Mandau with twist core

[VVV]

Here is my twist core kampilan. I haven't seen that many???
The reason why I don't think it's just a reshaped kampilan blade is that it's much thinner than a mandau blade.

And here is a parang pedang with twist core. That's the only one I have seen.
So if it's reshaped it most probably have been made out of a sulu kris.

Michael

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by VVV

Here is my twist core kampilan. I haven't seen that many???
The reason why I don't think it's just a reshaped kampilan blade is that it's much thinner than a mandau blade.

And here is a parang pedang with twist core. That's the only one I have seen.
So if it's reshaped it most probably have been made out of a sulu kris.

Michael

With "I've seen several" I meant on images (your kampilan with twistcore included).
PS your parang pedang I've handled a while ago and is breathtaking!

Is a Sulu kris long enough to transform it to your mandaublade? (You might measure them next to your mandaublade, see if they would be long enough to reshape them?)


Maurice

[asomotif]

Hello Michael,

Odd one. I have never seen any mandau blade with a deliberately forged pattern. I can only think this is a trade blade reshaped into a mandaublade.

Measurements and a picture of the spine would be helpfull to the forumites.

Nice handle on this mandau BTW

Best regards,
Willem

[Spunjer]

here's a picture of a mandau (bottom row) among other moro weapons in a guardhouse. not common, but mandaus were used in sulu

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by Spunjer

here's a picture of a mandau (bottom row) among other moro weapons in a guardhouse. not common, but mandaus were used in sulu

Ron, that would also be an option......
Cool picture!

[Spunjer]

another Mandau that was presented to an american officer from Datu Pantog (?) of Tawi-Tawi...

[VVV]

The blade is 62 cm/24 1/2" long so it seems too long to be an ex-kris.
The spine is 0,5 cm, see pict, so it's slightly thinner than average (0,7 - 0,8 cm?). So maybe a rare twist core kampilan if it's reshaped?
It doesn't surprise me that you find mandaus in the Sulu archipelago based on how both Tausug and Iban traveled together. Maybe a nice souvenir?
It's always more exciting with foreign stuff than domestic. It's the same with the South Borneo Beladah Belabang found as a court sword in the Sulu archipelago.

Michael