Identification Help Needed

[Robert]

Just won this item on epray so I do not have it in my possession yet but would very much appreciate everyones help on identifying what is is. To me it looks like it could be a parang of some sort or just as likely be some kind of farm tool. It is 18 inches in total length with an 8 inch handle. The cutting edge is on the inside of the blade. I found the picture below that shows a group of items that has one that is very similar in overall appearance here http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...parang+bengkok The other two are from the auction. Any and all help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Robert

[Timo Nieminen]

Looks very similar to this (Parang Ginah): http://www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=2524

When I saw it (the one you bought), I assumed that it was an agricultural tool. Looked nice, but I have enough sickles/billhooks (I don't really collect them, just use them as tools).

I assumed it was probably European, but your question made me look more closely. I can't find any close European match, so perhaps it is a Parang Ginah.

[Robert]

Hello Timo, Thank you for your thoughts on this. When I first noticed this I did a search for any agricultural tools like tobacco knives or anything else I thought it could possibly be. The wood of the hilt is not the normal ash, oak or hickory that you would expect to find on most American made cutting tools. I remembered seeing a thread here on the forum that showed a parang bengkok and after a few searches found the one picture above. I put in a minimal bid on it thinking if it turned out to be of no great interest I could use it around the house for cutting brush. Needless to say I was quite surprised when my bid turned out to be the only one. Hopefully it will turn out to be a parang ginah or bengkok and not just an old weed wacker. Again thank you for your reply and for the link to the other example.

Regards,
Robert

[Henk]

Parangh Ginah definitely.

My geographic teacher at high school had some Borneo stuff on the wall. Among that a parang ginah. I recognized it immediately. He lived in Borneo he had told us and when we didn't wanted to have a difficult lesson about geography we asked him where he got that stuff on the wall from.
Bingo!! Of course he started to tell about his childhood and youth in Borneo. It was at the time that the Dayak people where turned into Christians. And a good Christian didn't woreship skulls from enemies. And certainly didn't have a weapon to chop heads off. The priest told them to get rid of these things and the Dayak went to the villages where the Dutch lived and went from door to door selling skulls and weapons.
My teacher wanted to buy some skulls but his mother didn't approve it Always mothers and wives
He was very disapointed so his mother allowed him to buy some weapons to support the poor Dayak in his new religious believe.

I still remember him and even still know his name. Mr. Meyer, leaning backwards in his chair, smoking his pipe when he told us these stories. Those good old days.

[Robert]

Hello Henk, Thank you for the help in identifying this item and for the great story! Unfortunately the only teacher that I had an interest in anything even remotely like ours collected swords and daggers from a certain German Military faction that I do not feel comfortable in mentioning. While my wife likes to make fun of my collection she does from time to time surprise me by adding a few new additions to it herself. A few years ago I had the chance to acquire a trophy skull but like your teachers mother, that is where she drew the line. I will not go into her line of reasoning for my not purchasing said item but needless to say it was quite convincing. Thank you again for your help.


Regards,
Robert

[Sajen]

Hi Robert,

agree, it is a Parang Ginah. Please clean the blade since there will be a lamination. Good find again!!

Regards,

Detlef