Old kind of Mandau scabbard from Kutei

[ariel]

I see that this one also lost the "plug" at the end of the handle. What were they made of? How resilient they were? Is the absence of it a conceivable sign of the age?

[asomotif]

Hello Michael,

Not published before on this webiste ?
Check again

Arjan made a thread recently including one Kutei mandau from my collection.

Best regards,
Willem

[asomotif]

There it is :
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3967

Ps. very nice find Michael,

The knot (shell/mother of pearl) on the loop has 2 holes.
it looks like this is also something that you only find on the older mandaus.

[VVV]

So sorry Willem,

I only remembered that thread as discussing the hilts.

Ariel, the plug is made of resin (damar). Some have it and some don't.
I don't think it's an age indicator. Maybe an indicator of condition?

Michael

[Dajak]

Hi All there missing the damar on the end off the handle mostly did get lost and not replaced
There are some very old ones that has not been decorated
I personally think that the early one s had not much decoration
and that they started later with decoration

[asomotif]

Michael,

When would you say a mandau is from koetei ?
The rattanstrip on the scabbard. or the style of the handle or the combination ?

I have 4 scabbards with rattan strips now.

[Dajak]

Willem opschepper LOL



Ben

[VVV]

Originally Posted by asomotif

Michael,

When would you say a mandau is from koetei ?
The rattanstrip on the scabbard. or the style of the handle or the combination ?

I have 4 scabbards with rattan strips now.

Nice scabbards Willem!

On your question the hilt is of course a good tell.
The rattan stick along the scabbard is according to my experience more of an age indicator.

Michael