Vet bring back wavy Kriss sword value?

[Sawraihchra]

Picked this up from a WW2 collection bring backs. There was an Arasaka Rifle, Officers Sword and this wavy Kriss type sword that I have been unable to locate any information or value on. Any information is appreciated. The handle and the hilt are some type of wood which seem off for a sword. Possibly a ceremonial item? Also had the wooden scabbard.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Peter Laidler]

Those wavy Kriss things are a peculiar Malayan/Borneo fighting knife so that's where it comes from. Not so much 'fighting' but more ceremonial. As a matter of interest, the vehicles etc in Central Malaya had a 7" x 7" maroon patch with a yellow kriss angled on it as part of their identification mark

[browningautorifle]

Peter's right...they're not so uncommon at all. The wood is what's available there. It's a nice piece and we get a few around here in a curio shop I frequent. Nice trio you grabbed.

[Gil Boyd]

Agreed, especially in Borneo where they originated, used right across Malaya as Peter said, saw many last year used by Dayak tribesmen on the Indonesian border as their daily toothpick called the Mandau. Used to made from human bones and carved!

[browningautorifle]

The wood scabbards are standard too in any area of humidity as a leather scabbard will decay in no time and a steel scabbard will rust. Most of these were made from salvaged steel from vehicles, aircraft wrecks and junk...barrel hoops and such.

[Sawraihchra]

Thanks for the info. Any idea on the value of the wavy sword with scabbard?
Was thinking of parting that out to help cover the cost of the other two.

[Gil Boyd]

I know they take a long time to craft by hand and etch the silver plates and carve the wood. If you had commissioned it like that £50 in that part of the world where they are really good at carving anything from anything, and that is a lot of money.
Based on that if you get £50 GBP you are doing well. I only value it there because 2 PARA had a full size Paratrooper carved with so much detail as you can imagine for £150 in one piece of wood, and finished in 2 days!!!!!

[browningautorifle]

£50 GBP

That would be about $82CDN...which would likely be right too. You can't get big bucks for them. Guys like me like them for what they are but there doesn't seem to be anyone that froths up over them.