PAKARANG KALAMANTAN ( BORNEO BLADES ):

[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

[Athanase]

I agree with Detlef, for me is Toraja sword. The scabbard and handle (rare model) are typical.

[kai]

Hello Séverin & Detlef,

I sure can see where you're coming from!

However, neither the hilt nor the scabbard are really "typical" Toraja (especially the widening at the scabbard mouth which seems to be more a trait of Sulawesi Selantan).

Anyway, Banjar - a classic cultural melting pot - has seen a lot of influx from Gowa, especially, as well as other kingdoms and principalities on southwestern Sulawesi. Thus, it can be really tough to differentiate between imported pieces and those originating from there.

Having stipulated all that, I'd also like to hear from AM what positively identifies this style as being of Banjar origin!

Regards,
Kai

[kai]

Here's another example of this style for comparison. (Pic courtesy of mandaukudi)

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody!

Please accept my apologies.
At the time of posting, I had done some prior digging for more information on the object. However, I failed to find even a photo of anything similar to the article in question. So I could not make any really satisfactory judgement. It became a toss-up between southern Soelawesi and southern Kalamantan. As the handle most resembled that of a Bandjar hoeloe-boentoet, I took a punt on it and posted to shake the tree.
After posting, I did some more digging and found items which were very similar from southern Soelawesi. As a matter of fact, I found that Arjan had, within the last few days, sold a similar item (as posted by kai).
It appears that this particular hilt-style became ‘extinct’ by the 20thC. Also, such parangs are referred to by more apparently generic names as: alamang, dua lalan, la’bo’ to dolo, la’bo’ pinai, salapu, sonri, sudang, sumara, la'bo' bulange etc.; many relating to place of origin (la’bo’=sword).
So, at this stage, I am still none the wiser regarding the specific names of the hilts or the blades. Thankfully, Soelawesi is not within my area of interest.
It was a good exercise though.
Again, my apologies.



BTW Detlef,

I do not use the term ‘kerekoepang’ (=sun-dried mussels). I find it hard to believe that the 'old people' would’ve coined such a term for the parang.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showt...ght=kerekoepang:
ParangKadjangRoengkoep

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showt...ght=kerekoepang:
ParangBoengkoel

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showt...ght=kerekoepang:
ParangLais

Best,

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody!

Just thought I'd add this Peit (ref. fig.15B) for posterity.

Best,