Balato (sometimes aka Baltoe, Balatu, Klewang Buchok Berkait, or Tologu) is a sword that derives from Nias, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The island of Nias is famous because of the headhunter tribes and their ancestors, called Nihas ("people") believed they descended from gods and organized feasts during a wedding or a burial; on these occasions they used to cut off heads Balato is a sword with a slightly convex back, a slightly concave edge and a strong concave section at the bottom location (Bowie form). It is Single edge as they all are, the steel is aged but has no mayor damages or rust on it. The hilt resembles an animal's head, the Lasara (mythical creature), made in a complex, richly decorated form. The hilt is made from teak wood and has a brass ferrule broadening towards the blade. The scabbard is made of wood with brass bindings along the scabbard (quite unique that not a single one is missing…) . The round basket is attached to the scabbard to keep various amulets in, there are some nice wood carved patterns on it, it is hold to the scabbard with a wooden pin. The southern Balatos have more decorated baskets on their scabbards compared to the northern region. So I assume this is a northern balato. I haven’t found a balato this old and fully original in the last 15 years! If you look at the patina of the old teak wood of the handle there is no better argument that this one is fully original and naturally aged, a true collector’s item! Material of basket is wood and has some nice detailed carvings. Dimensions: Length blade: 49cm Length hilt: 18cm Length whole: 71cm