A Borneo Oddity

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by Indianajones

Yes very sharp of you to state that the Iban (jimpul) is different than Bidayuh or Land-Dayak!
Though jimpuls were also used by Iban from the Saribas and Skrangriver which are near Bidayuh area.

What I sharply meant to say is that the blade of Charles's piece is typically an Iban blade.
A typically Bidayuh blade would be the blade of a buko or pandat, which both are different as Charles's blade.

[A.alnakkas]

Lovely sword!

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=9177

Is there a relation between those 2 blades? They look very similar!

I always thought the users of these weapons are christian headhunters (dayak?) so what does the Islamic script may suggest?

Sorry for my obvious ignorance on the topic I hope it does not cause any delay!

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by A.alnakkas

Lovely sword!

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=9177

Is there a relation between those 2 blades? They look very similar!

I always thought the users of these weapons are christian headhunters (dayak?) so what does the Islamic script may suggest?

Sorry for my obvious ignorance on the topic I hope it does not cause any delay!

Dayaks practiced headhunting according their "adat". There were all kind of Dayak tribes all with their own languages and believes.
They had their own believe, all things in their surroundings had a soul, and they were very supersticious in all actions they needed to do in daily life.
Later some dayaks were converted by missionaries or moslims.

The islamic script on blades are from those area's, were a lot of Islam converted dayaks live, such as the Banjarmasin/Negara area (fi the beladah belabang).

[Maurice]

Charles, does your blade show signs of broken krowits at the base just behind the shoulder where the edge begins?

[G. McCormack]

Very graceful Charles, cheers on a lovely blade.

[Lew]

Hey Charles

Found this link to a working type Borneo parang with a similar blade style.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=Borneo

[Indianajones]

Hi, I have included some pics of the two types of Sarawak blades that the sword resembles. Interesting enough these two; Murut-tribe (curved sword) are located at the top North of Sarawak or actually North-Borneo and the Bidayuh (also called Land-Dayak) tribe located at the oposite South Western corner of Sarawak!
Inbetween is the famous Iban-tribe located which usually use this type of curved blade of Charles' sword.
> I do understand Maurice as the brass fitting of the grip is most seen on Murut swords <pictured below with curved blade n two pronged grip>.
> Though as visible on the first picture (borrowed from Dajak-forumite Dajak) the Bidayuh parang latok also have similar grip fittings and the form of the handle resembles more Charles' sword grip, to my opinion.

And now we wait til someone finds a similar example with the right origins noted; anyone scanned any museumcollections?

Curious what the outcome is . . . .