuguese East Africa, Mozambique. Likely late 19th to early 20th century.

$595

Very nice African Manding dagger with ivory handle. This knife measures 14” in total length. The handle has a silver ferrule with an ivory grip. The ivory grip with dot in circle motif. Above that grip section are two horn spacers with an ivory disc in between. Then the pommel finishes with another ivory piece with dot in circle motif. The blade is single edged with a long false edge after a thin spine area. The blade has a forte carved into a block section with more dot and dot in circle motif. The blade with hammer marks/grinding marks to each side so wasn’t completed with a polished surface. A rare knife given the ivory handle.

$395

Lovely Balinese dagger with inlaid blade and huge horn handle. This knife measures 19 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is a large chunk of faceted horn with lovely color and patina. Between the handle and the blade is a brass ferrule with lovely patina. The blade has a very sharp edge and on one side is a geometric pattern inlaid in brass. The spine with a long row of brass inlaid strips and then at the top of the spine near the forte is a very nice brass decoration. The plain wood scabbard with a single rattan band. One small chip to the scabbard at the mouth. Blade is a very good fit into scabbard so this one made for this blade. A fine Balinese Knife.

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Nice Tbilisi Georgian Kindjal with Twistcore Central Paneled Blade. This piece measures 20 5/8” in total length. The handle consists of two slabs of dark horn secured by three rivets. Two have niello silver domes on the opposite side with ace of spade shaped niello silver washers. In the center of the grip is a silver niello teardrop shaped washer. The blade is double edged with a deeply stamped makers mark at the forte with some kind of markings on the inside. In the center of the blade are double fullers with twistcore steel patterning in the recesses of the fullers. The patterns are bold and vivid, stronger on one side. Long tip that is slightly bent. An attractive and large dagger.

$650

Nice Filipino Sword with Textile Wrapped Scabbard and Rare Carved Handle. This sword measures 31” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The scabbard style and the handle point to this being a form of Minasbad with a different blade shape but the scabbard is quite similar to Minasbad so likely a Bicol sword. The handle is quite large and is faceted and made of wood with a brass ferrule and guard. One side is carved with what looks like a boat with a man lying in it with huts all around. There are many huts depicted so it seems to be illustrating a village. The opposite side shows a couple of huts and then a stand of tall trees, maybe palm trees or something similar. The carver seems to be depicting their village. Very cool carving. Equally cool is the scabbard with the textile cloth. The textile cloth is quite old, red in color with lovely floral patterns to it. Textiles on handles and scabbards were referred to as munsala. It had talismanic meanings to support the warrior in battle. The scabbard is made of two wood halves, one much thicker than the other one, with some losses to the wood in a few spots. The blade is quite beefy and sharp. A very nice Filipino sword with some rare features.

$395

Filipino Sword with unusual handle and decorated blade. This sword measures 23 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is wood and has deeply recessed spiral carvings for twisted wire which is no longer present. The guard is unusual. It is a steel cross guard with a split handguard creating two thicker branches with the section extending long over the pommel and then the metal curled up. At the base of the handle the metal curls down in the opposite direction. The blade is very thick at the forte and quite narrow and it then widens toward the middle and lower third of the blade before it tapers to the point. There are some floral decorations carved into the blade on both sides. Very sharp blade and some oxidation throughout. The blade profile and shape is of a Minasbad.

$225

Filipino Mandaya Spearhead with ferrule and part shaft. This piece measures 30 1/4” in total length. The dimensions of the spearhead itself is 13 1/2” long to the end of the bolster and 2 1/2” wide. Given the shape and the size of this spearhead I believe it is Mandaya. It is unusual regardless and not a common shape or size. It has a floral decoration at the base and lines that converge into a lance tip shape towards the tip. The long bolster has a brass ferrule at the top and then nickel silver sections with brass or bronze discs. The wood section that remains is squared off at the bottom and has a single brass bands. Feels good in your hands so would make an effective hand weapon as is. Mandaya spearhead/spears are not very common. A nice and unusual Moro/Mandaya spearhead.

$495

Borneo Dayak Mandau Sword with Nice Piso Raut. This sword measures 28 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is staghorn and is extensively carved with leaches and other decorations. Has a nice braided rattan wrap along with twisted wire wrap. It is missing its organic plug at the base of the handle. The blade has nice decorations along the spine with curly Q work on the spine near the tip of the blade. The blade has some oxidation to both sides. The Piso Raut is quite nice. It is quite long with a staghorn pommel that is extensively carved and then sections of horn and wood for the handle and then a well crafted blade. The scabbard is wood with nice rattan wrap. The rattan belt loop with metal ring at the base for carrying. It also has its Palm Bark Scabbard for the Piso Raut but the rattan binding is gone so it is currently being held with a rubber band. The blade is a bit tight going in and out of the scabbard and does not insert all of the way in. A good Mandau sword with the Piso Raut adding nicely as it is often missing.

$425

Well made sword from Timor Island with horn handle and scabbard. The sword measures 32 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is made from bovine horn with a greenish tint with dyed horse hair to the top and bottom of the pommel. There are some decorative metal bands also applied to the handle. The blade with a single wide fuller down the center portion of the blade. It shows some scratches and other signs of use and wear. The scabbard has green bovine horn plaques that make up the scabbard. It has decorative metal bands and star shaped washers that are nailed to the scabbard. The very tip of the scabbard is bent. A well crafted sword that is about 50-75 years old.

$225

Nice Moro Punal Gunong dagger. This knife measures 10” long when measured in its scabbard. The grip is lovely with a wood pommel with nice patina and a ferrule with a bulbous center piece with carved floral decoration. The ferrule and bulbous center are nickel or coin silver. The crossguard with decoration to the top. The blade is double edged and sharp with a median ridge. At the forte are carved lines with floral decoration at the center. The blade shows some signs of being laminated. The scabbard has a wood center with silver bands above and below and then the top and bottom of the scabbard have a decorative band with beaded rims and floral decoration. A nice and older punal.

$150

World War Two Period Filipino Cebu Dagger with dated leather scabbard. This knife measures 11 1/2” in total length. The handle is made of aluminum, likely aircraft scrap, with a grooved handle and the pommel shaped like a talibon dagger with a heart at the top. 3 plastic buttons are mounted on one side of the handle. The blade is quite nice. It is bowie shaped with the clipped point and features a beveled edge on both sides along with a false edge. It is quite sharp and marked Cebu P.I. on one side. Really a quality blade. The scabbard is tooled leather and is dated 1947 on one side. The front with floral decorations and the reverse side with stitchings. The scabbard does not fit the blade perfectly so may have shrunk a bit with time or is not original to the knife but it looks good and could go with it so included. The tip of the blade poked out of the bottom.

$125

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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