Mandau question

Sajen · 23rd February 2009, 04:16 PM

Hello All,
just ended by e-bay: http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWN:IT&ih=017
I am not an expert by mandaus and really surprised to win it by this price and get direct the feeling that something wrong with this mandau. Maybe not old?
I hope that experts will tell me if it is an old one or newly made one.
Thank's in advance,
sajen

Henk · 23rd February 2009, 05:37 PM

Made for those who travel.

asomotif · 23rd February 2009, 05:59 PM

Yep, tourists travel a lot.

Sorry, but this is not the real thing.
Use the search function on this website and search for mandau.
There are numerous threads on mandaus with some of the finest examples around.

VANDOO · 23rd February 2009, 06:07 PM

I FIRST NOTICED THESE ON EBAY IN 2002 I BOUGHT ONE 6/25/02 AND PAYED MORE THAN YOU DID FOR THIS ONE. THE ONE I BOUGHT IS ABOUT THE SAME AS YOURS EXCEPT IT HAD SOME BEAR TEETH FOR CHARMS ON THE BELT. THE SELLER SAID MY SWORD CAME FROM A LONGHOUSE AT LEBUH ANTU (SECOND DIVISION) SO PERHAPS THAT WAS WHERE THESE WERE MADE

THE BONE CARVINGS ARE OF GOOD QUALITY AND THE FANCY FIBER KNOTS ARE WELL DONE BUT THE REST OF THE SWORD IS NOT OF VERY HIGH QUALITY. THE BLADE IS THIN AND PROBABLY MADE OF BAR STOCK RATHER THAN FORGED FOLDED. THE BRASS INLAY WORK IS NOT BAD BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE BLADE WAS SUBJECTED TO ACID TO ARTIFICIALLY PIT AND AGE IT (I PERSONALLY WOULD HAVE PREFERRED IT TO BE LEFT NEW LOOKING) THE HANDLE IS NOT AS WELL CARVED AS THE BONE PANNELS.
THE STORYS I GOT IN KUCHING WERE THAT THEY MADE TRIPS UP THE RIVERS AND INTO THE INTERIOR TO TRADE WITH THE VARIOUS LONGHOUSES AND THAT IS WHERE THEY GOT THEIR SWORDS AND OTHER DAYAK WORKS. PERHAPS SOME VILLAGES STILL HAVE WORKERS WHO MANUFACTURE SWORDS LOCALLY BOTH FOR THEIR VILLAGES USE AND TO SELL TO TOURISTS OR TRADERS. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THERE ARE SOME IN KUCHING AND OTHER BIG CITYS CRANKING THEM OUT FOR THE TOURISTS.
OUR SWORDS WERE NOT MADE FOR LOCAL USE UNLESS IT WAS FOR DRESS OR CEREMONY OR TO PUT ON A SHOW FOR TOURISTS, SO I CONSIDER THESE SWORDS AS MADE ONLY AS A SOUVINEER.

WHILE IT IS ALWAYS MORE DESIRABLE TO BUY A EXCELLENT 200 YEAR OLD SWORD ACTUALLY USED DURING THE HEADHUNTING DAYS THE COMPETICIAN IS WAY OUT OF MY RANGE OF INCOME. SOMETIMES I GOT LUCKY IN THE PAST BUT NOT NOWADAYS SO IF I SEE SOMETHING I LIKE AND CAN AFFORD I WILL TRY FOR IT. I LOOK AT IT LIKE THE MODEL OF CAR FROM A CERTIAN YEAR OR COMPANY SO THIS SWORD WOULD BE (MAKE DAYAK YEAR 2002, MODEL FANCY FACES)

Sajen · 23rd February 2009, 07:02 PM

Thank's for the open words,
Detlef

23rd February 2009, 04:16 PM	#1
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,786	Mandau question Hello All, just ended by e-bay: http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWN:IT&ih=017 I am not an expert by mandaus and really surprised to win it by this price and get direct the feeling that something wrong with this mandau. Maybe not old? I hope that experts will tell me if it is an old one or newly made one. Thank's in advance, sajen

23rd February 2009, 06:07 PM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I FIRST NOTICED THESE ON EBAY IN 2002 I BOUGHT ONE 6/25/02 AND PAYED MORE THAN YOU DID FOR THIS ONE. THE ONE I BOUGHT IS ABOUT THE SAME AS YOURS EXCEPT IT HAD SOME BEAR TEETH FOR CHARMS ON THE BELT. THE SELLER SAID MY SWORD CAME FROM A LONGHOUSE AT LEBUH ANTU (SECOND DIVISION) SO PERHAPS THAT WAS WHERE THESE WERE MADE THE BONE CARVINGS ARE OF GOOD QUALITY AND THE FANCY FIBER KNOTS ARE WELL DONE BUT THE REST OF THE SWORD IS NOT OF VERY HIGH QUALITY. THE BLADE IS THIN AND PROBABLY MADE OF BAR STOCK RATHER THAN FORGED FOLDED. THE BRASS INLAY WORK IS NOT BAD BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE BLADE WAS SUBJECTED TO ACID TO ARTIFICIALLY PIT AND AGE IT (I PERSONALLY WOULD HAVE PREFERRED IT TO BE LEFT NEW LOOKING) THE HANDLE IS NOT AS WELL CARVED AS THE BONE PANNELS. THE STORYS I GOT IN KUCHING WERE THAT THEY MADE TRIPS UP THE RIVERS AND INTO THE INTERIOR TO TRADE WITH THE VARIOUS LONGHOUSES AND THAT IS WHERE THEY GOT THEIR SWORDS AND OTHER DAYAK WORKS. PERHAPS SOME VILLAGES STILL HAVE WORKERS WHO MANUFACTURE SWORDS LOCALLY BOTH FOR THEIR VILLAGES USE AND TO SELL TO TOURISTS OR TRADERS. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THERE ARE SOME IN KUCHING AND OTHER BIG CITYS CRANKING THEM OUT FOR THE TOURISTS. OUR SWORDS WERE NOT MADE FOR LOCAL USE UNLESS IT WAS FOR DRESS OR CEREMONY OR TO PUT ON A SHOW FOR TOURISTS, SO I CONSIDER THESE SWORDS AS MADE ONLY AS A SOUVINEER. WHILE IT IS ALWAYS MORE DESIRABLE TO BUY A EXCELLENT 200 YEAR OLD SWORD ACTUALLY USED DURING THE HEADHUNTING DAYS THE COMPETICIAN IS WAY OUT OF MY RANGE OF INCOME. SOMETIMES I GOT LUCKY IN THE PAST BUT NOT NOWADAYS SO IF I SEE SOMETHING I LIKE AND CAN AFFORD I WILL TRY FOR IT. I LOOK AT IT LIKE THE MODEL OF CAR FROM A CERTIAN YEAR OR COMPANY SO THIS SWORD WOULD BE (MAKE DAYAK YEAR 2002, MODEL FANCY FACES) Attached Images Last edited by VANDOO; 23rd February 2009 at 06:18 PM. Reason: pictures

23rd February 2009, 05:37 PM	#2
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Made for those who travel.

23rd February 2009, 05:59 PM	#3
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Yep, tourists travel a lot. Sorry, but this is not the real thing. Use the search function on this website and search for mandau. There are numerous threads on mandaus with some of the finest examples around.

23rd February 2009, 07:02 PM	#5
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,786	Thank's for the open words, Detlef