Correctly Identifying a Borneo Sword

VVV · 21st April 2013, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice

snip
But if I was really an expert, I could tell you exactly the differences on all aspects between a "Tilang Kemarau" and a "Suai".
As I do have some ideas about it, I'm not sure about them!
But maybe nobody can tell the exact differences between those two, so we're only driven students of the few in the "top level"?

snip
Maurice

Yes, let us avoid the term Suai until we have more criteria than just one uncommented picture.
The same with some other, more regional, Iban terms for the same category of a parang...

Michael

PS Suai is an Iban village so I suspect that the label is geographic, instead of being another category of parang.

CharlesS · 21st April 2013, 03:15 PM

Maurice,

Here are some additional pics of the carving. Let us know what you learn from them.

Maurice · 21st April 2013, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Maurice,

Here are some additional pics of the carving. Let us know what you learn from them.

Thank you Charles for the close ups.

I have the feeling the handle and scabbard are from the same age.
There are a lot of similarities to be found, and they look like they belong together.
As the leeches and other motifs (circles etc.) are not uncommon on handles and scabbards of that area, the combination of some of them on the handle and on the scabbard are a good match.
For instance the little "impellers" (marked with a red square in image 1) on the handle we can also see in the scabbard.
And there are other marks which I also marked with different colours.
I hope you're not color-blind

Maurice

Albert · 22nd April 2013, 12:00 PM

Interesting: this leech(?) looks very much like a korambi!!
Actually, I think it is a korambi.
I don't recall, I have ever seen it before on a Borneo swordhilt.

CharlesS · 22nd April 2013, 12:03 PM

Albert you have great eyes....that surely does look like a korambi!

VVV · 22nd April 2013, 12:10 PM

Quite unusual, indeed.
However, if it is a korambi then it is an additional indicator of a later date of the hilt.

Michael

Maurice · 22nd April 2013, 12:52 PM

Yes Albert,

looks like a korambi indeed.
However I think it's a coincedence that it's looking like a korambi, as there are more like these leeches (kind of curls with this little hole) made as decoration for the handle.
And which you're pointing out is the only one that happens to look like a korambi...

Maurice

Maurice · 23rd April 2013, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VVV

PS Suai is an Iban village so I suspect that the label is geographic, instead of being another category of parang.

Just noticed your note!
So probably a TK found in Suai.... Could be an explanation...

maurice

T. Koch · 29th September 2013, 01:53 PM

Hi guys,

I'm doing a bump here, because I've recently stumbled across swords of this type and this thread is the first place that i hear the term tilang kamaru. Could any of you please post the 'Banks' and 'Baltimore' references in their full? I'd love to read them!

- thanks in advance!

All the best, - Thor

VVV · 29th September 2013, 04:24 PM

Hi Thor,

If you bought lot 7180 at your local auction house today the blade is a TK.

(Its hilt, however, seems to be an odd combo?).

The article is E Bank. 1935. Hoplology in Sarawak, The Sarawak Museum Journal, IV (14): 229-241.

Good luck and please post the pictures later.

Michael

T. Koch · 29th September 2013, 05:15 PM

Hi Michael,

Touche!

I've recently been massacred by a couple of nasty bills, and It's been a while since I've had any additions. This however, was an extremely cool gift from my even cooler mom in law.

Thank you so much for the reference, looking forward to checking it out.

Take care, - Thor

VVV · 29th September 2013, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T. Koch

Hi Michael,

Touche!

I've recently been massacred by a couple of nasty bills, and It's been a while since I've had any additions. This however, was an extremely cool gift from my even cooler mom in law.

Thank you so much for the reference, looking forward to checking it out.

Take care, - Thor

"Elementary, my dear Watson, elementary" (from the movie, not the books)

Cool mother in law you have found. I have never heard before about any "of those" buying swords for their sons in law.

Michael

Albert · 1st October 2013, 11:48 AM

I have been trying to find the article:
E. Banks. 1935. Hoplology in Sarawak, The Sarawak Museum Journal, IV (14): 229-241.
Unfortunately I didn't succeed.
Can anyone help me to find a copy?

21st April 2013, 03:15 PM	#2
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,855	Maurice, Here are some additional pics of the carving. Let us know what you learn from them. Attached Images

22nd April 2013, 12:00 PM	#4
Albert Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 191	Korambi? Interesting: this leech(?) looks very much like a korambi!! Actually, I think it is a korambi. I don't recall, I have ever seen it before on a Borneo swordhilt. Attached Images

22nd April 2013, 12:03 PM	#5
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,855	Albert you have great eyes....that surely does look like a korambi!

22nd April 2013, 12:10 PM	#6
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Quite unusual, indeed. However, if it is a korambi then it is an additional indicator of a later date of the hilt. Michael

22nd April 2013, 12:52 PM	#7
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,324	Yes Albert, looks like a korambi indeed. However I think it's a coincedence that it's looking like a korambi, as there are more like these leeches (kind of curls with this little hole) made as decoration for the handle. And which you're pointing out is the only one that happens to look like a korambi... Maurice

29th September 2013, 01:53 PM	#9
T. Koch Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Mother North Posts: 189	Hi guys, I'm doing a bump here, because I've recently stumbled across swords of this type and this thread is the first place that i hear the term tilang kamaru. Could any of you please post the 'Banks' and 'Baltimore' references in their full? I'd love to read them! - thanks in advance! All the best, - Thor

29th September 2013, 04:24 PM	#10
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Hi Thor, If you bought lot 7180 at your local auction house today the blade is a TK. (Its hilt, however, seems to be an odd combo?). The article is E Bank. 1935. Hoplology in Sarawak, The Sarawak Museum Journal, IV (14): 229-241. Good luck and please post the pictures later. Michael

29th September 2013, 05:15 PM	#11
T. Koch Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Mother North Posts: 189	Hi Michael, Touche! I've recently been massacred by a couple of nasty bills, and It's been a while since I've had any additions. This however, was an extremely cool gift from my even cooler mom in law. Thank you so much for the reference, looking forward to checking it out. Take care, - Thor

1st October 2013, 11:48 AM	#13
Albert Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 191	I have been trying to find the article: E. Banks. 1935. Hoplology in Sarawak, The Sarawak Museum Journal, IV (14): 229-241. Unfortunately I didn't succeed. Can anyone help me to find a copy?