PAKARANG KALAMANTAN ( BORNEO BLADES ):

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody!:
In the middle of some 'house-keeping' and thought I'd take the opportunity to 'snap and post', before I clean and put them away again.
It took longer than I thought, so I had to call it quits.
Just for sharing, so I hope it's of some use.
Best,

1. DOEHOENG

Name: WASPADA
Desc: Doehoeng c.1950 NGADJOE
Tags: duhung , dohong .
Blade: LxOALxWxT=31x40.5x1.75x0.52cm.
Handle: Turned wood w/ twine wrap.
Wt: 203g.

2. TANGKITN LAKI

Name:
Desc: Tangkitn Laki
Tags: parang , mandau , latok , buko , bukok .
Blade: LxOALxWxT=41.5x57x2.26x1.31cm.
Handle: Horn
Wt: 756g.

3. TANGKITN BINI

Name:
Desc: Tangkitn Bini
Tags: parang , mandau , pandat , penat , pendat, tangkin , tangking .
Blade: LxOALxWxT=35.5x57x2.01x0.81cm.
Handle: metal sleeve w/ cross-bar; brass tip.
Wt: 682g.

4. TANGKITN DATOEK

Name:
Desc: Tangkitn Datoek(/Laki)
Tags: parang , mandau , latok , punti .
Blade: LxOALxWxT=50x70x1.86x0.94cm.
Handle: Wood.
Wt: 767g.

5. TANGKITN PANTATN

Name:
Desc: Tangkitn Pantatn(/Bini)
Tags: parang , mandau , pandat , penat , pendat, tangkin , kamping .
Blade: LxOALxWxT=53x74.5x1.86x1.07cm.
Handle: brass sleeve grip, hex-sekak , ivory tip.
Wt: 1023g.

6. SABIT-PANGAIT / PELEPET / FELEFET

Name: SJINOBI
Desc: Pelepet LOEN BAWANG
Tags: Felepet , Pakayun .
Blade: LxOALxWxT=77x96x1.08x1.55cm.
Handle: Wood etoen; gegkem belawan, arit-atoen boesak-biteroeng, kaar, oeloeh boesak-boong doeeh.
Wt: 858g.

7. ISAW

Name:
Desc: Isaw
Tags: isau , mandau , parang .
Blade: LxOALxWxT=54x69.5cm.; w/ attached anak isaw.
Handle: Carved “planar” antler.
Wt: 688g.

8. NJABOER LAKI

Name:
Desc: Njaboer Laki
Tags: parang , mandau , njabur , nyabur , nyabor , niabor .
Char: boetoh koending; posterior groove to half-loemoet both sides.
Blade: LxOALxWxT=57x73x1.73x1.89cm., half-loemoet.
Handle: Carved antler w/ metal collar and braided-string wrap.
Wt: 679g.

9. NJABOER INDOE

Name:
Desc: Njaboer Indoe
Tags: parang , mandau , njabur , nyabur , nyabor , niabor , langgai-tingang .
Char: posterior groove to loemoet both sides.
Blade: LxOALxWxT=51x64.5x1.95x1.09cm.; full-loemoet.
Handle: Carved antler w/ braided wrap.
Wt: 632g.

10. PARANG NJABOER

Name:
Desc: Parang Njaboer Lais KALSEL
Tags:
Blade: LxOALxWxT=46x57x2.96x0.77cm.Twin fullers both sides
Handle: Horn w/ brass ftgs.
Wt: 654g.

11. BADI OEDJOENG PEDANG

Name:
Desc: Badi Oedjoeng Pedang KALSEL 19thC
Tags:
Blade: LxOALxWxT=24.5x33x2.37x0.41cm.
Handle: Wood w/ white-metal collar and white-metal binding
Wt: 94g.

[Sajen]

Hello Amuk,

very nice collection, thank you for sharing!

Regards,
Detlef

[mariusgmioc]

Thank you very much for this posting!

It can be used as reference.

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody!
Some more examples .....

The talwar-style swords became popular with the locals after 1850, when troops of the Indian Army were brought in to northern Kalamantan. Their popularity spread all over the island.
The imported blades were affordable, easier to get/replace as well as being lighter than the locally produced ones.
The brass handles were more robust and also easy to obtain/replace. They were readily available from almost any Chinese stall/shop.

13A.
Desc: Pedang Pandjap (common variant) KALAMANTAN
Tags: mandau , piso podang .
Char:
Blade: LxOALxWxT=63.5x776x3.12X0.35cm.
Handle: Brass ’talwar-style’ w/ engraved vegetal motif.
Wt: 648g.


13B.
Desc: Pedang Pandjap Sanggaoe KALAMANTAN
Tags: mandau , piso podang
Char:
Blade: LxOALxWxT=60.5x74.54.05x0.6cm., straight blade triple-grooved along length on both sides
Handle: Brass ’talwar-style’ w/ embossed scrolls
Wt: 928g.


13C.
Desc: Pedang Pandjap Radjahan KALAMANTAN
Tags: mandau , piso podang
Char:
Blade: LxOALxWxT=47x59x3.31x0.7cm.; twin-fullers on both sides, white-metal inset script on ricasso both sides and back
Handle: Brass ‘talwar-style’ w/ engraved vegetal motif
Wt: 660g.

