Parang latok w/stag horn hilt

Ian · 11th February 2018, 10:32 PM

When reading Albert van Zonneveld's excellent encyclopedia of Indonesian arms, I ran across a particular statement that the hilt of the parang latok is "always made of wood."

I have had the example shown here for 20+ years and have thought it was a rather refined example of the parang latok, with its brass ferrule and carved stag hilt. Certainly, the blade seemed above average in quality and finish: peaked spine between the hilt and bend, gradually tapering heavy blade, a fuller adjacent to the spine on each side, and a hardened edge. Now I'm not so sure it is a parang latok from the Sea Dayak, but perhaps a similar sword from another Borneo group.

Overall length = 25 inches
Length of blade (to bend) = 18 inches
Thickness of blade in front of hilt is just under 0.5 inches

Can one of our Borneo experts tell me what I have. Is this indeed a parang latok or something else?

Ian.

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11th February 2018, 10:32 PM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,198	Parang latok w/stag horn hilt When reading Albert van Zonneveld's excellent encyclopedia of Indonesian arms, I ran across a particular statement that the hilt of the parang latok is "always made of wood." I have had the example shown here for 20+ years and have thought it was a rather refined example of the parang latok, with its brass ferrule and carved stag hilt. Certainly, the blade seemed above average in quality and finish: peaked spine between the hilt and bend, gradually tapering heavy blade, a fuller adjacent to the spine on each side, and a hardened edge. Now I'm not so sure it is a parang latok from the Sea Dayak, but perhaps a similar sword from another Borneo group. Overall length = 25 inches Length of blade (to bend) = 18 inches Thickness of blade in front of hilt is just under 0.5 inches Can one of our Borneo experts tell me what I have. Is this indeed a parang latok or something else? Ian. . Attached Images Last edited by Ian; 11th February 2018 at 10:49 PM.