PAKARANG KALAMANTAN ( BORNEO BLADES ):

[Amuk Murugul]

Originally Posted by Ian

Thank you Amuk. Very useful reference. Are the primary names you use Dutch or local terms?

Ian

Hullo Ian,
The primary names are 'local'.
As you can appreciate, as there is such a plethora of languages/dialects etc., two adjacent villages on the same river bank may not understand each other's native speech and also, there may be different terms for the same item even by people of the same ethnic group but of a different location.
I have chosen the terms I am most comfortable with and left any other terms as 'Tags' (probably the most annoying thing is my system of spelling; however, it suits me very well ).
Best

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody,

I haven’t, as yet, posted about that most iconic/well-recognized of Kalimantan’s bush-knives, now generally referred to as ’mandaw / mandau'.
As there are quite a large number of variations of this blade, I thought a brief explanation and a diagram (which I have reconstructed from one I made many moons ago as a memory/communication aid) may be more useful.

Best,


Doekoeh / dukuh :

As people’s swiddens were often some distance away from the settlement, they sometimes constructed huts on their swiddens, where, during their working day, they could rest, have meals, take shelter and on occasions, stay overnight. These huts were known as ‘doekoeh’. The daily tools they used on the swidden became generally known as ‘doekoeh’, particularly the ‘chopper/bush-knife’, which rarely left their side.
(Variation in spelling: duku’, duku, duko etc.)

Mandaw / mandau :

The word originated in central Kalamantan, from an ancient language formerly spoken by a few groups ( such as the Ngadjoe / Biadjoe) but now confined to a small group of individuals . It defined the dual function of the blade: as a daily tool and as an instrument of war.
Mandaws were usually stored in their (communal) houses and only brought out for war or for defence (of the community). They were regarded as sacred objects whose perceived power increased with the prowess ( spiritual/mystical ) of the owner. In time, these objects were handed down and became sacred heirlooms, thus adding to their aura/mystique.
When a pair of blades were made, one was designated ‘female’ and the other ‘male’, with the female one usually being slightly shorter. Male blades were taken to war, while female ones remained for the protection of family/home and ceremonies/rituals.

Not all people had a mandaw as well as a doekoeh. Indeed, sometimes the mandaw and the doekoeh were one and the same. Thus a doekoeh, under the right circumstances, could become a mandaw.
In the beginning, individuals made their own implements; but as settlements grew in size, this was carried out by a local smith.

Today, ‘mandaw’ is accepted as referring to any iconic blade which represents a group’s identity.

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody!

Just like to share this ‘memory aid’ and some examples.

Best,

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody,

..... a couple of not-so-usual karit .....

Best,

14A. KARIT BADAW / BADAU

Blade: LxOALxWxT=54x68x1.98x1.10cm. Both sides: Posterior-fretwork along last 3rd. of blade; posterior twin-grooves from fretwork to bottom-end of shoulder; scrollwork on shoulder-sides.

Handle: Wood, toenan(short-handle), gegkem belawan(metal-grip), oeloeh teloengan betjoek(pitcher-pommel).

Wt: 755g.


14B. KARIT ILANG

Blade: LxOALxWxT=56x69x1.55x0..98cm.

Handle: Wood, toenan, gegkem belawan, oeloeh teloengan betjoek.

Wt: 530g.

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody,

Photo of rather uncommon knives for sharing.
Enjoy!

15A. PINGELANIT

Desc: Joeoe lanit KELABIT HIGHLANDS
Blade: LxOALxWxT=23.5x34x2.02x0.51xcm.
Handle: Kajoeh(wood), toenan, gegkem belanga’, oeloeh boesak doeeh.
Wt: 160g.


15B. PEIT

Desc: Peit KOETEI
Blade: LxOALxWxT=13x24x2.18x0.65cm.
Handle: Buffalo-horn().
Wt: 110g.

Best,

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo all!

Just an addition.

PARANG KAMOEDI SINGKIR
Desc: Parang Kamoedi Singkir BANDJAR (Southern Kalamantan) .
Blade: LxOALxWxT=46x58x2.4x0.7cm. Both sides slightly concave.
Handle: Horn Boentoet Hajam Djagau w/ carved vegetal motif. Rotan & yellow-wire bindings.
Wt: 443g.
Sheath: Wood w/ horn chape, rotan bindings and yellow-metal throat enforcer.

[Sajen]

Hello Amuk,

May I ask you if you're referring to the swords which are known under the term parang kerekoepang? See for example here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=kerekoepang & http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=kerekoepang & http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=kerekoepang

If that's the case I have some remarks. I ain't sure about the parang really being from Banjarmasin.
The scabbard is looking very similar to the scabbards we know from the dua lalan swords, the nearly complete wrapping with rotan and the horn foot. The handle show the bands with the typical wickerwork we used to see by Toraja swords. Could it be a parang from Sulawesi which has a similar handle style like we know it by the so called parang kerekoepang?
I've seen your post at this morning on my mobile screen and was by the first view already a little bit doubtfully.
Here some pictures fom a dua lalan from my own collection.

Regards,
Detlef