SWORD FROM BORNEO?
 

THIS IS MY LAST ADQUISITION, A VERY STRONG SWORD, I THINH IS FROM BORNEO, LENGHT OF THE BLADE, 28,5 INC, SCABBARD IS A VERY LIGHT WOOD AND THE BLADE IS VERY THICK, O.4 INCH.
THANKS!!
CARLOS

Good find.

It's an old Parang Pedang. The hilt shows a lot of wear but the rest seems
to be in good shape.

Michael

An nice parang from North Borneo


Ben

Hi Ben and Michael,
Could you elaborate a little on distinguishing characteristics that might define this weapon as indicated or as from particular region.Please note that I am only asking this for the benefit of readers here(myself included:) who are not particularly familiar with these weapons and would benefit greatly from such information. Any information on suggested references would also be extremely helpful.
Thanks very much.
All the best,
Jim

Hi Jim,

Not much is written on the Parang Pedang so here is a short summary of facts and speculations:

The Parang Pedang is found along the NW coast of Borneo and probably is older than several of the other parang there (this is mine and Ben's "non-proven" ideas.
It's described in Shelford's article - A Provisional Classification of the Swords of the Sarawak Tribes - of 1901 as used among Malays and Milanos (=Melanau) and as a mostly agricultural tool (see van Z if you don't have the article).

When you swing one however they seem like a good, long range, fighting sword...

Gardner and other later writers all seem to base their descriptions on Shelford's work.

It's sometimes mistaken, in text, with the Pedang which is a sword resembling the Batak Piso Podang and only used for head hunting.
I haven't found any in Leiden's vast collection so I assume that it wasn't used in Kalimantan (Dutch Borneo)?
In other sources I have found pictures of it being used also by Iban/Sea Dayaks.
The characteristic hilt collar, as well as the blade form, resembles the Pakayun of the Muruts and in my discussions with Ben we suspect that it probably also was used by the neighbouring Murut tribe. Maybe it even was a forerunner, or inspiration, to the Pakayun?
Most of the Parang Pedang I have seen are 19th C or older.

Below are two of mine.

The first one (maybe mid 19th C) looks more like it could be Iban?
The second, and probably oldest (maybe late 18th C?) is unique in that it has a brass hilt.

Michael

Hi Michael,
Thank you so much for the detailed response! It is most helpful to have this information for future reference! These weapons are extremely interesting but the complexities of variation have often seemed somewhat daunting in identification, and the more information presented the better understanding we can all share in studying them.
I have often wondered about the significance of the linear dots along the blade back, has there been any consensus on if any particular meaning is applied? Also it seems some are filled with brass, while some remain simply open dots.
Thanks again,
All the best,
Jim

Hi Jim,

There are several explanations of the dots - all of them talismanic and/or magic depending on which tribe and culture.

Michael

Hi Michael that one with the bronze handle looks like Iban it looks a lot like the it was before the parang niabor and this one does surprise me if it was not end 1700
the other one has same brass collar as we see on the murut swords
so that one maybe used by muruts aera
I see some mandau handle s in bronze



Ben

Hi Ben,

Thanks for your comments.
I find it hard, with such old, and quite rare, swords to be sure from which tribe they might be. None of them have the typical (maybe later?) motifs.
So from Iban to Murut, with Melanau inbetween, are all possible origin.
I hope to find time one day to do some more research on this parang.
Have you found any older sources than Shelford on the Parang Pedang that I didn't mention above?

Michael

Hi Michael not yet it is hard to find we need old pic s that are people on
but hard to get from 1700


Ben