Origine of Short Parang (Bornéo? Sumatra? or...?)
 

Hello

I took a risk buying this short Parang because I had never seen this before and I can't identify it. The antique dealer who sold it bought it in the early 1980s from Sumatra (according to his memory) but he went to all the great Indonesian islands.
For me it looks very much like the short utility parangs that are currently made in Borneo. But they don't have this decoration and especially not this big wooden hook (like that of a Wedung).
I have seen on the internet forms of near (and old) blades in southern Sumatra (Lampung, Benkulu) with also a wooden hook to fix the scabbard to the belt, but the hook was much shorter.
The blade, made of laminated steel, and the scabbard looks old but I can't estimate the age. (Middle of the 20th century or older?).

If someone has an idea for the name and origin of this parang I would be very grateful.

Well the scabbard clip looks more Javanese to me......... :shrug:

I thought the same thing, but the geometric decoration made me doubt. I had never seen this style in Javanese scabbard decoration.

Hello Athanase,

can you post some close-ups?

Some details of the scabbard :

Hello Athanase,

good pictures! :) My feeling tells me that this could be Batak work but this is my feeling only and I am not sure. Curious if others have an opinion about this piece. Would place it as an early 20th century piece judging by patina and workmanship. Nice knife! :) :cool:

Regards,
Detlef