Indonesian sword/machete???

blindside · 6th May 2012, 11:00 AM

I picked this up a couple of months ago, it looked Indonesian to me, but since I know precisely zip about Indonesian sword types, I thought I would ask here. So what did I get? The scabbard and hilt look newer than the blade.

unk blade by wyldbio, on Flickr

unk blade2 by wyldbio, on Flickr

thank you!
~B

Kipinga50 · 6th May 2012, 11:08 AM

Hi Blindside,
It look like a Dayak Mandau, but IMO it's tourist souvenir.

Sajen · 6th May 2012, 12:43 PM

Yes, it is a mandau and hilt and scabbard look quite recent but the blade seems well made. And in my humple opinion I don't think that it is a tourist souvenir, this ones look very different.
Hope that others with more knowledge about mandaus can tell you more.

Regards,

Detlef

asomotif · 6th May 2012, 10:39 PM

Yes, looks like a mandau.
But this example is what the locals on Borneo use in the field.
So maybe we should call it a "parang" rather than a mandau which is supposed to be also weapon for warfare.

Google on "penan parang" and you will find various examples for daily use.
They are simple, cheap and sort of charming.

Best regards,
Willem

blindside · 7th May 2012, 10:25 PM

Thank you all for the input, do the reverse "S" and the other engraving symbolize anything or are they simply designs?

thanks!

6th May 2012, 11:00 AM	#1
blindside Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kennewick, WA Posts: 33	Indonesian sword/machete??? I picked this up a couple of months ago, it looked Indonesian to me, but since I know precisely zip about Indonesian sword types, I thought I would ask here. So what did I get? The scabbard and hilt look newer than the blade. unk blade by wyldbio, on Flickr unk blade2 by wyldbio, on Flickr thank you! ~B

6th May 2012, 11:08 AM	#2
Kipinga50 Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sao Vicente Posts: 28	Hi Blindside, It look like a Dayak Mandau, but IMO it's tourist souvenir.

6th May 2012, 12:43 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Yes, it is a mandau and hilt and scabbard look quite recent but the blade seems well made. And in my humple opinion I don't think that it is a tourist souvenir, this ones look very different. Hope that others with more knowledge about mandaus can tell you more. Regards, Detlef

6th May 2012, 10:39 PM	#4
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Yes, looks like a mandau. But this example is what the locals on Borneo use in the field. So maybe we should call it a "parang" rather than a mandau which is supposed to be also weapon for warfare. Google on "penan parang" and you will find various examples for daily use. They are simple, cheap and sort of charming. Best regards, Willem

7th May 2012, 10:25 PM	#5
blindside Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kennewick, WA Posts: 33	Thank you all for the input, do the reverse "S" and the other engraving symbolize anything or are they simply designs? thanks!