Need sword ID help. Really!

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by David

The head is marvellous Bill!
i would agree that the dress makers are very likely the same or related, but these are two very different weapons that i would image had different purposes, whether ritual or otherwise, so the term Ulu may or may not also apply to yours. The term may apply to the dress, but i don't think it applies to the blade.

Hi David,

Certainly the blade shape and probably purpose is different, but the blades have very similar characteristics. The tiny teeth like projections on the cutting edge near the hilts. The possibly talismanic markings on the backs of the blades. Both blades come out the sides of the scabbards.

I'd say that the blades could have been made by the same guy. Certainly the same culture.

Ulu could be "hatchet."

I'd call it a Batak Parang, but I am open to other names and ideas.

[katana]

What a lovely carving .....4 foot tall.......fantastic. Love the sword too.
The functional design of the scabbard seems to allow two things......the scabbard mimics the blade almost exactly.....had it been a normal sheath the 'throat' would have to be quite wide, to allow withdrawal.
It also allows a very 'quick draw' with minimal arm movement.


Solarium......solarium...... here in Britain we're lucky if we even see the sun

[David]

Originally Posted by katana

Solarium......solarium...... here in Britain we're lucky if we even see the sun

"Sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun,
If the sun don't come you get a tan from standing in the English rain..." Lennon

[David]

The other parang on Adni's site also comes out the side of the scabbard and has a shape closer to yours, even thought the choice of dress decoration is different. He refers to that as parang sabit which if i understand his description properly means "top slide" which i suppose refers to the manner in which the blade is removed from the sheath. Maybe if Adni is out there he can shed some light on tese mysteries.

[David]

Originally Posted by Bill Marsh

Ulu could be "hatchet."

I suspect that "ulu" is merely a form of the word "hulu" and in this case is perhaps referring to the dress with it's figurative hilt. Just a thought.

Yeah Tim, i would say that the sheath does appear to be a representation of the naga. Not too surprising in this part of the world i suppose. What kind of elaboration were you looking for?