SWORD FROM BORNEO?

VVV · 10th March 2007, 05:02 PM

Hi Jim,

Not much is written on the Parang Pedang so here is a short summary of facts and speculations:

The Parang Pedang is found along the NW coast of Borneo and probably is older than several of the other parang there (this is mine and Ben's "non-proven" ideas.
It's described in Shelford's article - A Provisional Classification of the Swords of the Sarawak Tribes - of 1901 as used among Malays and Milanos (=Melanau) and as a mostly agricultural tool (see van Z if you don't have the article).

When you swing one however they seem like a good, long range, fighting sword...

Gardner and other later writers all seem to base their descriptions on Shelford's work.

It's sometimes mistaken, in text, with the Pedang which is a sword resembling the Batak Piso Podang and only used for head hunting.
I haven't found any in Leiden's vast collection so I assume that it wasn't used in Kalimantan (Dutch Borneo)?
In other sources I have found pictures of it being used also by Iban/Sea Dayaks.
The characteristic hilt collar, as well as the blade form, resembles the Pakayun of the Muruts and in my discussions with Ben we suspect that it probably also was used by the neighbouring Murut tribe. Maybe it even was a forerunner, or inspiration, to the Pakayun?
Most of the Parang Pedang I have seen are 19th C or older.

Below are two of mine.

The first one (maybe mid 19th C) looks more like it could be Iban?
The second, and probably oldest (maybe late 18th C?) is unique in that it has a brass hilt.

Michael

10th March 2007, 05:02 PM	#5
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Hi Jim, Not much is written on the Parang Pedang so here is a short summary of facts and speculations: The Parang Pedang is found along the NW coast of Borneo and probably is older than several of the other parang there (this is mine and Ben's "non-proven" ideas. It's described in Shelford's article - A Provisional Classification of the Swords of the Sarawak Tribes - of 1901 as used among Malays and Milanos (=Melanau) and as a mostly agricultural tool (see van Z if you don't have the article). When you swing one however they seem like a good, long range, fighting sword... Gardner and other later writers all seem to base their descriptions on Shelford's work. It's sometimes mistaken, in text, with the Pedang which is a sword resembling the Batak Piso Podang and only used for head hunting. I haven't found any in Leiden's vast collection so I assume that it wasn't used in Kalimantan (Dutch Borneo)? In other sources I have found pictures of it being used also by Iban/Sea Dayaks. The characteristic hilt collar, as well as the blade form, resembles the Pakayun of the Muruts and in my discussions with Ben we suspect that it probably also was used by the neighbouring Murut tribe. Maybe it even was a forerunner, or inspiration, to the Pakayun? Most of the Parang Pedang I have seen are 19th C or older. Below are two of mine. The first one (maybe mid 19th C) looks more like it could be Iban? The second, and probably oldest (maybe late 18th C?) is unique in that it has a brass hilt. Michael Attached Images