CONGRADULATIONS ON INHERITING A VERY INTERESTING AND VARIED COLLECTION OF SWORDS. YOUR INFORMATION IS AS GOOD OR BETTER THAN MY OWN SO I CAN'T BE OF MUCH HELP. I THINK YOUR ITEM #1 IS A GOOD OLD QUALITY WORK MANDAU AS IS PROBABLY STILL IN USE TODAY.
I WOULD CLASSIFY YOUR #4 AS A MANDAU USED AT CEREMONYS AND WEDDINGS FOR DANCING. THEIR DANCES USUALLY TELL STORYS OF THE EXPLOITS OF THE DANCER AND PERHAPS OF HIS ANCESTORS AND TRIBE. THEY STILL MAKE THIS KIND OF SWORD AND MANY ARE VERY FANCY WITH CARVED BONE PANNELS ON THE SCABBARD AND CARVED ANTLER HANDLES. THEY ARE OFTEN PRESENTED TO IMPORTANT FORIGN VISITORS OR USED IN TOURIST SHOWS TODAY. I CAN'T GUESS AT THE AGE OF YOUR EXAMPLES BUT THEY APPEAR TO BE MADE FOR LOCAL CEREMONIAL USE NOT AS TOURIST ITEMS. I THINK YOUR MOTHER CAN GIVE YOU THE BEST INFORMATION ON WHERE AND WHEN THEY WERE MADE OR AQUIRED. THANKS FOR SHAREING AND GOOD LUCK ON FINDING MORE INFORMATION.
I JUST TOOK A LOOK AT THE PISO PODANG ON THE OTHER FORUM IT IS A ABOVE AVERAGE EXAMPLE. THERE ARE QUITE A LOT OF THEM IN BORNEO, WE DISCUSSED IT ON A OLDER POST HERE ON THE FORUM. THE ONLY THING I CAN ADD WHICH MAY NOT BE TRUE
, IS THAT THE POMMEL IS HOLLOW ON THESE SWORDS AND IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT A CHALACE THAT MOHAMAD USED TO DRINK FROM BEFORE GOING INTO BATTLE. PERHAPS SOMEONE CAN CONFIRM THIS OR PERHAPS IT IS JUST A LEGEND I HEARD SOMEWHERE?