Mandau with human figure on hilt

Green · 11th November 2015, 06:43 AM

Epray has not been a particularly happy hunting ground for me but I quite like this mandau that I just won a few days back. I've not recieve it yet so my comments below are based solely on the pics from the ebay.

The resin at the base of the hilt is missing, the scabbard is probably not original to the mandau, the blade is very simple and pedistrian but the hilt is the one that attracts me to it. I basically bid for the hilt!

Does anyone know what type of hilt/mandau is this? which tribe and region in borneo it came from?

I recall there was a thread posting mandau hilts with human figures but I can't seem to find it when I did a search.

A. G. Maisey · 11th November 2015, 11:11 AM

My knowledge of mandau is slight, but using Sellato as a reference I believe that the hilt is Long-Gelat or possibly Busang.

Roland_M · 11th November 2015, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green

I recall there was a thread posting mandau hilts with human figures but I can't seem to find it when I did a search.

Do you mean this thread: "Dayak Parang Face Gallery"?

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=mandau

Maurice · 11th November 2015, 08:46 PM

Could you put some close ups of the handle?
It looks nice as far as I can see on these images. But I need some good close ups from all sides to confirm!

The scabbard and blade are much more recent and not a good combination with this handle, which is Sarawak style.
Scabbard is a newly made Kenyah style scabbard from a complete different area and age.

Maurice · 11th November 2015, 08:50 PM

This was a good old Saribas handle I have owned and had been passed on to a friendcollector a while ago.

Maurice · 11th November 2015, 09:12 PM

I also have seen handles like yours on Kenyah mandaus from dayaks living in the Baram/Rejang area (also Sarawak, but more to the east from the Iban tribes.

asomotif · 11th November 2015, 09:42 PM

Nice mandau.
I agree that the scabbard must be much more recent than the handle.

Would like to see better pictures of the blade and the connection between blade and handle.
Although an atypical blade, I can imagine that they have been together for a long period.

Best regards,
Willem

Maurice · 11th November 2015, 10:01 PM

On the photos the blade of Greens mandau looks thin and not of high quality, but the photo is not good to make a proper judgement.
But one would expect a blade like this on such handle.

Green · 12th November 2015, 07:08 AM

Maurice and Asomotif;

Many thanks for the info .I don't have any better pics at the moment as I've not recieved the item yet. but what I can tell is that I don't expect the blade to be anywhere near the quality of the blade pic shown by Maurice.

Roland;

Yes that's the thread I meant, thanks!

11th November 2015, 06:43 AM	#1
Green Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Malaysia Posts: 312	Mandau with human figure on hilt Epray has not been a particularly happy hunting ground for me but I quite like this mandau that I just won a few days back. I've not recieve it yet so my comments below are based solely on the pics from the ebay. The resin at the base of the hilt is missing, the scabbard is probably not original to the mandau, the blade is very simple and pedistrian but the hilt is the one that attracts me to it. I basically bid for the hilt! Does anyone know what type of hilt/mandau is this? which tribe and region in borneo it came from? I recall there was a thread posting mandau hilts with human figures but I can't seem to find it when I did a search. Attached Images

11th November 2015, 08:46 PM	#4
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,346	Could you put some close ups of the handle? It looks nice as far as I can see on these images. But I need some good close ups from all sides to confirm! The scabbard and blade are much more recent and not a good combination with this handle, which is Sarawak style. Scabbard is a newly made Kenyah style scabbard from a complete different area and age. Last edited by Maurice; 11th November 2015 at 11:02 PM.

11th November 2015, 08:50 PM	#5
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,346	This was a good old Saribas handle I have owned and had been passed on to a friendcollector a while ago. Attached Images

11th November 2015, 10:01 PM	#8
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,346	On the photos the blade of Greens mandau looks thin and not of high quality, but the photo is not good to make a proper judgement. But one would expect a blade like this on such handle. Attached Images

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11th November 2015, 11:11 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,892	My knowledge of mandau is slight, but using Sellato as a reference I believe that the hilt is Long-Gelat or possibly Busang.

11th November 2015, 09:12 PM	#6
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,346	I also have seen handles like yours on Kenyah mandaus from dayaks living in the Baram/Rejang area (also Sarawak, but more to the east from the Iban tribes.

11th November 2015, 09:42 PM	#7
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Nice mandau. I agree that the scabbard must be much more recent than the handle. Would like to see better pictures of the blade and the connection between blade and handle. Although an atypical blade, I can imagine that they have been together for a long period. Best regards, Willem

12th November 2015, 07:08 AM	#9
Green Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Malaysia Posts: 312	Maurice and Asomotif; Many thanks for the info .I don't have any better pics at the moment as I've not recieved the item yet. but what I can tell is that I don't expect the blade to be anywhere near the quality of the blade pic shown by Maurice. Roland; Yes that's the thread I meant, thanks!