Moro / Borneo hybrid ?

Royston · 10th August 2008, 04:13 PM

Another oddity from my collection.

This one has puzzled me for a long time and I hope that someone will come up with an explanation as to what it is.
I have never seen this seemingly Barong / Parang Nabor combination before.

The hilt looks real and has some age. The blade looks as though it has been there for a long time, see the photo showing the blade / hilt point of attachement.
I am not convinced that the blade is as old as the hilt.
The scabbard is definitely a lot more recent.

I am looking for an opinion as the whether it is a known weapon, a hybrid or something that someone " Threw" together on a wet Sunday afternoon.
( Do I hear the word Souvenir ?

)

As usual, all comments welcome.

Regards
Royston

Battara · 10th August 2008, 08:39 PM

I see what you mean - looks like an Indonesian blade with a form of Yakan barong hilt.

Interesting.

Another possibility is Borneo where there are Moros also and lots of mixing as well......

Dajak · 11th August 2008, 09:48 AM

This is the blade off the langai tingal

Is it possible to take off the Handle ???

Ben

VVV · 11th August 2008, 11:30 AM

Interesting one of a kind sword.
NW Borneo seems a probable origin based on the different influences.
What is strange is that except Iban/Sea Dayak (Langgai Tinggang blade) and Moro (Barong hilt) it also has (Borneo) Malay motifs on the blade?
So 3 different ethnic groups merged in one sword!

A wild guess would be that it belonged to an Iban Dayak who went on raids together with Moros and then later converted to Islam (which made him change the hilt and add the motifs to his blade)

Michael

Royston · 11th August 2008, 04:03 PM

Thanks Gentlemen, this has given me something to work on.

Ben, the handle is firmly fixed, it would need hard hammer blows to get it off. I think I will leave it as it is.

VVV
A wild guess would be that it belonged to an Iban Dayak who went on raids together with Moros and then later converted to Islam (which made him change the hilt and add the motifs to his blade)

Michael, Amazing powers of deduction.
Er, can you tell me what his name was ?

thanks again

Royston

Rick · 11th August 2008, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royston

A wild guess would be that it belonged to an Iban Dayak who went on raids together with Moros and then later converted to Islam (which made him change the hilt and add the motifs to his blade)

Michael, Amazing powers of deduction.
Er, can you tell me what his name was ?

thanks again

Royston

Umm, before or after he converted ??

Seriously though; heating the blade may render it removable from the hilt .

10th August 2008, 04:13 PM	#1
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	Moro / Borneo hybrid ? Another oddity from my collection. This one has puzzled me for a long time and I hope that someone will come up with an explanation as to what it is. I have never seen this seemingly Barong / Parang Nabor combination before. The hilt looks real and has some age. The blade looks as though it has been there for a long time, see the photo showing the blade / hilt point of attachement. I am not convinced that the blade is as old as the hilt. The scabbard is definitely a lot more recent. I am looking for an opinion as the whether it is a known weapon, a hybrid or something that someone " Threw" together on a wet Sunday afternoon. ( Do I hear the word Souvenir ? ) As usual, all comments welcome. Regards Royston Attached Images

10th August 2008, 08:39 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	I see what you mean - looks like an Indonesian blade with a form of Yakan barong hilt. Interesting. Another possibility is Borneo where there are Moros also and lots of mixing as well......

11th August 2008, 09:48 AM	#3
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	This is the blade off the langai tingal Is it possible to take off the Handle ??? Ben

11th August 2008, 11:30 AM	#4
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Interesting one of a kind sword. NW Borneo seems a probable origin based on the different influences. What is strange is that except Iban/Sea Dayak (Langgai Tinggang blade) and Moro (Barong hilt) it also has (Borneo) Malay motifs on the blade? So 3 different ethnic groups merged in one sword! A wild guess would be that it belonged to an Iban Dayak who went on raids together with Moros and then later converted to Islam (which made him change the hilt and add the motifs to his blade) Michael

11th August 2008, 04:03 PM	#5
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	Thanks Gentlemen, this has given me something to work on. Ben, the handle is firmly fixed, it would need hard hammer blows to get it off. I think I will leave it as it is. VVV A wild guess would be that it belonged to an Iban Dayak who went on raids together with Moros and then later converted to Islam (which made him change the hilt and add the motifs to his blade) Michael, Amazing powers of deduction. Er, can you tell me what his name was ? thanks again Royston