MANDAU FOR COMMENT
 

hi Guys,

Here a mandau from me for comment..

I think its a old one , there,s is a nice old patin on the hilt and the scabbard

The hilt and the scabbard are simple but the blade has some nice engravings along the blade also on the back side u can see some engraving but that,s almost not vissible anymore

If u like to tell youre opinion about age etc.. ?



Danny

Ow......last photo is a kamp. :shrug:

I will post here the photo from the back from the mandau blade..

Hi Danny,

I once had a mandau with a similar blade (however your blade seems real thick at the base, mine was only 7 mm at the base near the handle if I remember correct). It was also carved at the back near the handle.
I have a pic attached from the motif at the back of the blade near the hilt. So you can look at what it must have looked like! :)

Nice mandau by the way IMO.

Gr,
Maurice

Oh, I had another one.

See pic.

Gr,
Maurice

Hi Maurice,

Thanks for the photo,s !

But if it was like that , what happend with mine ?? Is it worn off i don,t see signs of sanding or something.


The blade is at the base 10 mm thick. It has a nice weight in the hand.

Gr,

Danny

Maybe mine was not so old as yours (which I now for sure) or the motifs were put in the blade deeper as in yours. :shrug:

But nice thick blade. Always a good sign!!

Gr,
Maurice

Hello Danny,

Nice mandau.
based on the scabbard ,the handle and the thickness of the blade I would not be surprised if this was well before 1900, maybe 1850'something ?

But I am not sure if in those times they would have the incised/chisseled scroll and aso motifs on the blade.

Maybe Michael or Arjan can help out on that ?

hoi willem,

thanks for youre comment,

i did already ask arjan about the age and he thinks also
that it is from 1900 or maybe before , but its always
nice to hear other peoples opinion.

(boekje al weg ;) ?

danny

Hi Danny,

Your mandau made me think of this one from my collection.
This one comes from Artzi / Oriental arms.
There is an old paper tag on it that says 1850 (for what its worth)

Ps. Book goes out by mail tomorrow

I think so too.
But having handled this mandau I miss some of it's original and very unique scabbard decorations/amulets???

Michael

Hi Michael,


Yes u know this one :)

I was not sure about the amulets and after asking 2 persons
one person thought it was otoman ?? i deciede to have it
with out the amulets..

What did u think of the blade , it brighter now.


Greetz,

Danny

Willem,

Thanks for the photo,s .

But do you notice that if u look to youre photo,s and
the photo,s from maurice that the engravings on
my mandau looking more smooth?

Danny

Hi Danny,

Yes, the blade is brighter and nicer.
But I think you made a BIG mistake in removing the "amulets" (see pict).
I think they were related to this phenomena on one of Ben's unusual scabbards.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5139

Michael

It is original to the scabbard like Michael says a pity that you removed it Danny

Ben

Hi,

I was the one who removed the "original" decorations. Danny left it up to me to remove or not. After a short inspection at the back of the pins and brass beltclasps? they where as bright as the morning at the back,absolute no patina and that strangecourse it was surely a well patinated scabbard.
Maybe they are added by a Javanese or so? Of course they are still in my workplace so if Danny wants me to add them again no problem.... :)

Hi Arjan,

Thanks for falling in the discusion..

about the ''amulets'' i,m happy how the scabbard looks now

U may keep them maybe as decoration on a suit for a party... :p

Danny

Arjan,

That's strange as they should at least had lost some of their shine the time it spent with me after I picked it up in Holland?
Do you think they were artificially aged on the front or how come they could look "new" on the back-side?

Michael

It belongs to the scabbard Danny.

Ben

If these metal ornaments had been on the scabbard for a long time, there should have been some outline of the ornaments left on the wood.

I mean, the wood under these ornaments would have been lighter or cleaner because the metal ornament had been there.

Like a picture hanging on the wall for years leaving a mark on the wall.

Willem, I agree to the painting on the wall effect.
But I find it hard to see it on the pictures above. Maybe because Arjan has given the scabbard both a very good restauration as well as his skills in repatination?

Michael

Hi Danny,
It is done by hand. How deep the engravings are will depend on who and with what they did it.
I never tried to make an engraving, but I think in iron it is a difficult job.

From pictures and after the reatsuration it is indeed difficult to be sure. :shrug:
But I trust Arjan's judgement in this case. ;)
Although these ornaments where not very bad.
I have a mandau that once had colored chicken feathers glued to the scabbard.
Well, those had to go. I don't think that dayak would attach feathers of such an easy prey to their weapon.