Just a side note: Japanese also lost their heads among the Igorot head hunters in the Philippines in World War 2. :eek:

Hi Battara the last heads the dayaks take was in the early 21 cth
from the Madurese people 1500 I heard



Ben

Hi Arjan, Michael, Bill and not to forget the starter of this thread: Ben,

In these interesting threads I miss the presence of Ben, who is unfortunately no member anymore of the forum quite a while now allready.

I have found a mandau with a handle with similar shape as the one Ben posted in the beginning of the thread.
It took me more than a year to get it, because the former owner didn't want to let it go. But after a lot of "nagging" I was able to buy it last week.

It has no antler handle and has no silver sleeve as Ben's, but it has the shame shape. Also there is a similarity on the scabbard (the two leeches to the right are also there on mine), and another carving that is not on Ben's, but what is typically Iban.

The blade is also typicall Iban.
So I guess this makes it more likely the one Ben posted is Iban indeed!

I only post an image of the handle for now! (image is from the seller's, I will post better images also of the handle, scabbard and blade after it arrived at my home).

Maurice

Musée d'ethnographie, Genève
 

I found a similar wooden handle in the database of: Musée d'ethnographie, Genève:
A big coincidence is also that it is also a left hander, just like mine!