Another strange, non-textbook, parang

VVV · 17th December 2005, 08:48 PM

Thanks for the feedback!
Moro weapons are rare here in North Europe so the only Bangkungs I have seen are those in Cato's book with another kind of blade.
But I always wanted a Bangkung in my collection so...
What puzzles me a bit is the way the belt rope is attached to the scabbard.
I haven't seen that with f.i. Barongs?
It reminds me more of a Pakayun scabbard or other parangs I have seen in NW Borneo?

Nice parang Tim.
Interesting that the wood on your handle is also striped like the wood on my scabbard.

Zelbone, what's a Janap (except that it looks like my and Tim's blade)?

Michael

Tim Simmons · 17th December 2005, 08:59 PM

How right you are, now you point it out, the wood is the same. I have another knife with a handle of the same wood, which I also suspect is from Borneo. I did show it many years ago but the response was a little poor. I think there are too many similarities in these knives, not to have come from the same place. Tim

VVV · 17th December 2005, 09:04 PM

Tim,

Could you please post a picture of the other knife again?

Here is a picture of my Borneo Sadop that also has striped wood.

Michael

Tim Simmons · 17th December 2005, 09:25 PM

This knife is quite different from the parangs but again we see this distinctive wood. We need a botanist, especially when looking at island flora. This knife, I have cleaned but not heavily, I suspect was brought back to the UK after the Malay emergency

and brief war with Indonesia. Tim

VVV · 17th December 2005, 09:39 PM

Thanks,

My first impression was a parrot handle on this one.
Also the scabbard doesn't look like Borneo, more Batak/Sumatra like
some Kalasan.
The blade also looks a bit like a Batak Rawit.

Michael

Tim Simmons · 17th December 2005, 09:49 PM

That is a little more information than the last time I post pictures of this knife. So we still have no sure idea of there origin. Surely this distinctive wood must help. There are so many rather keen collectors of Indonesian weapons, where are they now. Tim

17th December 2005, 08:59 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	How right you are, now you point it out, the wood is the same. I have another knife with a handle of the same wood, which I also suspect is from Borneo. I did show it many years ago but the response was a little poor. I think there are too many similarities in these knives, not to have come from the same place. Tim Last edited by Tim Simmons; 17th December 2005 at 09:31 PM.

17th December 2005, 09:04 PM	#3
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Tim, Could you please post a picture of the other knife again? Here is a picture of my Borneo Sadop that also has striped wood. Michael Attached Images

17th December 2005, 09:25 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	This knife is quite different from the parangs but again we see this distinctive wood. We need a botanist, especially when looking at island flora. This knife, I have cleaned but not heavily, I suspect was brought back to the UK after the Malay emergency and brief war with Indonesia. Tim Attached Images

17th December 2005, 08:48 PM	#1
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks for the feedback! Moro weapons are rare here in North Europe so the only Bangkungs I have seen are those in Cato's book with another kind of blade. But I always wanted a Bangkung in my collection so... What puzzles me a bit is the way the belt rope is attached to the scabbard. I haven't seen that with f.i. Barongs? It reminds me more of a Pakayun scabbard or other parangs I have seen in NW Borneo? Nice parang Tim. Interesting that the wood on your handle is also striped like the wood on my scabbard. Zelbone, what's a Janap (except that it looks like my and Tim's blade)? Michael

17th December 2005, 09:39 PM	#5
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks, My first impression was a parrot handle on this one. Also the scabbard doesn't look like Borneo, more Batak/Sumatra like some Kalasan. The blade also looks a bit like a Batak Rawit. Michael

17th December 2005, 09:49 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	That is a little more information than the last time I post pictures of this knife. So we still have no sure idea of there origin. Surely this distinctive wood must help. There are so many rather keen collectors of Indonesian weapons, where are they now. Tim