Different Borneo sword

[VVV]

Back to the Roy's parang again...
Tonight I had a meeting with two quite experienced Borneo collectors handling and discussing some 40 - 50 different kind of Dayak parang, mostly from Sarawak and Sabah.
We also discussed the square holes that we found on several of them. Quite often they were found on hilts from the Baram river in Sarawak and sometimes on hilts we attributed to Dusun much further North in Sabah. The sample is of course much too small for anything else than vague indications. Some had hair in them, some had not.
One of the collectors (he is not active on this forum and he is in my opinion one of the top in understanding the finer details of Dayak motifs on swords and shields and how they are done) suggested that a square hole better locks a hair plug in place than a round hole. I am not a very handy guy myself but to me that sounded reasonable.

Michael

[Royston]

Back home at last and here are some more photos.
If the end has been shortened it has been done well as there is a slight " step" still visible.
Is it possible that the blade was fixed to the hilt in the usual manor and someone in the past has cleaned off all the extra gum ?

Roy

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by Royston

Back home at last and here are some more photos.
If the end has been shortened it has been done well as there is a slight " step" still visible.
Is it possible that the blade was fixed to the hilt in the usual manor and someone in the past has cleaned off all the extra gum ?

Roy

Hi Roy, Welcome home!
Yes it's done very well, but I stick with my first impression it had been shortened once because one of another reason, but a long, long time ago.

About the fixed hilt: Usually the handle had a big round hole.
They heated up the "kemalau" / "getah percha" which is a kind of resin.
When it was getting fluid, they filled the big hole in the handle with it.
Thereafter they sticked the tang of the blade firmly into the (still fluid) resin.
After hardening, this substance causes a firm connection between the blade and the handle.

The hilt than was wrapped with ratan fiber or metal wire (brass/silver).
The transition between hilt and blade usually was accomodated with a resin ring (sometimes also made from horn, silver or brass instead of resin).
Never have seen it from wood, till now......
Can you have a look if you can see this piece of wood at the transition is a loose part, or is it carved in one piece with the handle?

Maurice

[Royston]

Hello Maurice

It is one piece, carved with the handle.

Roy

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by Royston

It is one piece, carved with the handle.

Thanks Roy.
All I can add is that I've never have seen it before.


Maurice