Unusual Sumatran sword, maybe Mandailing?

Dajak · 16th August 2007, 10:35 PM

Hi Michael it looks to me more an malay / borneo influence weapon

can you make an close up just below the hilt off the carving

I did see similar blade in the depot off an museum but no handle on it

Ben

VVV · 16th August 2007, 11:21 PM

Hi Ben,

Here you are.
Have you checked Leiden 769-23?
Do you have any pictures or references of the blade you had in mind from Borneo?
Was it a Parang Bedak blade without a hilt?

Michael

RSWORD · 17th August 2007, 02:16 AM

Michael,

Yes, a few of us did get the opportunity to see and handle this beaut at the Baltimore show. It is really a lovely piece and one of superior quality throughout.

Dajak · 17th August 2007, 08:14 AM

Hi Michael is that an coin under the handle we see this a lot in Borneo the motif under the handle I never did see that used in Sumatra .
I will go back to the museum as soon as I have time to make an full picture.

If you visit the Netherlands I can take you to this museum depot that closed in 2004 .
It has an old collection never see weapons like it before.

VVV · 17th August 2007, 08:28 AM

Rick and Ben,

Yes this sword has a very nice weapon feeling.

Ben, no coin under the handle on mine as sometimes found on the Dayak parang.
Which one on the picture has common features like my sword?
The motif is found in f.i. Aceh aka three intertwined ropes (see f.i. B Leigh p. 82)
Thanks for the invitation to visit the museum depot with you as well as eat some good Surinam food.
I e-mail you when I find a date to come down to Holland.

Michael

Dajak · 17th August 2007, 09:08 AM

Hi Michael the one in the front with out the handle has same blade shape .
And yes youre also invited also to eat some Surinaams food .

Ben

VVV · 17th August 2007, 09:19 AM

Hi Ben,

To see the blade shape of that sword for me is just as difficult as for you to see that it isn't a coin under the hilt - pictures you know...

I can't see the characteristic protrusions close to the hilt or the form of the tip.
Do you have more pictures of it or should we have a close look when I visit you?

Michael

16th August 2007, 11:21 PM	#2
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Hi Ben, Here you are. Have you checked Leiden 769-23? Do you have any pictures or references of the blade you had in mind from Borneo? Was it a Parang Bedak blade without a hilt? Michael Attached Images Last edited by VVV; 16th August 2007 at 11:32 PM.

17th August 2007, 08:14 AM	#4
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	Hi Michael is that an coin under the handle we see this a lot in Borneo the motif under the handle I never did see that used in Sumatra . I will go back to the museum as soon as I have time to make an full picture. If you visit the Netherlands I can take you to this museum depot that closed in 2004 . It has an old collection never see weapons like it before. Attached Images

16th August 2007, 10:35 PM	#1
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	Hi Michael it looks to me more an malay / borneo influence weapon can you make an close up just below the hilt off the carving I did see similar blade in the depot off an museum but no handle on it Ben

17th August 2007, 02:16 AM	#3
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,086	Michael, Yes, a few of us did get the opportunity to see and handle this beaut at the Baltimore show. It is really a lovely piece and one of superior quality throughout.

17th August 2007, 08:28 AM	#5
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Rick and Ben, Yes this sword has a very nice weapon feeling. Ben, no coin under the handle on mine as sometimes found on the Dayak parang. Which one on the picture has common features like my sword? The motif is found in f.i. Aceh aka three intertwined ropes (see f.i. B Leigh p. 82) Thanks for the invitation to visit the museum depot with you as well as eat some good Surinam food. I e-mail you when I find a date to come down to Holland. Michael

17th August 2007, 09:08 AM	#6
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	Hi Michael the one in the front with out the handle has same blade shape . And yes youre also invited also to eat some Surinaams food . Ben

17th August 2007, 09:19 AM	#7
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Hi Ben, To see the blade shape of that sword for me is just as difficult as for you to see that it isn't a coin under the hilt - pictures you know... I can't see the characteristic protrusions close to the hilt or the form of the tip. Do you have more pictures of it or should we have a close look when I visit you? Michael