Borneo Parang Nabur or Visayan Bolo?

VVV · 20th February 2006, 07:30 PM

Hi all,

This beauty arrived today.
According to Stone p.482 this is supposed to be a variation of the Parang Nabur.
Tirri p. 429 says the same.
In Charles Buttin pict 898 there is a slightly resembling sabre (mix of this one and a "traditional" Nabur) that he describes as a Malay demi-sabre, probably Borneo Dayak.
I haven't found any references to this variation of Nabur in any of the Indonesian or Borneo weapon articles and books?
In the huge collections of f.i. Leiden there are lots of different Nabur, but none even slightly resembling this one.
To me it looks much more Visayan than Borneo.
Could this be a mistake by Stone?
Does any of the Filipino specialists recognise this sword?

Michael

PS The scabbard also looks more Visayan than Borneo to me?

Tim Simmons · 20th February 2006, 09:16 PM

Yummy, how old is this. It looks as if there is a lot of European hanger influence. Tim

Robert · 21st February 2006, 03:33 AM

Greetings Michael,
Now I know who it was that out bid me on this. Congratulations on your win!!!

I'm just glad that it was someone from the forum that got it.(That way I get to see more pictures of it) My vote is that it is a Parang Nabur probable dating from the 19th century. Could the animal depicted on the hilt possibly be a bat?

Robert

VVV · 21st February 2006, 05:42 PM

My guesstimate is also 19th C - early/mid.
I have no idea what kind of animal it is on the hilt?

I revisited this great reference thread on PI weapons in Spanish Museums.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...Spanish+Museum

What's interesting is that this kind of sword is part of the Filipino collections of the two Madrid museums together with other Visayan weapons.

I have enclosed the relevant pictures below.

Michael

LabanTayo · 21st February 2006, 06:29 PM

michael,
you make my head hurt.

Bill · 21st February 2006, 10:53 PM

Great sword. Is there anywhere in the Visayan Islands that peaned the tang? Is that a coin the tang goes through? Can we see a picture of the engraving on the guard cup?

Daniel Hdz · 18th March 2008, 12:38 AM

Erik Farrow advised me on this sword that my dad has had since the early 60's. He says it has been incorrectly labeled as being from Sea Dayak. He also lead me to this site so I could get some comments from the experts. Any info. you can share with me is very much appreciated. I nor my dad are big collectors, however he was given this sword by an employer when he was very young and he's had it displayed on our wall at home. Also I'm not sure if I have been adding the photos correctly. Can anyone help?

Thank you,
Dan

Daniel Hdz · 18th March 2008, 12:46 AM

Here are a few more.

VVV · 19th March 2008, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Hdz

Erik Farrow advised me on this sword that my dad has had since the early 60's. He says it has been incorrectly labeled as being from Sea Dayak. He also lead me to this site so I could get some comments from the experts. Any info. you can share with me is very much appreciated. I nor my dad are big collectors, however he was given this sword by an employer when he was very young and he's had it displayed on our wall at home. Also I'm not sure if I have been adding the photos correctly. Can anyone help?

Thank you,
Dan

Hello Dan,

Yours is a very nice variation of the same Luzon swords as in this thread.
You can find all the information we have on it at the moment here and also in this thread.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...?t=1792&page=3

If you ever get tired of it...

Michael

Daniel Hdz · 19th March 2008, 10:48 PM

What's the best and safest way to clean this beauty.

xasterix · 14th November 2018, 02:59 PM

Hi. Apologies for necro-ing this old thread, but the swords in question are variations of the Minasbad, a blade made in the Bicol region of Luzon, Philippines. It's the supposed weapon of the Cimarrones, a tribe that lived in the highlands and which were renowned for their fighting prowess.

Bill M · 14th November 2018, 03:26 PM

Thank you for reviving this post. I will join you on Facebook

20th February 2006, 07:30 PM	#1
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Borneo Parang Nabur or Visayan Bolo? Hi all, This beauty arrived today. According to Stone p.482 this is supposed to be a variation of the Parang Nabur. Tirri p. 429 says the same. In Charles Buttin pict 898 there is a slightly resembling sabre (mix of this one and a "traditional" Nabur) that he describes as a Malay demi-sabre, probably Borneo Dayak. I haven't found any references to this variation of Nabur in any of the Indonesian or Borneo weapon articles and books? In the huge collections of f.i. Leiden there are lots of different Nabur, but none even slightly resembling this one. To me it looks much more Visayan than Borneo. Could this be a mistake by Stone? Does any of the Filipino specialists recognise this sword? Michael PS The scabbard also looks more Visayan than Borneo to me? Attached Images Last edited by VVV; 20th February 2006 at 09:00 PM. Reason: PS

21st February 2006, 05:42 PM	#4
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	My guesstimate is also 19th C - early/mid. I have no idea what kind of animal it is on the hilt? I revisited this great reference thread on PI weapons in Spanish Museums. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...Spanish+Museum What's interesting is that this kind of sword is part of the Filipino collections of the two Madrid museums together with other Visayan weapons. I have enclosed the relevant pictures below. Michael Attached Images

18th March 2008, 12:38 AM	#7
Daniel Hdz Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4	Philippine sword... Erik Farrow advised me on this sword that my dad has had since the early 60's. He says it has been incorrectly labeled as being from Sea Dayak. He also lead me to this site so I could get some comments from the experts. Any info. you can share with me is very much appreciated. I nor my dad are big collectors, however he was given this sword by an employer when he was very young and he's had it displayed on our wall at home. Also I'm not sure if I have been adding the photos correctly. Can anyone help? Thank you, Dan Attached Images

18th March 2008, 12:46 AM	#8
Daniel Hdz Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4	Seems as though I could attach photos. Here are a few more. Attached Images

19th March 2008, 10:48 PM	#10
Daniel Hdz Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4	Thanks. What's the best and safest way to clean this beauty.

20th February 2006, 09:16 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Yummy, how old is this. It looks as if there is a lot of European hanger influence. Tim

21st February 2006, 03:33 AM	#3
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Greetings Michael, Now I know who it was that out bid me on this. Congratulations on your win!!! I'm just glad that it was someone from the forum that got it.(That way I get to see more pictures of it) My vote is that it is a Parang Nabur probable dating from the 19th century. Could the animal depicted on the hilt possibly be a bat? Robert

21st February 2006, 06:29 PM	#5
LabanTayo Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kansas City Posts: 177	michael, you make my head hurt.

21st February 2006, 10:53 PM	#6
Bill Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chicago area Posts: 327	Great sword. Is there anywhere in the Visayan Islands that peaned the tang? Is that a coin the tang goes through? Can we see a picture of the engraving on the guard cup?

14th November 2018, 02:59 PM	#11
xasterix Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 655	Hi. Apologies for necro-ing this old thread, but the swords in question are variations of the Minasbad, a blade made in the Bicol region of Luzon, Philippines. It's the supposed weapon of the Cimarrones, a tribe that lived in the highlands and which were renowned for their fighting prowess. Last edited by Robert; 14th November 2018 at 05:26 PM. Reason: This is not a sales platform. Posting information on sales sites is against forum policy.

14th November 2018, 03:26 PM	#12
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Thank you for reviving this post. I will join you on Facebook