Another Dayak Sword

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Dinggat

VANDOO, thanks for the answer. It surprises me a bit that this is not an original piece, as the owner was a little wealthier than the average Indonesian and seemed quite proud of his collection. But I trust your expertise no doubt. Maybe he was tricked by the seller himself.

Sajen, you get full resolution if you "click to zoom" on the imageshack website and then save the photo on your harddrive. If you already knew that and ask for even higher resolution, unfortunately no, this is already full resolution. My camera only has 6 Megapixels, which is far below average for 2010 standards, but well, it's all I got.

You can also upload your photos directly to our database for posterity and continuation of the thread's integrity in case they get removed from your hosting site in the future .
We prefer that if possible .

Any questions; feel free to ask .

[Dinggat]

I tried to, but the upload tool says that my pictures exceed the maximum size limit. As I think the bigger the better for seeing details I decided to go with an external hoster instead of resizing.

Thanks at all for those informations. Most welcome

[David]

Originally Posted by Dinggat

I tried to, but the upload tool says that my pictures exceed the maximum size limit. As I think the bigger the better for seeing details I decided to go with an external hoster instead of resizing.

Thanks at all for those informations. Most welcome

This is a misunderstanding about resizing images. File size is not just dependent upon the dimensions of the image, but the resolution size (ppi). Computer screens can't read ppi above 80, so change your resolution to 80ppi and the dimensions to something like 7x10. That will be plenty large for viewing, but still have a file size small enough for the site.
The reason it is not a good idea to use another server for your images is that maybe a year from now it won't be there any more and this thread will no longer have your example to refer too.

[Sajen]

Hello Dingat,

now I understand!

The top sword is from the Timor Islands ( Alor, Pantar, Roti, Savu, Timor and Wetar) and named in the book from Zonneveld type a.

Regards,

Detlef

[Dinggat]

Originally Posted by David

This is a misunderstanding about resizing images. File size is not just dependent upon the dimensions of the image, but the resolution size (ppi). Computer screens can't read ppi above 80, so change your resolution to 80ppi and the dimensions to something like 7x10. That will be plenty large for viewing, but still have a file size small enough for the site.
The reason it is not a good idea to use another server for your images is that maybe a year from now it won't be there any more and this thread will no longer have your example to refer too.

Alright, didn't know that. Yet, there's not only a byte maximum, but also a resolution maximum of 1280x1280.

But your reasoning about this thread staying useful in the future is of course right, so here they are again, as attachments

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Can the parang, despite not being an antique one, be attributed to a certain Dayak subgroup? And what shape do you think the blade has or might have? Same as the one VANDOO posted?

Sajen, thank you. I'll look up that Timorese sword in the Zonneveld book. Fortunately the library where I work has it in their inventory, and I often browse through it when I have nothing to do Luckily enough, no one ever borrowed it...

[asomotif]

The second sword from the top looks like what the Soenda call: Gobang Kalewang. It looks locally-made. If the blade is hand-forged, then it could be an original from circa 1902, probably made in Soerabaja or Soemedang(which, around 1850-1930 was the local "Solingen").

Hello Amuk,
The second from the top is a copy of the 1911 model "Sabel Marechaussee"
So 1902 would be a little premature as a date of manufacture.

Hela Dinngat,
As for the mandau and Timor sword. tourist examples. Can't make it any better. At least I get the impression that they where not offered to you for sale. That is a plus.
Check the search function on "mandau" and check some of the old threads.

Good luck !
Best regards,
Willem

[Dinggat]

Yes, thank you. Mandau is the way to go.

They weren't offered to me for sale, they were in his possession as his private collection, and he just showed them to me for fun.
Sabel Marechaussee was a good keyword. Found lots of pages via Google, among them several threads on Vikingsword Klewang being the Indonesian name for it. Can we be sure it is a copy, judging solely from the two photos?

Edit/ Hehe, just noted somebody has written "DATU" (Malay honorific title) on the Mandau's hilt with a marker pen for whatever reason...

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo Everybody

Originally Posted by Dinggat

.....
Sabel Marechaussee was a good keyword. Found lots of pages via Google, among them several threads on Vikingsword Klewang being the Indonesian name for it. Can we be sure it is a copy, judging solely from the two photos?.....

I've tried to get a better look at the pictures.

First of all, my apologies for a typo. The year of manufacture I was referring to in my initial reply was circa 1909, NOT circa 1902.

WRT the photos.... too many uncertainties...
For instance, from the angle:
The tang screw appears smaller than normal... but is it so?
The scale rivets appear to have 'X' marks... is it so? If so, are they punch marks or Phillips counter-sunk screw-heads?
I can't detect any 'square corners' where there should be on the cut-outs of the guard...is it so?

BTW... Klewang is not the specific Indonesian word for it, as klewang is a generic name used for a variety of edged weapons in the Archipelago. Only the Dutch use it specifically for this weapon.The specific Indonesian name for it is Pedang Marsose.

Best,

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody

Originally Posted by asomotif

Hello Amuk,
The second from the top is a copy of the 1911 model "Sabel Marechaussee"
So 1902 would be a little premature as a date of manufacture.

..I prefer to look at it the other way... and say that the above was the field-developed model on which the M1911 was based. These were produced by local smiths and tested in the field before being accepted for European manufacture. Successive modifications in the field addressed the short-comings of the Kalewang in action. Production in Europe merely "dotted the i's and crossed the t's" of the design. Also, there was often a lag time between the use of a newly-developed weapon 'tested' in the field and its official designation and its becoming 'regulation issue'.

Best,