Pedang Bengkok, Palembang People, Sumatra, Indonesia, 19th Century

Pedang Bengkok, literally “curved sword” recognizable by its finely chiseled horn pommel and its local silver fittings. This type of sword is traditionally attributed to the Palmebang region on the island of Sumatra, but its origin could also be found in Bali, Lombok or even Java depending on the sources. The blade is made of pamor, a local damascus steel containing iron of meteoritic origin and presenting patterns after revelation; here slightly wavy parallel lines. The back of the blade is quite strong and becomes thinner towards the tip, the shape of which is reversed compared to European swords. The scabbard consists of two plates of dark red local wood set with local silver fittings, only the bouterolle is an iron ring.

Pamor (Indonesian laminated steel), local silver, iron, horn, wood

Total length 67 cm
Scabbard 50 cm
Length without scabbard 63 cm
Blade 46 cm
Width at the fort 2.5 cm
Guard 5.9 cm
Pommel 7.6 cm