A Few Interesting Indonesian Blades

CharlesS · 25th December 2020, 11:53 PM

Kai,
Regarding the parapat, I think all the hair, side scabbard, and shoulder baldric are later to the sword, though certainly not new or recent. The hair is very coarse. I would not be surprised if it was last in the hands of the Dayak to the south, though I am learning that the side knife on a parapat is not so terribly unusual.

Battara · 27th December 2020, 01:49 AM

Merry Ho Ho!

Nice toys under that tree!

On the parapat I wonder if there was hair originally on the ends, like in some Kutai hilts.

Maurice · 27th December 2020, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

On the parapat I wonder if there was hair originally on the ends, like in some Kutai hilts.

Hi Jose,

At the ends of the forked hilt, they didn't attach hair. They worn the sword like showed on the photo. 'naked'.

Maurice · 27th December 2020, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice

They worn the sword like showed on the photo. 'naked'.

A 'naked' hilt, not a 'naked' Murut ofcourse.....

kai · 27th December 2020, 12:14 PM

Glad you clarified that one, Maurice...

Jose, Kutai & Modang are quite different cultures. You'll note that the tip of the branch is carved conically to help in attaching (and arranging) the short hair decorating these tips (a bit like a brush). This won't work with the carving of most parapat/perepet prongs.

Since the prongs are pointing upwards, long hair would be quite awkward. There is a single example with long hair in our archives (in an example with missing prongs); I'd tend to believe that this was the result of an ill-informed restoration attempt though.

Regards,
Kai

kai · 27th December 2020, 12:33 PM

Hello Charles,

Thanks for the additional information!

Quote:

Regarding the parapat, I think all the hair, side scabbard, and shoulder baldric are later to the sword, though certainly not new or recent.

Sure, fittings tend to be younger (or even missing). This one has features that might be slightly off though.

Certainly a really nice sword, anyway!

Quote:

The hair is very coarse. I would not be surprised if it was last in the hands of the Dayak to the south, though I am learning that the side knife on a parapat is not so terribly unusual.

Yes, side knives are known - pretty rare though.

Those which I saw resembled those on mandau in length; this seems to be exceptionally long! How does it affect wearing the sword when you hold it to your hip?

The uppermost metal band seems to be from brass? Are the others crafted from soft iron?

Regards,
Kai

CharlesS · 28th December 2020, 01:02 PM

How does it affect wearing the sword when you hold it to your hip?

Kai,

This sword was not carried in the traditional manner, at the waist, but by a shoulder sling or baldric visible in a couple of the pics.

All the bands are brass.

kai · 28th December 2020, 02:38 PM

Thanks, Charles!

Quote:

This sword was not carried in the traditional manner, at the waist, but by a shoulder sling or baldric visible in a couple of the pics.

I don't think so: One doesn't need a closing system for any shoulder sling - the typical button/loop arrangement suggests a belt function similar to what is traditional for mandau...

Regards,
Kai

Mickey the Finn · 28th December 2020, 11:22 PM

The white hair, I'd say, is from a goat; seems to be the most likely suspect. Similar hair decorates a newly manufactured mandau I've got in the closet. I was thinking of replacing it (the goat hair) with some blonde (human) hair extensions.

kai · 29th December 2020, 03:56 PM

Hello Mickey,

Check the close-up: This hair is very coarse - closer to bristles than soft hair; goat hair is considerably finer.

BTW, you may want to post your mandau in a separate thread for comments before embarking on any upgrade attempts. Human hair on any mandau shouldn't be blonde; goat hair is commonly utilized for short decor, especially on some scabbard types.

Regards,
Kai

Maurice · 29th December 2020, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickey the Finn

The white hair, I'd say, is from a goat; seems to be the most likely suspect. Similar hair decorates a newly manufactured mandau I've got in the closet. I was thinking of replacing it (the goat hair) with some blonde (human) hair extensions.

'Dyed' (goat)hair was also used on old swords (even before 19th century) with the dayak tribes in Sarawak. The tufts of hair looks like the tufts on Charles's parapat.

David R · 30th December 2020, 11:21 AM

The elegant Parang looks to have a Western made blade, with the tip reground to the local style. Any marks or stamps on the ricasso ?

27th December 2020, 12:14 PM	#5
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Glad you clarified that one, Maurice... Jose, Kutai & Modang are quite different cultures. You'll note that the tip of the branch is carved conically to help in attaching (and arranging) the short hair decorating these tips (a bit like a brush). This won't work with the carving of most parapat/perepet prongs. Since the prongs are pointing upwards, long hair would be quite awkward. There is a single example with long hair in our archives (in an example with missing prongs); I'd tend to believe that this was the result of an ill-informed restoration attempt though. Regards, Kai Attached Images

25th December 2020, 11:53 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Kai, Regarding the parapat, I think all the hair, side scabbard, and shoulder baldric are later to the sword, though certainly not new or recent. The hair is very coarse. I would not be surprised if it was last in the hands of the Dayak to the south, though I am learning that the side knife on a parapat is not so terribly unusual.

27th December 2020, 01:49 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,323	Merry Ho Ho! Nice toys under that tree! On the parapat I wonder if there was hair originally on the ends, like in some Kutai hilts.

28th December 2020, 01:02 PM	#7
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	How does it affect wearing the sword when you hold it to your hip? Kai, This sword was not carried in the traditional manner, at the waist, but by a shoulder sling or baldric visible in a couple of the pics. All the bands are brass.

28th December 2020, 11:22 PM	#9
Mickey the Finn Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 90	The white hair, I'd say, is from a goat; seems to be the most likely suspect. Similar hair decorates a newly manufactured mandau I've got in the closet. I was thinking of replacing it (the goat hair) with some blonde (human) hair extensions.

29th December 2020, 03:56 PM	#10
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Mickey, Check the close-up: This hair is very coarse - closer to bristles than soft hair; goat hair is considerably finer. BTW, you may want to post your mandau in a separate thread for comments before embarking on any upgrade attempts. Human hair on any mandau shouldn't be blonde; goat hair is commonly utilized for short decor, especially on some scabbard types. Regards, Kai

30th December 2020, 11:21 AM	#12
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,131	The elegant Parang looks to have a Western made blade, with the tip reground to the local style. Any marks or stamps on the ricasso ?