Mandau or Parang Ilang?
 

hello together
Mandau or parang ilang what is the correct name?
Today was again a lucky day. Mandau three at once.
can someone these three swords assign a tribe?
how old are the swords?
always belongs to a small second knife?
Greetings Chregu

the next

the third
 

Sea Dajak?

Here is yet another Mandau.
this is my first Mandaue, which I have in three years.
also on this I would appreciate any information.
Greetings Chregu

According to Shelford there are several names. Parang Ilang, Mandau, Malat, Baieng.
Parang Ilang in fact is the term applied by Malays and Sea-Dayaks to the weapons of the Kayans and allied tribes.
The biggest charactaristic is that the blade is convex at one and concave at the other side.


First: I thought at once Kenyah, but there are iban features also...???? So I am not sure!
Second: Area Sarawak.
Third: probably Iban.
Fourth: Kayan.


No not always. But often the sideknifescabbard is missing when the rotan carryingbelt is broken. The sideknifescabbard fell of than very easily, because it isn't helt in place anymore by the ratanbelt.


Rg,
Maurice

Hi Chregu,

thanks for your mail, you asked me to examine these mandaus and I will give it a try.

1the first one is a Kenya mandau I think close to the border of Sarawak, the Inlayed blade was once longer, it has been shortened up at the point.
( note the diffence in length between scabbard and blade)
The hilt is somewhat unusual long and probably of a later date.
The scabbard and blade are however old ( around 1920 or so)

2 an old Kayan hilt fitting on a seemly old blade , the scabbard much longer than the blade but also old of Kenya origin from the Baram river area.
I think someone has put this one together from old parts.

3

A sea dayak mandau with a blade that is certainly worth better cleaning (I see nice decorations) original scabbard. The hilt with some rough or faded ? carving.possibly of later date.

4 an old Kajan mandau indeed. All pieces original and about 100 years old.

A nice variation to start a collection with and learn from your purchases.
If you like mandau collecting note there's a lot for sale with prices from 250 - 2500 dollar and higher. certainly not the fact that the cheapest onces are the worst pieces. On ebay there are also a lot for sale but in the most cases "put togethers" from old parts mixed with new mainly from Indonesia.
Take your time for collecting and compare photo's with museum examples those are one of the best sources!

friendly regards and happy collecting, Arjan.