Odd keris Mandau??

Cakszz · 22nd January 2014, 04:01 AM

Hi guys,

Need some enlightenment, one of my friend in Central Kalimantan, showed me his family heirloom weapons - (Still want to know how many generation possessed it), the hilt is Mandau but oddly the blade like is keris-like? Does anyone know in any literature mention this type of Mandau or Keris?

Andrew · 22nd January 2014, 08:20 PM

Better photos and some measurements would help you generate responses.

David · 22nd January 2014, 08:31 PM

I agree with Andrew that it would be hard to say much based upon these fuzzy images.
Frm what i can tell the hilt seems to have some age though it seems unlikely it was originally married to this blade. But then, you never know…

Just a note: a wavy blade is not an indication of a keris. In fact the majority of keris tend to be straight bladed.

VANDOO · 23rd January 2014, 04:24 AM

THE TOP OF THE BLADE LACKS ALL THE CUT OUTS AND FILE WORK AND IS THE SAME WIDTH AS THE BLADE. TO ME THAT ELIMINATES KERIS OR KRIS AND JUST MAKES IT A WAVEY BLADE. I CAN'T TELL IF THE BLADE TEXTURE IS MADE LIKE THE MALAY KERIS OR LIKE THE MORO KRIS FROM THE PICTURES. I WOULD CLASSIFY THIS NOT AS A KERIS/KRIS BUT AS A WAVEY BLADE WITH A MANDAU HANDLE. IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE THE QUALITY OF THE BLADE IN GOOD PICTURES.

Cakszz · 23rd January 2014, 05:26 AM

All I am sorry for the image quality, as he is in the village, I am not in Borne=o currently so very limited of good camera quality.. I'll try to get its dimension.. This was from his great grandfather .. so at lest in early 19th century.. according to his story this was not used to kill someone but more for protection and ritual..

kai · 23rd January 2014, 08:30 AM

Thanks for showing this rare sword! Any more details (and better pics whenever you get a chance to take them or have them taken) would be much appreciated.

I can't remember seeing something like this in the literature nor musea; I agree that this is not a keris (nor a mandau) while the idea of a waved blade may very well come from contacts with keris-bearing cultures. I do hope our Borneo specialist will chime in...

Quote:

This was from his great grandfather .. so at lest in early 19th century..

4 generations would make it at least early 20th century (19xx).

What Ngaju (sub)tribe is this sword coming from?

Regards,
Kai

asomotif · 23rd January 2014, 09:52 PM

Hello Cakszz,

Thank you for posting an interesting weapon again.

I have never seen a similar combi of a waved blade and a mandau hilt before. Also i don't recall seeing anything like it in old drawings and pictures.

However, with personalised handmade weapons there are patterns, but no rules.For ceremionial use I can imagine that one would choose an extraordinairy blade and than fit it with a hilt that feels right.

I am sure that a lot of us would love good pictures of the blade trying to determine its origin. Maybe it came to central Kalimantan trough trade. But from where ?

Best regards,
Willem

22nd January 2014, 04:01 AM	#1
Cakszz Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Balikpapan, Indonesia Posts: 31	Odd keris Mandau?? Hi guys, Need some enlightenment, one of my friend in Central Kalimantan, showed me his family heirloom weapons - (Still want to know how many generation possessed it), the hilt is Mandau but oddly the blade like is keris-like? Does anyone know in any literature mention this type of Mandau or Keris? Attached Images

22nd January 2014, 08:20 PM	#2
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Better photos and some measurements would help you generate responses.

22nd January 2014, 08:31 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,123	I agree with Andrew that it would be hard to say much based upon these fuzzy images. Frm what i can tell the hilt seems to have some age though it seems unlikely it was originally married to this blade. But then, you never know… Just a note: a wavy blade is not an indication of a keris. In fact the majority of keris tend to be straight bladed.

23rd January 2014, 04:24 AM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THE TOP OF THE BLADE LACKS ALL THE CUT OUTS AND FILE WORK AND IS THE SAME WIDTH AS THE BLADE. TO ME THAT ELIMINATES KERIS OR KRIS AND JUST MAKES IT A WAVEY BLADE. I CAN'T TELL IF THE BLADE TEXTURE IS MADE LIKE THE MALAY KERIS OR LIKE THE MORO KRIS FROM THE PICTURES. I WOULD CLASSIFY THIS NOT AS A KERIS/KRIS BUT AS A WAVEY BLADE WITH A MANDAU HANDLE. IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE THE QUALITY OF THE BLADE IN GOOD PICTURES.

23rd January 2014, 05:26 AM	#5
Cakszz Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Balikpapan, Indonesia Posts: 31	All I am sorry for the image quality, as he is in the village, I am not in Borne=o currently so very limited of good camera quality.. I'll try to get its dimension.. This was from his great grandfather .. so at lest in early 19th century.. according to his story this was not used to kill someone but more for protection and ritual..

23rd January 2014, 09:52 PM	#7
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Hello Cakszz, Thank you for posting an interesting weapon again. I have never seen a similar combi of a waved blade and a mandau hilt before. Also i don't recall seeing anything like it in old drawings and pictures. However, with personalised handmade weapons there are patterns, but no rules.For ceremionial use I can imagine that one would choose an extraordinairy blade and than fit it with a hilt that feels right. I am sure that a lot of us would love good pictures of the blade trying to determine its origin. Maybe it came to central Kalimantan trough trade. But from where ? Best regards, Willem