Correctly Identifying a Borneo Sword

CharlesS · 20th April 2013, 05:03 PM

Were it 15 years ago I would simply have identified the sword pictured below as a Dyak mandau...on the assumption it's Dyak, so it must be a mandau.

Probably about 7 years ago I would have changed that assumption to rename it a jimpul...it is Dyak and curved, so it must be a jimpul.

I would have been wrong on both counts....

Over the last several years our Borneo specialists, most notably VVV, Maurice, MandauKudi, and Asomotif have proven to us that we can explore much more deeply the correct classification of Dyak weapons based on specific details and nuances.

Now I am trying to correctly identify the latest addition to my Dyak collection and I can best ascertain from Shelford/Banks that this is a tilang kamarau, and according the Shelford is a later addition to the Dyak arsenal(post 1902).

I am hoping the "Borneo gang" will chime in and tell me if I am correct or not and feel free to correct me if I am wrong and add anything, hopefully the likely location of its specific origin.

20th April 2013, 05:03 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,855	Correctly Identifying a Borneo Sword Were it 15 years ago I would simply have identified the sword pictured below as a Dyak mandau...on the assumption it's Dyak, so it must be a mandau. Probably about 7 years ago I would have changed that assumption to rename it a jimpul...it is Dyak and curved, so it must be a jimpul. I would have been wrong on both counts.... Over the last several years our Borneo specialists, most notably VVV, Maurice, MandauKudi, and Asomotif have proven to us that we can explore much more deeply the correct classification of Dyak weapons based on specific details and nuances. Now I am trying to correctly identify the latest addition to my Dyak collection and I can best ascertain from Shelford/Banks that this is a tilang kamarau, and according the Shelford is a later addition to the Dyak arsenal(post 1902). I am hoping the "Borneo gang" will chime in and tell me if I am correct or not and feel free to correct me if I am wrong and add anything, hopefully the likely location of its specific origin. Attached Images Last edited by CharlesS; 20th April 2013 at 11:51 PM.