[Amuk Murugul]

..... another example .....

12. BADI DJAMBIA

Name:
Desc: Badi Djambia KALAMANTAN
Tags: Badik , Djamiah , Janbia , Janbiya , Jambia , Jambiya .
Char:
Blade: LxOALxWxT=19x31x4.71x0.36cm.
Handle: Wood.
Wt: 202g.
Sheath: Wood w/ brass bands and toe.

[Ian]

Thank you Amuk. Very useful reference. Are the primary names you use Dutch or local terms?

Ian

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Ian

Are the primary names you use Dutch or local terms?

So far I know it's Sundanese language!

[Amuk Murugul]

Originally Posted by Ian

Thank you Amuk. Very useful reference. Are the primary names you use Dutch or local terms?

Ian

Hullo Ian,
The primary names are 'local'.
As you can appreciate, as there is such a plethora of languages/dialects etc., two adjacent villages on the same river bank may not understand each other's native speech and also, there may be different terms for the same item even by people of the same ethnic group but of a different location.
I have chosen the terms I am most comfortable with and left any other terms as 'Tags' (probably the most annoying thing is my system of spelling; however, it suits me very well ).
Best

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody,

I haven’t, as yet, posted about that most iconic/well-recognized of Kalimantan’s bush-knives, now generally referred to as ’mandaw / mandau'.
As there are quite a large number of variations of this blade, I thought a brief explanation and a diagram (which I have reconstructed from one I made many moons ago as a memory/communication aid) may be more useful.

Best,


Doekoeh / dukuh :

As people’s swiddens were often some distance away from the settlement, they sometimes constructed huts on their swiddens, where, during their working day, they could rest, have meals, take shelter and on occasions, stay overnight. These huts were known as ‘doekoeh’. The daily tools they used on the swidden became generally known as ‘doekoeh’, particularly the ‘chopper/bush-knife’, which rarely left their side.
(Variation in spelling: duku’, duku, duko etc.)

Mandaw / mandau :

The word originated in central Kalamantan, from an ancient language formerly spoken by a few groups ( such as the Ngadjoe / Biadjoe) but now confined to a small group of individuals . It defined the dual function of the blade: as a daily tool and as an instrument of war.
Mandaws were usually stored in their (communal) houses and only brought out for war or for defence (of the community). They were regarded as sacred objects whose perceived power increased with the prowess ( spiritual/mystical ) of the owner. In time, these objects were handed down and became sacred heirlooms, thus adding to their aura/mystique.
When a pair of blades were made, one was designated ‘female’ and the other ‘male’, with the female one usually being slightly shorter. Male blades were taken to war, while female ones remained for the protection of family/home and ceremonies/rituals.

Not all people had a mandaw as well as a doekoeh. Indeed, sometimes the mandaw and the doekoeh were one and the same. Thus a doekoeh, under the right circumstances, could become a mandaw.
In the beginning, individuals made their own implements; but as settlements grew in size, this was carried out by a local smith.

Today, ‘mandaw’ is accepted as referring to any iconic blade which represents a group’s identity.

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody!

Just like to share this ‘memory aid’ and some examples.

Best,

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody,

..... a couple of not-so-usual karit .....

Best,

14A. KARIT BADAW / BADAU

Blade: LxOALxWxT=54x68x1.98x1.10cm. Both sides: Posterior-fretwork along last 3rd. of blade; posterior twin-grooves from fretwork to bottom-end of shoulder; scrollwork on shoulder-sides.

Handle: Wood, toenan(short-handle), gegkem belawan(metal-grip), oeloeh teloengan betjoek(pitcher-pommel).

Wt: 755g.


14B. KARIT ILANG

Blade: LxOALxWxT=56x69x1.55x0..98cm.

Handle: Wood, toenan, gegkem belawan, oeloeh teloengan betjoek.

Wt: 530g.

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody,

Photo of rather uncommon knives for sharing.
Enjoy!

15A. PINGELANIT

Desc: Joeoe lanit KELABIT HIGHLANDS
Blade: LxOALxWxT=23.5x34x2.02x0.51xcm.
Handle: Kajoeh(wood), toenan, gegkem belanga’, oeloeh boesak doeeh.
Wt: 160g.


15B. PEIT

Desc: Peit KOETEI
Blade: LxOALxWxT=13x24x2.18x0.65cm.
Handle: Buffalo-horn().
Wt: 110g.

Best,

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo all!

Just an addition.

PARANG KAMOEDI SINGKIR
Desc: Parang Kamoedi Singkir BANDJAR (Southern Kalamantan) .
Blade: LxOALxWxT=46x58x2.4x0.7cm. Both sides slightly concave.
Handle: Horn Boentoet Hajam Djagau w/ carved vegetal motif. Rotan & yellow-wire bindings.
Wt: 443g.
Sheath: Wood w/ horn chape, rotan bindings and yellow-metal throat enforcer.

