You are lucky to already have recieved your book.
I am still waiting for mine.
It's quite common to see Iban with a Piso Podang in old pictures.
I have noticed that usually the Iban version is shorter than the Batak and also that the top of the hilt (pommel) is not open like usually the Batak version.
So far I haven't heard anything other than speculations on why the same sword occurs in two different places and cultures.
I assume that from the beginning it's influenced by the Portuguese swords?
And the Ibans is probably the Dayak tribe who had most contact with other cultures?
I don't remember the source but I think I have read somewhere that they stopped in Sumatra when migrating from China to Borneo (Mjöberg maybe?).
Look forward to read the input from the other members of this list.
Michael
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