A Few Interesting Indonesian Blades

CharlesS · 25th December 2020, 06:53 PM

I recently acquired these attractive and elegant pieces. Included are a Murut pakayun/parapat, a common style of parang, and an exotic dagger from Sumbawa.

kai · 26th December 2020, 12:20 AM

Hello Charles,

Seems like you convinced Santa!

Congrats, that's another well-above-average pedang for your collection!

The Sumbawa knife is a really great example - I also wanted to bid on it...

It certainly makes sense to drop the name pakayun which was another error by not well-informed outsiders. Murut is a name attached in colonial times for several ethnic groups (the Lun Bawang possibly being known best); it should be dropped since it seems to be widely regarded as offensive.

Can you tell whether the parts of this piece (especially those of its scabbard) are from different periods? What animal is the white hair from?

Regards,
Kai

CharlesS · 26th December 2020, 12:53 AM

Kai,
Regarding the parapat, I think all the hair, side scabbard, and shoulder baldric are later to the sword, though certainly not new or recent. The hair is very coarse. I would not be surprised if it was last in the hands of the Dayak to the south, though I am learning that the side knife on a parapat is not so terribly unusual.

Battara · 27th December 2020, 02:49 AM

Merry Ho Ho!

Nice toys under that tree!

On the parapat I wonder if there was hair originally on the ends, like in some Kutai hilts.

Maurice · 27th December 2020, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

On the parapat I wonder if there was hair originally on the ends, like in some Kutai hilts.

Hi Jose,

At the ends of the forked hilt, they didn't attach hair. They worn the sword like showed on the photo. 'naked'.

Maurice · 27th December 2020, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice

They worn the sword like showed on the photo. 'naked'.

A 'naked' hilt, not a 'naked' Murut ofcourse.....

kai · 27th December 2020, 01:33 PM

Hello Charles,

Thanks for the additional information!

Quote:

Regarding the parapat, I think all the hair, side scabbard, and shoulder baldric are later to the sword, though certainly not new or recent.

Sure, fittings tend to be younger (or even missing). This one has features that might be slightly off though.

Certainly a really nice sword, anyway!

Quote:

The hair is very coarse. I would not be surprised if it was last in the hands of the Dayak to the south, though I am learning that the side knife on a parapat is not so terribly unusual.

Yes, side knives are known - pretty rare though.

Those which I saw resembled those on mandau in length; this seems to be exceptionally long! How does it affect wearing the sword when you hold it to your hip?

The uppermost metal band seems to be from brass? Are the others crafted from soft iron?

Regards,
Kai

CharlesS · 28th December 2020, 02:02 PM

How does it affect wearing the sword when you hold it to your hip?

Kai,

This sword was not carried in the traditional manner, at the waist, but by a shoulder sling or baldric visible in a couple of the pics.

All the bands are brass.

kai · 28th December 2020, 03:38 PM

Thanks, Charles!

Quote:

This sword was not carried in the traditional manner, at the waist, but by a shoulder sling or baldric visible in a couple of the pics.

I don't think so: One doesn't need a closing system for any shoulder sling - the typical button/loop arrangement suggests a belt function similar to what is traditional for mandau...

Regards,
Kai

25th December 2020, 06:53 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	A Few Interesting Indonesian Blades I recently acquired these attractive and elegant pieces. Included are a Murut pakayun/parapat, a common style of parang, and an exotic dagger from Sumbawa. Attached Images

26th December 2020, 12:20 AM	#2
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	Hello Charles, Seems like you convinced Santa! Congrats, that's another well-above-average pedang for your collection! The Sumbawa knife is a really great example - I also wanted to bid on it... It certainly makes sense to drop the name pakayun which was another error by not well-informed outsiders. Murut is a name attached in colonial times for several ethnic groups (the Lun Bawang possibly being known best); it should be dropped since it seems to be widely regarded as offensive. Can you tell whether the parts of this piece (especially those of its scabbard) are from different periods? What animal is the white hair from? Regards, Kai

26th December 2020, 12:53 AM	#3
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Kai, Regarding the parapat, I think all the hair, side scabbard, and shoulder baldric are later to the sword, though certainly not new or recent. The hair is very coarse. I would not be surprised if it was last in the hands of the Dayak to the south, though I am learning that the side knife on a parapat is not so terribly unusual.

27th December 2020, 02:49 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	Merry Ho Ho! Nice toys under that tree! On the parapat I wonder if there was hair originally on the ends, like in some Kutai hilts.

28th December 2020, 02:02 PM	#8
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	How does it affect wearing the sword when you hold it to your hip? Kai, This sword was not carried in the traditional manner, at the waist, but by a shoulder sling or baldric visible in a couple of the pics. All the bands are brass.