Mandau With Questions

Robert · 6th February 2018, 04:48 AM

First thank you all for the information, the photos for comparison and your thoughts on this piece. After my misadventure in purchasing the two VOC swords a few years ago I have tried to be much more careful when purchasing something I am not at all familiar with from fuzzy photos. I should have given the measurements of this sword in my original description and they are:
Total length 26-1/8 inches
Blade length 21-1/4 inches
Blade thickness at hilt is slightly over 1/4 inch
Blade at widest point 1-13/16 inches
Blade width at hilt 13/16
Hilt 4-7/8 inches
The seller who lives in Florida here in the U.S. really offered little information on this piece neither in the auction description or when I contacted him about it before the auction closed. The only information of any real value I received from him was after I had won the piece when he warned me to be very careful when removing the blade from the sheath to avoid being cut. I had sent him another message a few days ago asking for any other information such as how long he had owned this item and how he had originally come to own it, but have yet to hear back from him. The only marks on this blade are on the spine right before it starts dropping to form the tip. I wasn't sure if these marks were intentionally made or were just damage from something striking the blade in that area. I have added the best photo I could take of these marks and a few of the hilt wrapping. These once again had to be taken indoors under inadequate lighting. I do not believe that the hilt to blade fitting is a resent marriage, but from what I can tell I believe they have been together for quite an amount of years. Thank you all once again for your help. I hope that this latest information and photos will be of some help.

Best Regards,
Robert

asomotif · 6th February 2018, 11:48 AM

Hello Robert,

The resin looks old and authentic indeed.
Not a recent marriage imo.

small decorations on the spine are good. You can find them in all kinds of variations. I dont think they are damage but intended decoration.

Looks like a good ol mandau in a more recent scabbard. nice find

best regards,
Willem

Robert · 7th February 2018, 03:53 AM

Thank you for your thoughts and opinion on the hilt and other aspects of this piece Willem. They like all the other replies that have been posted so far are greatly appreciated. It has been suggested to me by a very good friend that this mandau could possibly have been made by the Kutai people, but he was not positive. Would anyone else care to give an opinion on who it was that made this as well as the possible age of this piece? As this is very possibly the only mandau that I will ever have in my collection (unless I win the lottery) I am looking forward to hearing any additional information or opinions that anyone would care to offer on it.

Best,
Robert

Sajen · 10th February 2018, 09:22 PM

Hello Robert,

a very good buy!

It look much better as on the auction pictures. And it seems to be a fairly old one. Also better to have a more recent scabbard with it as no scabbard. I really like your mandau, special by the price you paid for it!

Best regards,
Detlef

Dajak · 11th February 2018, 04:37 PM

Hi here I found one with similair blade this is the old style how an Mandau looks like.

The one Willem shows maybe same period as yours Robert.

Dajak

asomotif · 11th February 2018, 11:46 PM

After 20 years collecting mandaus, I am getting a bit confused by this thread.

According to Ben, the top handle is old style, I assume the rattan work is also the old style, old patina, old resin.

The lower handle of Roberts mandau is a recent one, according Ben 1970 / 1980. The rattan also must be new. the differences between the two should be Obvious

Dajak · 12th February 2018, 05:13 AM

Willem take an good look at the rattan not the same.
same style but not so fine.

Hope you can see it know they put dirt to hide it.

This Mandau came from Steen Strombergs private collection.

Dajak

6th February 2018, 04:48 AM	#1
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	First thank you all for the information, the photos for comparison and your thoughts on this piece. After my misadventure in purchasing the two VOC swords a few years ago I have tried to be much more careful when purchasing something I am not at all familiar with from fuzzy photos. I should have given the measurements of this sword in my original description and they are: Total length 26-1/8 inches Blade length 21-1/4 inches Blade thickness at hilt is slightly over 1/4 inch Blade at widest point 1-13/16 inches Blade width at hilt 13/16 Hilt 4-7/8 inches The seller who lives in Florida here in the U.S. really offered little information on this piece neither in the auction description or when I contacted him about it before the auction closed. The only information of any real value I received from him was after I had won the piece when he warned me to be very careful when removing the blade from the sheath to avoid being cut. I had sent him another message a few days ago asking for any other information such as how long he had owned this item and how he had originally come to own it, but have yet to hear back from him. The only marks on this blade are on the spine right before it starts dropping to form the tip. I wasn't sure if these marks were intentionally made or were just damage from something striking the blade in that area. I have added the best photo I could take of these marks and a few of the hilt wrapping. These once again had to be taken indoors under inadequate lighting. I do not believe that the hilt to blade fitting is a resent marriage, but from what I can tell I believe they have been together for quite an amount of years. Thank you all once again for your help. I hope that this latest information and photos will be of some help. Best Regards, Robert Attached Images Last edited by Robert; 6th February 2018 at 07:10 AM.

6th February 2018, 11:48 AM	#2
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,235	Hello Robert, The resin looks old and authentic indeed. Not a recent marriage imo. small decorations on the spine are good. You can find them in all kinds of variations. I dont think they are damage but intended decoration. Looks like a good ol mandau in a more recent scabbard. nice find best regards, Willem Last edited by asomotif; 6th February 2018 at 06:03 PM.

11th February 2018, 04:37 PM	#5
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	Hi here I found one with similair blade this is the old style how an Mandau looks like. The one Willem shows maybe same period as yours Robert. Dajak Attached Images Last edited by Dajak; 11th February 2018 at 07:38 PM.

11th February 2018, 11:46 PM	#6
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,235	After 20 years collecting mandaus, I am getting a bit confused by this thread. According to Ben, the top handle is old style, I assume the rattan work is also the old style, old patina, old resin. The lower handle of Roberts mandau is a recent one, according Ben 1970 / 1980. The rattan also must be new. the differences between the two should be Obvious Attached Images

12th February 2018, 05:13 AM	#7
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	Willem take an good look at the rattan not the same. same style but not so fine. Hope you can see it know they put dirt to hide it. This Mandau came from Steen Strombergs private collection. Dajak Attached Images

7th February 2018, 03:53 AM	#3
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Thank you for your thoughts and opinion on the hilt and other aspects of this piece Willem. They like all the other replies that have been posted so far are greatly appreciated. It has been suggested to me by a very good friend that this mandau could possibly have been made by the Kutai people, but he was not positive. Would anyone else care to give an opinion on who it was that made this as well as the possible age of this piece? As this is very possibly the only mandau that I will ever have in my collection (unless I win the lottery) I am looking forward to hearing any additional information or opinions that anyone would care to offer on it. Best, Robert

10th February 2018, 09:22 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,269	Hello Robert, a very good buy! It look much better as on the auction pictures. And it seems to be a fairly old one. Also better to have a more recent scabbard with it as no scabbard. I really like your mandau, special by the price you paid for it! Best regards, Detlef