My first MANDAU

Henk · 5th June 2006, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

1. could use pitch
2. could use epoxy
3. could use epoxy and a small wooden plug in the middle of the hair

I have used #2 with great success and a lot of hair.

Battara, on the hilt or on your head??

Mark · 5th June 2006, 05:58 PM

That looks like a nice example. From what I have heard, it is very rare to find the by-knife, as they are considered more important to the owners due to their being used to clean & prepare the taken heads (rather than just take them).

I have to admit that there is something very creepy to me about mandaus. It can't be just the head-hunting thing. Maybe it is the decoration of the carving.

Dajak · 5th June 2006, 08:42 PM

The by knife they use for carving and split rattan

Damar hars can be get at an store for painting supply for oilpainting

Valjhun · 6th June 2006, 12:47 PM

Yes, verry creepy indeed. I was always wondering ir the hilt is made from, ehm, human bone?

VANDOO · 6th June 2006, 03:47 PM

THE TWO MOST COMMON MATERIALS USED TO CARVE DAYAK SWORD HANDLES ARE WOOD AND DEER ANTLER. I HAVE HEARD THAT HUMAN BONE WAS SOMETIMES USED BUT HAVE NOT SEEN AN EXAMPLE THAT COULD BE PROVED, OTHER BONES FROM LARGE ANIMALS COULD HAVE BEEN USED AS WELL. I HAVE NOT SEEN A HANDLE CARVED OUT OF WATER BUFFALOW HORN WHICH IS SURPRIZING AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE BY TRADE IF NOT FOUND LOCALLY IN BORNEO. HORN WAS USED IN QUITE A FEW COUNTRYS IN THE REGION BUT PERHAPS THE DAYAKS FOUND IT UNDESIRABLE FOR SOME REASON.

OTHER BONES AND HORN WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN FOUND IN THAT AREA OF THE WORLD WITH BELIEVED MAGICAL POWER WOULD HAVE BEEN TIGER, ELEPHANT, RHINO,SEA MAMMALS,BEAR, CROCODILE AND POSSIBLY LARGE APES.
SOME ANIMALS WERE CONSIDERED SACRED, TABOO, BAD LUCK OR EVIL BY DIFFERENT TRIBES SO WERE NEVER USED OR HUNTED AND AVIODED ENTIRELY.

Henk · 6th June 2006, 06:30 PM

The only thing I can add at Vandoo's comment is that the hair on mandaus is human either. The hair is, mostly colored or not, from goats.

Dajak · 9th June 2006, 05:08 PM

I have one handle that is from human bone very rare but see more than one with human bone

It has also witchcraft signs on the blade I never see that before

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5th June 2006, 05:58 PM	#2
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	That looks like a nice example. From what I have heard, it is very rare to find the by-knife, as they are considered more important to the owners due to their being used to clean & prepare the taken heads (rather than just take them). I have to admit that there is something very creepy to me about mandaus. It can't be just the head-hunting thing. Maybe it is the decoration of the carving.

5th June 2006, 08:42 PM	#3
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	The by knife they use for carving and split rattan Damar hars can be get at an store for painting supply for oilpainting

6th June 2006, 12:47 PM	#4
Valjhun Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 692	Yes, verry creepy indeed. I was always wondering ir the hilt is made from, ehm, human bone?

6th June 2006, 03:47 PM	#5
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THE TWO MOST COMMON MATERIALS USED TO CARVE DAYAK SWORD HANDLES ARE WOOD AND DEER ANTLER. I HAVE HEARD THAT HUMAN BONE WAS SOMETIMES USED BUT HAVE NOT SEEN AN EXAMPLE THAT COULD BE PROVED, OTHER BONES FROM LARGE ANIMALS COULD HAVE BEEN USED AS WELL. I HAVE NOT SEEN A HANDLE CARVED OUT OF WATER BUFFALOW HORN WHICH IS SURPRIZING AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE BY TRADE IF NOT FOUND LOCALLY IN BORNEO. HORN WAS USED IN QUITE A FEW COUNTRYS IN THE REGION BUT PERHAPS THE DAYAKS FOUND IT UNDESIRABLE FOR SOME REASON. OTHER BONES AND HORN WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN FOUND IN THAT AREA OF THE WORLD WITH BELIEVED MAGICAL POWER WOULD HAVE BEEN TIGER, ELEPHANT, RHINO,SEA MAMMALS,BEAR, CROCODILE AND POSSIBLY LARGE APES. SOME ANIMALS WERE CONSIDERED SACRED, TABOO, BAD LUCK OR EVIL BY DIFFERENT TRIBES SO WERE NEVER USED OR HUNTED AND AVIODED ENTIRELY.

6th June 2006, 06:30 PM	#6
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	The only thing I can add at Vandoo's comment is that the hair on mandaus is human either. The hair is, mostly colored or not, from goats.

9th June 2006, 05:08 PM	#7
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	I have one handle that is from human bone very rare but see more than one with human bone It has also witchcraft signs on the blade I never see that before