New mandau

[asomotif]

Originally Posted by David

A question for you mandau experts....is it a true mandau if it does not have a convex/concave blade? Does this one? From the photos i would say no.

Hello David,
This blade is indeed not cancave/convex. So this is not a mandau
Both sides are the same. I believe there is a specific name for it parang ".. ..".
I am not the best in this name game.

Maybe Maurice or Michael can assist.

Best regards,
Willem

[VVV]

Actually it's not called a mandau at all if it is Iban, even if concave/convex, but an ilang or parang ilang.
Some maybe would like to call it a gayang, but based on the "production date" it is probably more correct to just call it an Iban parang (the generic term).

Michael

[asomotif]

Hello Michael,

Thanks, "parang gayang" was indeed the term I was looking for.

Why do you feel that the production date influences the name ?

Best regards,
Willem

[VVV]

Willem,

It's because I suspect that this parang was made for symbolic use, not actual warfare or as a jungle tool.
But that's just my personal principle for classifications of weapons...

Michael

[asomotif]

That is a way of classification that I have seen before. (a infamous balato thread on this forum) So in order too remember the old names, I prefer too collect old examples

Indeed this example is probably too recent to be for warfare and too elaborate to be a tool.

Ps. still looking foward too some more pictures of the blade

[T. Koch]

Thanks for all the info guys!

The spine is indeed concave - as I believe I pointed out in my first post somewhere in the Wall O'Text up there. No worries guys, we in the digital generations have nuked our attention span a looong time ago.

I have no doubt that the blade has been used for practical tasks over a longer period. The angle and diversity of the micro-scratches are consistent with the ones I for instance have made over the years on my own field-panga or seen on other choppers still in use. There are likewise visible signs of sharpening, dulling and chipping of the edge etc.

As per your suggestions, I will take closeups of the handle thread, the ricasso area, the fullers and the carvings on the scabbard and be back.

Thank you to all who've commented - you guys are great!


All the best, - Thor

[David]

Originally Posted by T. Koch

The spine is indeed concave - as I believe I pointed out in my first post somewhere in the Wall O'Text up there. No worries guys, we in the digital generations have nuked our attention span a looong time ago.

Not a matter of the curvature of the spine Thor, but the sides of the blade. A true mandau has one side of the blade slightly concave and the other side convex. I believe the theory is that this shape aided in the taking of heads. My attention span is just fine, thanks...
Speaking of attention span, still waiting on some more detailed photos...