Mandau With Questions

[Dajak]

Hi Robert the style of the hilt is not old style always difficult to date piece from photo but maybe 1970/1980.

If heads where taking there are signs on the blade .....to recognise this is one of the things what I learned on my trip in Kalimantan last year living with the Bahau people in the Kampung Long Tuyo hunting with them....and where my friend Frans ( he did invite me to make the trip on the Mahakam about 950 km long on the river visiting Kampung overthere) did make it possible that they adopted me overthere where I get my dayak name also.

Here an pic of an old style Handle this one was taken in the 1930 from Borneo.

Laong Kawit

[asomotif]

Hello Robert,

I guess (hope) you did not pay a huge amount when buying without knowledge from fuzzy pictures

The scabbard is indeed very plain, this is not always an indication of age.
But this scabbard I would guess to be 2nd half 20th century.

The blade is also very plain, but than again, I have seen mid 19th century blades that where very plain as well. If this blade was well maintained I would not be surprised if it was around 1900. It can be more recent for sure.
But the lack of decoration is not the only age indicator imo.
This blade was definately made to be used. For work and if needed for battle.
As for the crude finish of the concave side. I am posting one of my mandau's
,not a recent piece imo, but also with a unusual and crude concave side.

The handle. that is a real puzzle. The "monkeys" are unusual. I sooner would think they represent the aso / dog. The style is unusual, but I don't use the terms "old style / new style". I really don't see the point of comparing this handle to one of an over the top decorated handle from the 1930's. the craftmaship of the carver can not be the only age indicator.
The rattan on the handle looks rather old and elaborate. based on that I would age the handle pre ww2.
The resin (structure of the surface) on the handle also looks old and authentic.
However, the shape/size of the resin is unusual. this section is very large.
Also the angle between handle an blade looks a bit out of line. And the heavy blade with the small handle are a bit to far out of proportion imo.

Could it be that the blade and handle where fitted recently


Where did you buy this blade from ? Indonesia / Malaysia ?

Best regards,
Willem

[Robert]

First thank you all for the information, the photos for comparison and your thoughts on this piece. After my misadventure in purchasing the two VOC swords a few years ago I have tried to be much more careful when purchasing something I am not at all familiar with from fuzzy photos. I should have given the measurements of this sword in my original description and they are:
Total length 26-1/8 inches
Blade length 21-1/4 inches
Blade thickness at hilt is slightly over 1/4 inch
Blade at widest point 1-13/16 inches
Blade width at hilt 13/16
Hilt 4-7/8 inches
The seller who lives in Florida here in the U.S. really offered little information on this piece neither in the auction description or when I contacted him about it before the auction closed. The only information of any real value I received from him was after I had won the piece when he warned me to be very careful when removing the blade from the sheath to avoid being cut. I had sent him another message a few days ago asking for any other information such as how long he had owned this item and how he had originally come to own it, but have yet to hear back from him. The only marks on this blade are on the spine right before it starts dropping to form the tip. I wasn't sure if these marks were intentionally made or were just damage from something striking the blade in that area. I have added the best photo I could take of these marks and a few of the hilt wrapping. These once again had to be taken indoors under inadequate lighting. I do not believe that the hilt to blade fitting is a resent marriage, but from what I can tell I believe they have been together for quite an amount of years. Thank you all once again for your help. I hope that this latest information and photos will be of some help.

Best Regards,
Robert

[asomotif]

Hello Robert,

The resin looks old and authentic indeed.
Not a recent marriage imo.

small decorations on the spine are good. You can find them in all kinds of variations. I dont think they are damage but intended decoration.

Looks like a good ol mandau in a more recent scabbard. nice find

best regards,
Willem

[Robert]

Thank you for your thoughts and opinion on the hilt and other aspects of this piece Willem. They like all the other replies that have been posted so far are greatly appreciated. It has been suggested to me by a very good friend that this mandau could possibly have been made by the Kutai people, but he was not positive. Would anyone else care to give an opinion on who it was that made this as well as the possible age of this piece? As this is very possibly the only mandau that I will ever have in my collection (unless I win the lottery) I am looking forward to hearing any additional information or opinions that anyone would care to offer on it.

Best,
Robert

[Sajen]

Hello Robert,

a very good buy! It look much better as on the auction pictures. And it seems to be a fairly old one. Also better to have a more recent scabbard with it as no scabbard. I really like your mandau, special by the price you paid for it!

Best regards,
Detlef

[Dajak]

Hi here I found one with similair blade this is the old style how an Mandau looks like.

The one Willem shows maybe same period as yours Robert.

Dajak