A Piso Podang With An Unusual Blade

VVV · 30th August 2009, 07:05 PM

Nice film Maurice!
Aleksey, on the brass/gold some say decoration only, some say metaphysical reasons...
Charles, make a forum search on Iban Pedang for more examples and comments on the Borneo variation.
It´s not that easy with the hilts but here are some hints, not "laws", that mostly seems to work for ID:
- Usually the one with motifs like yours are Borneo.
- The open cup-pommels usually are Batak.
- The closed cup-pommels could be both but seems to be most often Borneo.
- The ones with "crusader-like" cross-pieces are probably Batak.

But some of the ones that fit the Borneo description above could also be Peninsular Malay.
Like everything else it´s a safer guess when you find several hints on the same sword.

Michael

30th August 2009, 07:05 PM	#8
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Nice film Maurice! Aleksey, on the brass/gold some say decoration only, some say metaphysical reasons... Charles, make a forum search on Iban Pedang for more examples and comments on the Borneo variation. It´s not that easy with the hilts but here are some hints, not "laws", that mostly seems to work for ID: - Usually the one with motifs like yours are Borneo. - The open cup-pommels usually are Batak. - The closed cup-pommels could be both but seems to be most often Borneo. - The ones with "crusader-like" cross-pieces are probably Batak. But some of the ones that fit the Borneo description above could also be Peninsular Malay. Like everything else it´s a safer guess when you find several hints on the same sword. Michael