To me it looks like an old West Kalimantan Iban Jimpul with a rare kind of scabbard.
The end like Ben's and the quite rare red colour on the wood.
That's why I bought it and hope I am right when I recieve it.

Michael

Here an rare type blade that we only see with the Muruts .


Ben

Here is the jimpul with the rare scabbard that Ariel asked about before I got it. It looks nice and old all over.
The only thing I am not sure about is how old the red and yellow colour is on the scabbard.
I gave the blade a light cleaning.
Unfortunately the light is a problem here up North at this time of the year for pictures.

Michael

Hi Michael,

A special scabbard.
Do you think the ratta strip on the edge is original

I would leave the paint on the scabbard. It will probably not be as old as the scabbard itself, but I think it was an original (tribal) addition at some time.
I do'nt think the paint was some addition to improve the market value on ebay
For a better market value he should have cleaned the blade before auctioning
I saw this one too and even thought about placing a bid.
But than the finacial crisis struck :( ;)


What do you think of the handle ?
It is not newly made, but is it as old as the blade and scabbard ?

Best regards,
Willem

Hi Willem,

The rattan strip is unusual as it differs from the Kutei/Mahakam style were it sticks out at the end of the scabbard, instead of in front of it like this one. But I have seen another W Kalimantan style jimpul with this feature in a museum. It also had a red scabbard, the same style of blade and resembling hilt motivs (but antler hilt).
I also think the colour is added later by a former Iban owner and I will let it stay on.
On the handle I have this parang, also W Kalimantan Iban, with a slightly resembling wooden hilt style (see picture). It even has the same kind of Borneo coin attached to the grip!
That one was field-collected around 1920.
I think the handle on the jimpul is at least early 1900's.

Michael

That is a nice handle.

What is the diameter of the coins ?

It looks like the dutch indies 2,5 cents coin.
I have one from 1945, but I have no idea when they started making these.
(pictures are a bit blurred, but this looks like the same coin / 31 mm across)

Best regards,

Silver Nickel
Pakfung
Paktong
Alpaca
German Silver
Berlin Silver
White Metal

Different names for the same alloy. I am an ignorant on this kind of weapons, and this reference to the use of german silver on them is an interesting point. I wonder if this was a common feature on their craft, and since when. This can be useful in dating an item, as it is on the case of the khukris.
Regards

Gonzalo

Willem, it looks like that coin and size is roughly the same.
Gonzalo, that kind of alloy as on Ben's handle isn't "standard" on these parang.

Michael

Thank you, Michael. This data is useful to me.
Regards

Gonzalo