Formosa Hill Tribe Swords ( for Yuanzhumin )

[Dajak]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Very kind of you Ben but none of the last few post are as convincing as this page of a members rather super web site.
http://www.formosatribal.com/show.php?item_id=69

Hi Tim looks a lot the same

Ben

[Tim Simmons]

This one also, with the same staining to the blade and lack of rattan to the handle.
http://www.formosatribal.com/show.php?item_id=67

[KuKulzA28]

Can you guys tell if this is authentic?

The sheath makes me think Paiwan maybe... to my untrained eyes it seems very similar to these Paiwanese sword examples....




however it lacks that large rectangular piece... not sure, it's perhaps a nice looking but old and broken tourist piece, or an actual Aboriginal blade...

[Tim Simmons]

There is something lacking in the figure carving which makes me thick you have a tourist piece. I have a similar straight blade like that with a plain scabbard, foreign stamped on the blade. Interestingly the blade is good quality well made and sharp. I cannot show it as it lives in the roof space with a few other errors in judgement.

[KuKulzA28]

mmm, you're right about the carving, it does lack a bit in finesse, or at least not the same as you see in Paiwan sheaths usually... perhaps others will speak up about this... but thanks for your help, I agree, it's probably touristy

[Rick]

Is the blade laminated on a core ?
This is older work tourist or not and as such still has value .
I don't think their equal is being produced today .

Our man on the scene would know more about that aspect .

[yuanzhumin]

Hello everybody,
First, I want to thank Tim for mentioning in his posts the link to my collection website (www.formosatribal.com).
Shouldn't there be a picture on the post 28, from Ben ? Tim and Ben are discussing about a sword that I can’t see anywhere in the thread. Did I miss something ?
Lew, your picture is definitely one of Taiwanese aboriginals from the Atayal tribe, in the northern part of the island. Their knives are very similar to the one I display on my website (see the link mentioned by Tim). You’ll have to wait longer to see detailed pictures of Atayal straight blades as I’m away from home for 3 more weeks.
Kukulza 28, the first two knives you have shown in your posts are Taiwanese, yes, but they were commercially made in the 50s/60s to be sold to the American troops stationed in the island. The motives are inspired from the Paiwan but are mixed with an international fusion tribal style. The third knife you displayed is mine and was exhibited last year at the Shisanhang Prehistory Museum, in the Taipei District (www.sshm.tpc.gov.tw).
For the aficionados of Taiwanese tribal/aboriginal art, 4 Paiwan knives (lot 2 and 3) reached a high price at the Sothebys tribal art auction sales of last December. The knives were sold for an average price of more than 5000 euros each.
Yuanzhumin/Nicolas

[kronckew]

Thought I'd ressurect and add to this old comprehensive thread. Comments welcome.
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Recently acquired a modern traditionally made Formosan (Taiwanese) Lalaw.
71 cm. overall in scabbard.
41 cm. blade, 5.5 cm. at widest. Distal tapered spine 6 mm. at grip,3 mm. just behind the point.

Sharp, convex grind. Hammered black forge finish. Through tang peened over pommel cap.
14 cm. grip
460 grams ex. scabbard.
Scabbard & grip is stained/varnished (not opaque painted), reddish, with black stained decorations on scabbard, wood grain shows thru.
Red Bronze (Samrit?) fittings & staples. Braided/spliced (cotton?) baldric.


See also : Preliminary Classification of Taiwanese knives & swords from August 2020.

[Koxinga]

Originally Posted by kronckew

Thought I'd ressurect and add to this old comprehensive thread. Comments welcome.
================================================== ===

See also : Preliminary Classification of Taiwanese knives & swords from August 2020.

Thanks for sharing my article!
I believe the Lalaw you have there was made by Cas Hanwei, modeled after the Seediq slmadac that was used for the movie Seediq Bale:
https://www.caesars.com.sg/fixed-bla...al-sword-.html

As far as I’m aware, Northern indigenous Taiwanese Knives tended to have a single beveled chisel grind, and the hand hammered appearance is more of a modern stylistic choice. The tang is usually bent over rather than peened if it is exposed at all. The fittings should be tied to the holes on the side of the scabbard rather than the top.
The decorated scabbard is rare but not unseen in northern blades.

Hopefully this was helpful

[JeffS]

An antique of that style recently sold at auction (Tully's, described as a Moro barong). I have seen and admired new Atayal blades like yours but had not, until this auction, seen what it was modeled after - with the distinct handle shape and red/black color scheme and designs. I'm still gutted that someone else spotted it and outbid me.

[kronckew]

I saw that one too, went for more money than i could afford.