Another Most Interesting Parang Nabur/Beladah Belabang

Mytribalworld · 5th June 2008, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VVV

Hello Tim,

I also first thought the long BBs might be like a cavalry sword.
But unlike the famous horsemen of Sumba the Malays on the Borneo south coast (around Banjarmasin) didn't use cavalry.
However they of course had horses for individual transportation.
The famous horseman of Borneo are the Bajau in NW Borneo (Sabah), but they don't use the Beladah Belabang.
The Sumba horsemen use their spears when on the horseback, even if they also carry short swords, the Kabeala.

Michael

see for examle http://images.google.nl/imgres?imgur...NL266%26sa%3DN

About the long swords I think in our western opinion a superb long sword has to be made for some handy reason , like cavalry or extra strong slashing or so.But in the eyes of animistic and superstitious people the bigger sized swords may be just used for his enourmous size and so the power whats in it.
Swords in their culture doesn't play only a role in warfare but also in rituals and just as images of power.
Arjan

VVV · 6th June 2008, 09:16 AM

Arjan,

Thanks for a good explanation. Actually extremely oversized swords are found in classic European regalia too as power symbols.
And animism, as well as superstition, I think could be found among all human, or visible, people.

Michael

Royston · 8th June 2008, 05:35 PM

Charles,

I also have a liking for these and have quite a few.

Rumour has it that everything is bigger in the States but perhaps this time we win !!!!!

However, This is the largest that I have seen. No scabbard unfortunately. Please forgive the poor photograph, I know it is unusual in England but the big yellow thing in the sky is out at the moment making it hard to get decent photos.

Cheers
Royston

CharlesS · 8th June 2008, 06:57 PM

Royston, that's a lovely example with a deep curve and very similar blade style. I like the chieselling and the fetish cartouche.

Seems the blade tip is almsot identical to mine.

Thanks for sharing.

VVV · 8th June 2008, 10:33 PM

Royston,
That's both large and a beauty!
How long is it?

Michael

Royston · 9th June 2008, 01:41 PM

I guess you cannot enlarge these photos, but if you look at the end of the tape by the hilt, it just touches 38 inches.

Royston

Royston · 9th June 2008, 01:55 PM

Charles,
The tips are similar although mine is quite blunt and has never been sharpened. I cannot see it ever having been used as a stabbing weapon, which considering the length would have made it more useful. I realise that a curved blade like this would have been designed for slashing, but one would think that a point would give that extra advantage in combat.
Mine is also pierced at the tip with 5 holes which I assume are purely for decoration.

Regards
Royston

8th June 2008, 05:35 PM	#3
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	IS MINE BIGGER THAN YOURS ? Charles, I also have a liking for these and have quite a few. Rumour has it that everything is bigger in the States but perhaps this time we win !!!!! However, This is the largest that I have seen. No scabbard unfortunately. Please forgive the poor photograph, I know it is unusual in England but the big yellow thing in the sky is out at the moment making it hard to get decent photos. Cheers Royston Attached Images

9th June 2008, 01:41 PM	#6
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	BB I guess you cannot enlarge these photos, but if you look at the end of the tape by the hilt, it just touches 38 inches. Royston

6th June 2008, 09:16 AM	#2
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Arjan, Thanks for a good explanation. Actually extremely oversized swords are found in classic European regalia too as power symbols. And animism, as well as superstition, I think could be found among all human, or visible, people. Michael

8th June 2008, 06:57 PM	#4
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Royston, that's a lovely example with a deep curve and very similar blade style. I like the chieselling and the fetish cartouche. Seems the blade tip is almsot identical to mine. Thanks for sharing.

8th June 2008, 10:33 PM	#5
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Royston, That's both large and a beauty! How long is it? Michael

9th June 2008, 01:55 PM	#7
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	Charles, The tips are similar although mine is quite blunt and has never been sharpened. I cannot see it ever having been used as a stabbing weapon, which considering the length would have made it more useful. I realise that a curved blade like this would have been designed for slashing, but one would think that a point would give that extra advantage in combat. Mine is also pierced at the tip with 5 holes which I assume are purely for decoration. Regards Royston