Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Jim McDougall · 25th February 2025, 09:40 PM

These parang nabur/beladah belabang are incredibly beautiful and no doubt formidable sabers, and interesting to learn more on them (thanks to Kai i the note on the term meaning dragons blood) . While these seem to have originated (?) in Kalimantan in S. Borneo according to references, I cannot resist noting features associated with Yemen, and perhaps Arab traders which of course brought notable diffusion to and from their ports of call.

The widely flared blades resemble the sabers we have established as having come from Yemen, and the banding around the scabbards resembles saif coming from Yemen as well.

We know that there was both piracy and privateering in times of war with trjbes in these regions, so the potential for circulation of these swords into surrounding areas certainly existed.

We know that 'pirates' (the ones we are familiar with) were not just situated in the Caribbean, but many took the 'round' around the Cape of Good Hope, north past Mozambique to Madagascar, and Comoros Islands. From there they sought to prey on Indian vessels etc. and some apparently reached far into the island archipelagos of Malaysia and perhaps further.
'
We only really know of the pirates of the Golden Age in the works of "Capt. Johnson" but cannot know the full roster of active pirates who dd not make the 'press'. Like trade routes, the voyages of pirates 'networked' and via these same conduits, all manner of goods, and weapons etc. changed hands in various means of contact.

There is no way to assert with confidence that a certain weapon was used by 'pirates', though there are a number retrieved from wrecks with compelling evidence of belonging to a certain pirate...the 'Whydah' for example, to Sam Bellamy.

Though we cannot say for sure, we can presume, through deduction, that certain forms in use in a period, and reasonable record of who used them, that a weapon is 'OF THE TYPE'.

As long as we recognize that evidence is compelling and believe what we will without assertion, the inevitable contention has no legs, but what fun is there? Looking back at the 18 years of this thread, there have been many broadsides and dynamic discords.... I learned a lot!

Glad to see the thread again, I had forgotten! and again beautiful sabers!
The exhibition! Thank you Victrix!!!! I wish I could go, but maybe there will be a catalog?

25th February 2025, 09:40 PM	#167
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,100	These parang nabur/beladah belabang are incredibly beautiful and no doubt formidable sabers, and interesting to learn more on them (thanks to Kai i the note on the term meaning dragons blood) . While these seem to have originated (?) in Kalimantan in S. Borneo according to references, I cannot resist noting features associated with Yemen, and perhaps Arab traders which of course brought notable diffusion to and from their ports of call. The widely flared blades resemble the sabers we have established as having come from Yemen, and the banding around the scabbards resembles saif coming from Yemen as well. We know that there was both piracy and privateering in times of war with trjbes in these regions, so the potential for circulation of these swords into surrounding areas certainly existed. We know that 'pirates' (the ones we are familiar with) were not just situated in the Caribbean, but many took the 'round' around the Cape of Good Hope, north past Mozambique to Madagascar, and Comoros Islands. From there they sought to prey on Indian vessels etc. and some apparently reached far into the island archipelagos of Malaysia and perhaps further. ' We only really know of the pirates of the Golden Age in the works of "Capt. Johnson" but cannot know the full roster of active pirates who dd not make the 'press'. Like trade routes, the voyages of pirates 'networked' and via these same conduits, all manner of goods, and weapons etc. changed hands in various means of contact. There is no way to assert with confidence that a certain weapon was used by 'pirates', though there are a number retrieved from wrecks with compelling evidence of belonging to a certain pirate...the 'Whydah' for example, to Sam Bellamy. Though we cannot say for sure, we can presume, through deduction, that certain forms in use in a period, and reasonable record of who used them, that a weapon is 'OF THE TYPE'. As long as we recognize that evidence is compelling and believe what we will without assertion, the inevitable contention has no legs, but what fun is there? Looking back at the 18 years of this thread, there have been many broadsides and dynamic discords.... I learned a lot! Glad to see the thread again, I had forgotten! and again beautiful sabers! The exhibition! Thank you Victrix!!!! I wish I could go, but maybe there will be a catalog? Attached Images Last edited by Jim McDougall; 25th February 2025 at 10:43 PM.