Malay sword???
 

This one just ended. Is this a Malay sword?? I have never seen a blade like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN%3AIT&rd=1

It appears to be a variant of the parang nabur. Our Moderator, Rick, has a similar example and you may find pictures of his by searching for parang nabur on this site. Probably from Borneo or Malaysia.

Ian.

I was also watching that sword and even recieved some close up pictures.

At first I thought it was a Parang Nabur but the sheath really made me hesitate.
I have seen several variations of Naburs but never with a sheath like that.
The sheats of the 50+ Naburs I have documented all have a round end and several horisontal bands.
Also the "hook" on the blade, close to the guard, looks a bit strange compared to the "regular" Nabur hook variations (if any)?

Is there any possibility that it could be some other kind of sabre from another region?

Michael

Parang nabur
 

There is a nice thread on parang nabur with pictures here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=692

Dajak attached a picture of several of these swords, with the fourth example having an all brass hilt. You can see that picture here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/attach...tid=3618&stc=1

The blade on the one that sold recently on eBayis unusual, but I think it still falls into the general style of the parang nabur. The scabbard is also unusual, as Michael noted, but may be a regional variant or a later marriage.

Looking through v. Zonneveld, I don't see anything else resembling this sword.

Ian.

Ian,

Thanks for the links and your input.
Dajak's Jimpul picture illustrates very well what the (single) hook usually looks like (if there is any).
All brass hilts on Naburs is not that uncommon.
What's most unusual with this sword is the scabbard, as I wrote earlier.
I doubt it's a regional variation but it could of course be a later marriage, as you suggested, and if so matched probably outside Borneo?

Doesn't there exist any kind of sword, outside Indonesia/Malaysia/Brunei, that resembles a Nabur?

Michael

Might I suggest an European influence in the scabbard throat and chape. The general shape and form of the chape reminds me of European Naval examples of the early to mid-19th century.

I had a look in the Dutch Klewang book (Dutch Army, not Indonesian, Klewangs) and they had resembling scabbards.
Like RS, and indirectly Ian, suggests the scabbard at least is probably European or European influenced.

Michael

Here is another one: much higher quality but I like the first one better.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

I also like the other blade version better but the pommel is more rare on this version. The guard is a bit unusual.

Michael

Hi this is an parang nabur it is an malay sword that was also used by the seadajaks off Borneo