New mandau

VVV · 21st August 2012, 11:16 PM

Actually it's not called a mandau at all if it is Iban, even if concave/convex, but an ilang or parang ilang.
Some maybe would like to call it a gayang, but based on the "production date" it is probably more correct to just call it an Iban parang (the generic term).

Michael

asomotif · 22nd August 2012, 08:51 PM

Hello Michael,

Thanks, "parang gayang" was indeed the term I was looking for.

Why do you feel that the production date influences the name ?

Best regards,
Willem

VVV · 22nd August 2012, 09:37 PM

Willem,

It's because I suspect that this parang was made for symbolic use, not actual warfare or as a jungle tool.
But that's just my personal principle for classifications of weapons...

Michael

asomotif · 22nd August 2012, 10:32 PM

That is a way of classification that I have seen before. (a infamous balato thread on this forum) So in order too remember the old names, I prefer too collect old examples

Indeed this example is probably too recent to be for warfare and too elaborate to be a tool.

Ps. still looking foward too some more pictures of the blade

T. Koch · 23rd August 2012, 10:26 AM

Thanks for all the info guys!

The spine is indeed concave - as I believe I pointed out in my first post somewhere in the Wall O'Text up there.

No worries guys, we in the digital generations have nuked our attention span a looong time ago.

I have no doubt that the blade has been used for practical tasks over a longer period. The angle and diversity of the micro-scratches are consistent with the ones I for instance have made over the years on my own field-panga or seen on other choppers still in use. There are likewise visible signs of sharpening, dulling and chipping of the edge etc.

As per your suggestions, I will take closeups of the handle thread, the ricasso area, the fullers and the carvings on the scabbard and be back.

Thank you to all who've commented - you guys are great!

All the best, - Thor

David · 23rd August 2012, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T. Koch

The spine is indeed concave - as I believe I pointed out in my first post somewhere in the Wall O'Text up there.

No worries guys, we in the digital generations have nuked our attention span a looong time ago.

Not a matter of the curvature of the spine Thor, but the sides of the blade. A true mandau has one side of the blade slightly concave and the other side convex. I believe the theory is that this shape aided in the taking of heads. My attention span is just fine, thanks...

Speaking of attention span, still waiting on some more detailed photos...

T. Koch · 24th August 2012, 02:32 AM

Aahaaa...the SIDES of the blades you say! It seems so strange now; Never once when reading it have I imagined that the description was along that axis. It makes so much more sense now. Thanks for explaining that David!

Then this is a parang indeed!

As I tried to ask before, albeit poorly frased was, if the term parang ilang isn't reserved for specimens with the small knife included, the term ilang referring to the small knife itself?

I'll work on the pictures, but I can't promise anything at the moment as I'm in between addresses and all boxed up. I just snapped the above crude ones at work right when it showed up, but I'll look into some better ones asap.

All the best, - Thor

21st August 2012, 11:16 PM	#1
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Actually it's not called a mandau at all if it is Iban, even if concave/convex, but an ilang or parang ilang. Some maybe would like to call it a gayang, but based on the "production date" it is probably more correct to just call it an Iban parang (the generic term). Michael

22nd August 2012, 08:51 PM	#2
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,238	Hello Michael, Thanks, "parang gayang" was indeed the term I was looking for. Why do you feel that the production date influences the name ? Best regards, Willem

22nd August 2012, 09:37 PM	#3
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Willem, It's because I suspect that this parang was made for symbolic use, not actual warfare or as a jungle tool. But that's just my personal principle for classifications of weapons... Michael

22nd August 2012, 10:32 PM	#4
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,238	That is a way of classification that I have seen before. (a infamous balato thread on this forum) So in order too remember the old names, I prefer too collect old examples Indeed this example is probably too recent to be for warfare and too elaborate to be a tool. Ps. still looking foward too some more pictures of the blade

23rd August 2012, 10:26 AM	#5
T. Koch Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Mother North Posts: 189	Thanks for all the info guys! The spine is indeed concave - as I believe I pointed out in my first post somewhere in the Wall O'Text up there. No worries guys, we in the digital generations have nuked our attention span a looong time ago. I have no doubt that the blade has been used for practical tasks over a longer period. The angle and diversity of the micro-scratches are consistent with the ones I for instance have made over the years on my own field-panga or seen on other choppers still in use. There are likewise visible signs of sharpening, dulling and chipping of the edge etc. As per your suggestions, I will take closeups of the handle thread, the ricasso area, the fullers and the carvings on the scabbard and be back. Thank you to all who've commented - you guys are great! All the best, - Thor

24th August 2012, 02:32 AM	#7
T. Koch Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Mother North Posts: 189	Aahaaa...the SIDES of the blades you say! It seems so strange now; Never once when reading it have I imagined that the description was along that axis. It makes so much more sense now. Thanks for explaining that David! Then this is a parang indeed! As I tried to ask before, albeit poorly frased was, if the term parang ilang isn't reserved for specimens with the small knife included, the term ilang referring to the small knife itself? I'll work on the pictures, but I can't promise anything at the moment as I'm in between addresses and all boxed up. I just snapped the above crude ones at work right when it showed up, but I'll look into some better ones asap. All the best, - Thor