New Acquisition, Mandau, said to be 1800's

JoeCanada42 · 24th February 2023, 10:13 PM

the blade and markings

still dangerously sharp

JoeCanada42 · 24th February 2023, 10:21 PM

I used a tooth brush and dish soap, then some small amount (all I had) nu finish silver polish , rubbed it on with my fingers,,,, I then scrubbed it with a S.O.S. sponge, the rust on the blade worked itself into a nice rouge paste, red the first time then brown, I washed it with soap after then water then dried it, i then repeated the process for good measure this time with a rag not the sos pad, dried it again, applied vinegar and dried it quickly, didn't treat it long at all with the vinegar, I didn't have any proper wax, I just rubbed it with a tea candle and polished it like a pair of boots.

I read about using vinegar, actually someone recommended it on my Moro sword,,, but I found it was drying up leaving stains
(as for the pommel, I don't even want to remove the cobwebs)

Sajen · 25th February 2023, 11:21 AM

The marking on the blade look to my eyes like it was a marking from the used steel, similar to the marking on one of my mandau blades: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=mandau

Regards,
Detlef

JoeCanada42 · 25th February 2023, 03:28 PM

Thank Sajen for the link and info
now I got to research Long Glat Blades , among Jimpul and more...

any confirmation on my handle being Iban style or?

also I read this by Roland in another thread

A head hunting mandau is thick at the base, sharp, quite heavy, forward balanced, often "decorated" with nicks and has a concave/convex blade. The best head hunting mandau are made from clay tempered, laminated high quality steel with a beautiful hamon.

what nicks are being referred to?? , i got some nicks on surface of my blade...

mine has a similar handle to this one,,
I want to mention the art on this one , to me, looks like a view into an ant farm, like a view through windows into the ant tunnels, possibly depicting a pangolin tongue going through the tunnel. see Jim's Mandau Post recently if you havent for my ideas on these handles

Sajen · 25th February 2023, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeCanada42

Thank Sajen for the link and info
now I got to research Long Glat Blades , among Jimpul and more...

You're welcome! Long Glat was ruled out by my example, I was going by the handle from my example.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeCanada42

any confirmation on my handle being Iban style or?

I am far away from being a Dayak specialist, I prefer to give it to others for the answer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeCanada42

what nicks are being referred to?? , i got some nicks on surface of my blade...

I think Roland referred to nicks in the edge by his example.

Regards,
Detlef

David · 25th February 2023, 04:42 PM

Nice clean up Joe.
I am even more convinced that this blade has been adapted to this form from some other blade and has possibly been reshaped. And from the most recent photos you show i am still not seeing a concave/convex form of blade that is a key design element of the mandau blade.
What convinces me most that this may have started it's life as a different form of sword is the area on the edge side of the blade that remains flat and unsharpened and tapers distally for a fair bit of the length of the blade. I have never seen a mandau with this feature and wonder why they chose not to begin the edge of the blade for such a distance out from the hilt. Because of the way this sword is designed i can almost guarantee it was not used for headhunting and was probably more likely employed for the more common work of jungle clearing.
The letters still intrigue, but since a good part is lost to wear it is difficult to grab any useful information here. It is possible that you might be able to read a bit more of it if you did some kind of rubbing from the surface and then held it up to a mirror.

JoeCanada42 · 25th February 2023, 09:39 PM

Thanks Sajen , David,

I think its possible it could still have been owned by a head hunter at least? I heard they used many blades, and that when European steel became available it was used by choice.

Here is another thought I have been holding in the back of my mind
used as a , Pirate Sword?

Something I just staring researching...
British officer swords circa 1800 carrying this same G mark

24th February 2023, 10:13 PM	#1
JoeCanada42 Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Canada Posts: 259	the blade and markings still dangerously sharp Attached Images

24th February 2023, 10:21 PM	#2
JoeCanada42 Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Canada Posts: 259	I used a tooth brush and dish soap, then some small amount (all I had) nu finish silver polish , rubbed it on with my fingers,,,, I then scrubbed it with a S.O.S. sponge, the rust on the blade worked itself into a nice rouge paste, red the first time then brown, I washed it with soap after then water then dried it, i then repeated the process for good measure this time with a rag not the sos pad, dried it again, applied vinegar and dried it quickly, didn't treat it long at all with the vinegar, I didn't have any proper wax, I just rubbed it with a tea candle and polished it like a pair of boots. I read about using vinegar, actually someone recommended it on my Moro sword,,, but I found it was drying up leaving stains (as for the pommel, I don't even want to remove the cobwebs) Last edited by JoeCanada42; 24th February 2023 at 10:46 PM.

25th February 2023, 11:21 AM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,161	The marking on the blade look to my eyes like it was a marking from the used steel, similar to the marking on one of my mandau blades: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=mandau Regards, Detlef Attached Images

25th February 2023, 03:28 PM	#4
JoeCanada42 Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Canada Posts: 259	Thank Sajen for the link and info now I got to research Long Glat Blades , among Jimpul and more... any confirmation on my handle being Iban style or? also I read this by Roland in another thread A head hunting mandau is thick at the base, sharp, quite heavy, forward balanced, often "decorated" with nicks and has a concave/convex blade. The best head hunting mandau are made from clay tempered, laminated high quality steel with a beautiful hamon. what nicks are being referred to?? , i got some nicks on surface of my blade... mine has a similar handle to this one,, I want to mention the art on this one , to me, looks like a view into an ant farm, like a view through windows into the ant tunnels, possibly depicting a pangolin tongue going through the tunnel. see Jim's Mandau Post recently if you havent for my ideas on these handles Attached Images

25th February 2023, 09:39 PM	#7
JoeCanada42 Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Canada Posts: 259	Thanks Sajen , David, I think its possible it could still have been owned by a head hunter at least? I heard they used many blades, and that when European steel became available it was used by choice. Here is another thought I have been holding in the back of my mind used as a , Pirate Sword? Something I just staring researching... British officer swords circa 1800 carrying this same G mark Last edited by JoeCanada42; 25th February 2023 at 11:04 PM.

25th February 2023, 04:42 PM	#6
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,209	Nice clean up Joe. I am even more convinced that this blade has been adapted to this form from some other blade and has possibly been reshaped. And from the most recent photos you show i am still not seeing a concave/convex form of blade that is a key design element of the mandau blade. What convinces me most that this may have started it's life as a different form of sword is the area on the edge side of the blade that remains flat and unsharpened and tapers distally for a fair bit of the length of the blade. I have never seen a mandau with this feature and wonder why they chose not to begin the edge of the blade for such a distance out from the hilt. Because of the way this sword is designed i can almost guarantee it was not used for headhunting and was probably more likely employed for the more common work of jungle clearing. The letters still intrigue, but since a good part is lost to wear it is difficult to grab any useful information here. It is possible that you might be able to read a bit more of it if you did some kind of rubbing from the surface and then held it up to a mirror.