IT LOOKS LIKE BORNEO WOULD BE THE MOST LIKELY ORIGIN OF THE PARANG/ MANDAU. THE SCABBARD THOUGH PLAIN COMPAIRED TO MANY EXAMPLES HAS A SHAPE TYPICAL OF DAYAK WORK AND THE BLADE ALSO HAS A SHAPE FAVORED BY DAYAKS. THE HANDLE FORM IS A BIT DIFFERENT THAN USUAL BUT CLOSE ENOUGH PERHAPS IT WAS LEFT LIKE THAT TO LEAVE ENOUGH WOOD FOR CARVING BY THE OWNER. IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT A BASIC NEW MANDAU WOULD LOOK LIKE BEFORE IT WAS PERSONALIZED BY ITS OWNER. I HAVE SOMETHING SIMULAR IN MY COLLECTION.
I AM GUESSING BUT I SUSPECT A YOUNG MAN WITH LIMITED MONEY WOULD BUY A PLAIN MANDAU OR BLADE AND PERHAPS CARVE IT HIMSELF OR GET A FRIEND OR RELATIVE TO HELP HIM DECORAT IT PROPERLY LATER. IN LATER TIMES THE CARVING AND FANCY RATTAN WORK WAS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS THEY WERE USED MOSTLY FOR WORK AND OLD TRADITIONS NO LONGER APPLIED AS NO HEADS WERE TO BE TAKEN. JUST AS WE DON'T DECORATE THE AX OR MACHETE WE USE AROUND THE YARD THEY WOULD NOT DECORATE A MANDAU TO BE USED IN MUCH THE SAME WAY.
THEY STILL MAKE THE FANCY CARVED MANDAU WITH FANCY RATTAN WORK BUT TODAY IT IS FOR CEREMONY, PRESENTATION OR TO SELL TO TOURISTS NOT TO CHOP BRUSH. THE EXAMPLE YOU HAVE IS FOR USE AS A TOOL BUT COULD OF COURSE SERVE AS A WEAPON IF NEEDED.
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