Another Most Interesting Parang Nabur/Beladah Belabang

Tim Simmons · 5th June 2008, 05:12 PM

Very nice sword. Would this be used from horse back? Does anybody have info on mounted warfare/warriors in South East Asia?

Tim Simmons · 5th June 2008, 06:45 PM

An organised cavalry is clearly not unusual in South East Asia. This picture is mid 20th century. I only have it because I make a lot of horses so I gathered a few horse picture books.

So are these long saber weapon used from horse back? Many may be infantry wewapons. I ask this because I have this weapon-
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=long+piso
-which is really far too long and flexable as an infantry weapon being a 1795 pattern French dragoon saber. The inscription on the back appears to be the first line when you scroll down to- ca 1806 French of Napoleon1 at this site-
http://users.skynet.be/euro-swords/klingenthal.htm
So I would like to know more about cavalry in this region?

VVV · 5th June 2008, 08:36 PM

Hello Tim,

I also first thought the long BBs might be like a cavalry sword.
But unlike the famous horsemen of Sumba the Malays on the Borneo south coast (around Banjarmasin) didn't use cavalry.
However they of course had horses for individual transportation.
The famous horseman of Borneo are the Bajau in NW Borneo (Sabah), but they don't use the Beladah Belabang.
The Sumba horsemen use their spears when on the horseback, even if they also carry short swords, the Kabeala.

Michael

Mytribalworld · 5th June 2008, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VVV

Hello Tim,

I also first thought the long BBs might be like a cavalry sword.
But unlike the famous horsemen of Sumba the Malays on the Borneo south coast (around Banjarmasin) didn't use cavalry.
However they of course had horses for individual transportation.
The famous horseman of Borneo are the Bajau in NW Borneo (Sabah), but they don't use the Beladah Belabang.
The Sumba horsemen use their spears when on the horseback, even if they also carry short swords, the Kabeala.

Michael

see for examle http://images.google.nl/imgres?imgur...NL266%26sa%3DN

About the long swords I think in our western opinion a superb long sword has to be made for some handy reason , like cavalry or extra strong slashing or so.But in the eyes of animistic and superstitious people the bigger sized swords may be just used for his enourmous size and so the power whats in it.
Swords in their culture doesn't play only a role in warfare but also in rituals and just as images of power.
Arjan

VVV · 6th June 2008, 09:16 AM

Arjan,

Thanks for a good explanation. Actually extremely oversized swords are found in classic European regalia too as power symbols.
And animism, as well as superstition, I think could be found among all human, or visible, people.

Michael

Royston · 8th June 2008, 05:35 PM

Charles,

I also have a liking for these and have quite a few.

Rumour has it that everything is bigger in the States but perhaps this time we win !!!!!

However, This is the largest that I have seen. No scabbard unfortunately. Please forgive the poor photograph, I know it is unusual in England but the big yellow thing in the sky is out at the moment making it hard to get decent photos.

Cheers
Royston

CharlesS · 8th June 2008, 06:57 PM

Royston, that's a lovely example with a deep curve and very similar blade style. I like the chieselling and the fetish cartouche.

Seems the blade tip is almsot identical to mine.

Thanks for sharing.

5th June 2008, 06:45 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Could we widen this thread? An organised cavalry is clearly not unusual in South East Asia. This picture is mid 20th century. I only have it because I make a lot of horses so I gathered a few horse picture books. So are these long saber weapon used from horse back? Many may be infantry wewapons. I ask this because I have this weapon- http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=long+piso -which is really far too long and flexable as an infantry weapon being a 1795 pattern French dragoon saber. The inscription on the back appears to be the first line when you scroll down to- ca 1806 French of Napoleon1 at this site- http://users.skynet.be/euro-swords/klingenthal.htm So I would like to know more about cavalry in this region? Attached Images

8th June 2008, 05:35 PM	#6
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	IS MINE BIGGER THAN YOURS ? Charles, I also have a liking for these and have quite a few. Rumour has it that everything is bigger in the States but perhaps this time we win !!!!! However, This is the largest that I have seen. No scabbard unfortunately. Please forgive the poor photograph, I know it is unusual in England but the big yellow thing in the sky is out at the moment making it hard to get decent photos. Cheers Royston Attached Images

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

5th June 2008, 05:12 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Very nice sword. Would this be used from horse back? Does anybody have info on mounted warfare/warriors in South East Asia?

5th June 2008, 08:36 PM	#3
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Hello Tim, I also first thought the long BBs might be like a cavalry sword. But unlike the famous horsemen of Sumba the Malays on the Borneo south coast (around Banjarmasin) didn't use cavalry. However they of course had horses for individual transportation. The famous horseman of Borneo are the Bajau in NW Borneo (Sabah), but they don't use the Beladah Belabang. The Sumba horsemen use their spears when on the horseback, even if they also carry short swords, the Kabeala. Michael

6th June 2008, 09:16 AM	#5
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Arjan, Thanks for a good explanation. Actually extremely oversized swords are found in classic European regalia too as power symbols. And animism, as well as superstition, I think could be found among all human, or visible, people. Michael

8th June 2008, 06:57 PM	#7
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Royston, that's a lovely example with a deep curve and very similar blade style. I like the chieselling and the fetish cartouche. Seems the blade tip is almsot identical to mine. Thanks for sharing.