I AGREE WITH THE DISCRIPTION ON THE MANDAU IN THE ABOVE PICTURE BUT WOULD POINT OUT THAT IT IS OF MUCH BETTER QUALITY THAN MOST OF THE MANDAU YOU SEE FOR SALE ON EBAY THESE DAYS. MOST HAVE VERY THIN POORLY MADE BLADES LOW QUALITY CARVEING AND NO ATTACHED SHORT HAIR IN DIFFERENT COLOR PATTERNS ON THE SCABBARDS.
A EXAMPLE LIKE THE ONE PICTURED WHILE MADE FOR CEREMONIAL USE OR PRESENTATION HAS A SERVICIBLE BLADE, GOOD CARVEING AND WORKMANSHIP THRU OUT. THEY WERE NOT MADE FOR HEADHUNTING AND DON'T USUALLY DATE TO THAT PERIOD SO WILL NOT APPEAL TO ONE WHO IS ONLY INTERESTED IN THAT PERIOD AND ASPECT BUT ARE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF DAYAK WORKMANSHIP AND ART. MOST OF THE SWORDS SEEN IN THE SHOPS IN KUCHING ARE OF MUCH POORER QUALITY AND ARE FAIRLY RECENT ( SAY WITHIN THE LAST 60 YEARS) BUT THERE ARE SOME STILL BEING MADE THAT HAVE SUPERB WORKMANSHIP AND DON'T LOOK TOURISTY OR NEW BUT THEY ARE FEW AND FAR IN BETWEEN. A COLLECTOR MUST BE VERY KNOWLEGABLE, LUCKY AND HAVE VERY DEEP POCKETS TO COLLECT THE GOOD OLD DAYAK WEAPONS THESE DAYS. I DON'T QUALIFY IN ANY OF THE THREE CATAGORIES SO I MUST BE CONTENT TO LOOK AT THE PICTURES AND THE FEW EXAMPLES I GOT IN THE PAST AND LEARN WHAT I CAN ABOUT THEM.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN INFORMATION ON WHAT TRIBE AND IN WHAT AREA THESE ARE MADE, I DIDN'T SEE ANY FOR SALE IN KUCHING SO SUSPECT IT MAY BE IN THE INDONESIAN PART OF BORNEO.
I WAS ALSO WONDERING WHAT THE PRICE WAS ON THE MANDAU, ARE THEY USING A COMMA WHERE THEY SHOULD USE A DECIMAL POINT 340.00? OR IS THE PRICE OVER 34 THOUSAND USD, IF SO I TOO FEEL VERY SORRY FOR THE BUYER
