Real or fake mandau ?

carlos · 11th October 2009, 09:00 AM

THis item just ended on Ebay,is a mandau, with a beautiful handle. The blade seems very rusted, the seller didn´t know nothing about this sword, I have only pictures from seller.
opinions, please.
Best regards
carlos

Sajen · 11th October 2009, 11:24 AM

Hi Carlos,

I think it's real, but the blade have heavy corrosion, but I think a good deal.
You have done the deal with the seller! Congrats! Hope you post pictures when it arrived.

Detlef

Henk · 11th October 2009, 03:28 PM

I'm afraid it is made for those who travel. The way the blade is attached to the hilt is not as it should be. Rattan bindings are not as one should expect with such a blade if the blade was the real thing. The condition of the blade does not correspond wit the wood of the hilt and the scabbard.

Sajen · 11th October 2009, 06:17 PM

I think the hilt is loose, look the third picture you still can see the resin at the blade where the hilt originally have been. But let us wait until Carlos have received the Mandau.

sajen

asomotif · 20th October 2009, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Hope you post pictures when it arrived.

I am kind of curious too

carlos · 15th November 2009, 10:07 AM

Finally the sword arrived and I think is a old real mandau, the blade in very poor state,but after clean the hilt...surprise, a beatiful hilt apperar!!
Enjoy the pictures!!
thanks
carlos

asomotif · 15th November 2009, 12:06 PM

Nice addition.
Look at the carving of the handle and blade. This is certainly an original piece.

no idea how a blade can get that rusty, but probably by hanging on a longhouse wall for a few decades

PM me if you get bored by it

Sajen · 15th November 2009, 12:24 PM

Congrats, what I write before, original Mandau. You tried already to remove the rust?

carlos · 15th November 2009, 12:45 PM

Thanks!!!
I have tried to remove the rust, superficial only. The blade has some parts the rust is very very hard, and is already a part of the blade.
Now I´m thinking how I could attach blade to handle.
Thanks again for yours opinions.
best regards
carlos

Henk · 15th November 2009, 03:24 PM

Wow,

You did a very good job on this one. Based on the pictures of the seller I would never go for it.

Turned out to be a very nice piece. Now you have to attach the handle properly to the blade. I'm sure you will manage.

Congrats!!

Jim McDougall · 15th November 2009, 04:31 PM

Carlos congratulations!!!
Although I know little on mandau, I truly enjoyed this story unfolding and really admire the interaction here. Im so glad to see this sad looking piece find such a good home, and you did a fantastic job of cleaning it, and revealing the beauty underneath.
One never knows inner beauty unless they believe it is there.
Well done !!!

All best regards,
Jim

asomotif · 15th November 2009, 11:04 PM

Nice occasion to post some pictures of a similar scabbard that I have.

Maurice · 16th November 2009, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asomotif

Nice occasion to post some pictures of a similar scabbard that I have.

I am glad you did Willem.

This is the first time I see this round symbol on a handle (at the left side on the handle). I have seen it on several scabbards allready.
My opinion is that it is only used by Ibans!

I attached your handle next to an Iban scabbard I owned some time ago, to let you show clearly what I mean.

Rgd,
Maurice

asomotif · 16th November 2009, 10:28 PM

Hi Maurice,

I have seen it on another mandau hilt, but can't recall where.
It is a nice decoration.
One of the reasons indeed why I liked this mandau.

David · 16th November 2009, 11:17 PM

hmmm....i believe that symbol is also used by the MLB tribe (major league baseball) here in the USA.

asomotif · 17th November 2009, 06:46 AM

Quote:

that symbol is also used by the MLB tribe

Was headhunting part of the MLB tradition, before they changed the rules

The one on the hilt is more going towards a rugby / american football style shape. That is probably more of asport the Iban can relate to

David · 17th November 2009, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asomotif

Was headhunting part of the MLB tradition, before they changed the rules

I believe it still is for the NY Yankees. Go Yanks! (sorry Rick....

)

11th October 2009, 09:00 AM	#1
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 737	Real or fake mandau ? THis item just ended on Ebay,is a mandau, with a beautiful handle. The blade seems very rusted, the seller didn´t know nothing about this sword, I have only pictures from seller. opinions, please. Best regards carlos Attached Images

15th November 2009, 10:07 AM	#6
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 737	Arrived Finally the sword arrived and I think is a old real mandau, the blade in very poor state,but after clean the hilt...surprise, a beatiful hilt apperar!! Enjoy the pictures!! thanks carlos Attached Images

15th November 2009, 12:45 PM	#9
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 737	Thanks Thanks!!! I have tried to remove the rust, superficial only. The blade has some parts the rust is very very hard, and is already a part of the blade. Now I´m thinking how I could attach blade to handle. Thanks again for yours opinions. best regards carlos

15th November 2009, 03:24 PM	#10
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Fairy tale of the ugly duck Wow, You did a very good job on this one. Based on the pictures of the seller I would never go for it. Turned out to be a very nice piece. Now you have to attach the handle properly to the blade. I'm sure you will manage. Congrats!!

15th November 2009, 11:04 PM	#12
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	similar scabbard work on a mandau Nice occasion to post some pictures of a similar scabbard that I have. Attached Images

11th October 2009, 11:24 AM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,770	Hi Carlos, I think it's real, but the blade have heavy corrosion, but I think a good deal. You have done the deal with the seller! Congrats! Hope you post pictures when it arrived. Detlef

11th October 2009, 03:28 PM	#3
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	I'm afraid it is made for those who travel. The way the blade is attached to the hilt is not as it should be. Rattan bindings are not as one should expect with such a blade if the blade was the real thing. The condition of the blade does not correspond wit the wood of the hilt and the scabbard.

11th October 2009, 06:17 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,770	I think the hilt is loose, look the third picture you still can see the resin at the blade where the hilt originally have been. But let us wait until Carlos have received the Mandau. sajen

15th November 2009, 12:06 PM	#7
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Nice addition. Look at the carving of the handle and blade. This is certainly an original piece. no idea how a blade can get that rusty, but probably by hanging on a longhouse wall for a few decades PM me if you get bored by it

15th November 2009, 12:24 PM	#8
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,770	Congrats, what I write before, original Mandau. You tried already to remove the rust?

15th November 2009, 04:31 PM	#11
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,943	Carlos congratulations!!! Although I know little on mandau, I truly enjoyed this story unfolding and really admire the interaction here. Im so glad to see this sad looking piece find such a good home, and you did a fantastic job of cleaning it, and revealing the beauty underneath. One never knows inner beauty unless they believe it is there. Well done !!! All best regards, Jim

16th November 2009, 10:28 PM	#14
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Hi Maurice, I have seen it on another mandau hilt, but can't recall where. It is a nice decoration. One of the reasons indeed why I liked this mandau. Attached Images

16th November 2009, 11:17 PM	#15
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,121	hmmm....i believe that symbol is also used by the MLB tribe (major league baseball) here in the USA.