A fine and complete example of a very rare Borneo sword, Southern Sarawak.
The sword in its scabbard measures 74cms long. Out it is 72.5cms long with a blade length just over 58cms.
The entire sword and scabbard displays a very pleasing old, undisturbed patina throughout. The bone/antler hilt shows a very mellow caramel colour typically seen on old ivory and displays a very unusual inlaid brass pin decoration. The grip retains its original rattan binding, darkened with age and the hooked pommel displaying very interesting and unusual motifs.
The blade is quite heavy for its size with a spine thickness almost 1cms at the base and narrowing slightly through to the oval cross section tip. The faces of the blade have a single downward curving fuller or blood let that opens on to stylised carved iron leeches. The combination of facets, curves and cross sections make for a very unusual and high quality blade.
The upper part of the spine, where the fuller ends has 4 inlaid brass plugs, another very rare aspect as this area would have once had raised carved features as is seen at the blades base but appear to have been removed with purpose a very long time ago.
The scabbard is is complete and undamaged with all rattan binding intact. The rear shows further rattan binding present that would have once attached a suspension baldric. The mouth is lightly carved and a yellow pigment has been used in alternative fashion between the rattan binding and at the tip of the mouth.
A fine example, complete, old and original.
A very rarely seen sword.
