Is this a Langgai Tinggang

ariel · 9th November 2021, 11:04 PM

Not my area of interest, so no definitive comments about this particular blade.
Instead I would like to propose a very general comment:
Our mutual interest is " Oriental" weapons. By definition, they were made by individual masters who, unlike European manufacturers, did not have strict standards established by their governmental authorities.
It, therefore, is inevitable that what came out of the smithy was at least a little different every time. The same is true about the place that specialized in handles and in yet another workshop producing scabbards.
I do not think we can ever find a pair of absolutely identical parangs, kastanes, khandas or pulwars. IMHO, if we do, it might be a telltale sign of late manufacture under governmental regulation.

Again IMHO: what really counts is the general gestalt. We can quibble about subtle differences and think about intermixes with other forms, but as a rule tulwar is tulwar is tulwar.

9th November 2021, 11:04 PM	#7
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Not my area of interest, so no definitive comments about this particular blade. Instead I would like to propose a very general comment: Our mutual interest is " Oriental" weapons. By definition, they were made by individual masters who, unlike European manufacturers, did not have strict standards established by their governmental authorities. It, therefore, is inevitable that what came out of the smithy was at least a little different every time. The same is true about the place that specialized in handles and in yet another workshop producing scabbards. I do not think we can ever find a pair of absolutely identical parangs, kastanes, khandas or pulwars. IMHO, if we do, it might be a telltale sign of late manufacture under governmental regulation. Again IMHO: what really counts is the general gestalt. We can quibble about subtle differences and think about intermixes with other forms, but as a rule tulwar is tulwar is tulwar.