[Sajen]

Hello Amuk,

May I ask you if you're referring to the swords which are known under the term parang kerekoepang? See for example here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=kerekoepang & http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=kerekoepang & http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=kerekoepang

If that's the case I have some remarks. I ain't sure about the parang really being from Banjarmasin.
The scabbard is looking very similar to the scabbards we know from the dua lalan swords, the nearly complete wrapping with rotan and the horn foot. The handle show the bands with the typical wickerwork we used to see by Toraja swords. Could it be a parang from Sulawesi which has a similar handle style like we know it by the so called parang kerekoepang?
I've seen your post at this morning on my mobile screen and was by the first view already a little bit doubtfully.
Here some pictures fom a dua lalan from my own collection.

Regards,
Detlef

[Athanase]

I agree with Detlef, for me is Toraja sword. The scabbard and handle (rare model) are typical.

[kai]

Hello Séverin & Detlef,

I sure can see where you're coming from!

However, neither the hilt nor the scabbard are really "typical" Toraja (especially the widening at the scabbard mouth which seems to be more a trait of Sulawesi Selantan).

Anyway, Banjar - a classic cultural melting pot - has seen a lot of influx from Gowa, especially, as well as other kingdoms and principalities on southwestern Sulawesi. Thus, it can be really tough to differentiate between imported pieces and those originating from there.

Having stipulated all that, I'd also like to hear from AM what positively identifies this style as being of Banjar origin!

Regards,
Kai

[kai]

Here's another example of this style for comparison. (Pic courtesy of mandaukudi)

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody!

Please accept my apologies.
At the time of posting, I had done some prior digging for more information on the object. However, I failed to find even a photo of anything similar to the article in question. So I could not make any really satisfactory judgement. It became a toss-up between southern Soelawesi and southern Kalamantan. As the handle most resembled that of a Bandjar hoeloe-boentoet, I took a punt on it and posted to shake the tree.
After posting, I did some more digging and found items which were very similar from southern Soelawesi. As a matter of fact, I found that Arjan had, within the last few days, sold a similar item (as posted by kai).
It appears that this particular hilt-style became ‘extinct’ by the 20thC. Also, such parangs are referred to by more apparently generic names as: alamang, dua lalan, la’bo’ to dolo, la’bo’ pinai, salapu, sonri, sudang, sumara, la'bo' bulange etc.; many relating to place of origin (la’bo’=sword).
So, at this stage, I am still none the wiser regarding the specific names of the hilts or the blades. Thankfully, Soelawesi is not within my area of interest.
It was a good exercise though.
Again, my apologies.



BTW Detlef,

I do not use the term ‘kerekoepang’ (=sun-dried mussels). I find it hard to believe that the 'old people' would’ve coined such a term for the parang.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showt...ght=kerekoepang:
ParangKadjangRoengkoep

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showt...ght=kerekoepang:
ParangBoengkoel

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showt...ght=kerekoepang:
ParangLais

Best,

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody!

Just thought I'd add this Peit (ref. fig.15B) for posterity.

Best,

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody!

Just for 'completeness' (ref. posts #9 & #11).
Both are everyday-use items (also sometimes referred to as: parang), from the 1st. quarter of the 20thC.

Best,

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody!

Just decluttering my Bandjar stuff:

- Lading (knife; when used for tapping, it's referred to as 'lading sadap').

- Karis Setjang.

Hope it's of use to somebody.

Best,

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody!

I just discovered this photo; it properly belongs here. I must have either forgotten to post it at the time, or it's posted elsewhere. My apologies.

The main difference in the variants, is the elbow.
Enjoy!

Best,

[Battara]

I'm still trying to figure out why the "elbow" - is it to relieve the stress of impact?

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Battara

I'm still trying to figure out why the "elbow" - is it to relieve the stress of impact?

I think the angle helps with the slicing effect of the blow. Somewhat like a curved saber--the hand is ahead of the "sweet spot" of the blade, and tends to draw the edge across the subject rather than being a purely chopping action.

[Amuk Murugul]

Originally Posted by Ian

I think the angle helps with the slicing effect of the blow. Somewhat like a curved saber--the hand is ahead of the "sweet spot" of the blade, and tends to draw the edge across the subject rather than being a purely chopping action.

Hullo Ian,
When it is used like a sabre, at close quarters/limited space, it gives a better cut.
However, it may be more convenient to use for everyday tasks (like a golok), by holding it on the blade side of the elbow.
Note that items 2 to 5 in post #1 are the same implements, 2&4 are male, while 3&5 are female (ref. post #9). Items 2&3 are the 'original' from which 4&5 developed.

Best,

[Ian]

Hullo Amuk,

Thanks for your concise and helpful comment. Interesting to note the male and female forms of this sword.

I can see how shortening up on the grip would convert the blade to a more klewang style, and better used for chopping. Quite a multipurpose implement.

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody!

Sorry to sound like a broken record .....
I thought I had solved the problem. Apparently not.
Perhaps if I provided a link here, it may finally obviate the issue.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=njaboer

Best,

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody!

Just redicovered this pedang (ref. post #4)and thought I'd post it here.
Apologies about the quality; I'm in a hurry.

Best