Long Glat (?) mandau with questions

[kai]

Hello Detlef,

Thanks for posting - that's an interesting riddle!

I guess that it is a Long Glat mandau.

I assume you base this attribution on the hilt only? Nice carving and age!


The Long Glat were one of the last groups to perform traditional high-quality bladesmithing into the 20th century. Even if we assume this blade to be a functional user made from precious foreign steel without bells and whistles, I don't see any of the typical Long Glat features here. High quality Long Glat blades got traded pretty much over all of Borneo - maybe this is a trade from a coastal area though?


How well does the blade fit the scabbard? Nice, old scabbard with worn knots - a large bone plate of exuberant form missing at the damaged foot. Belt also looks genuinely old (and broken); less sure about the pouch.

Regards,
Kai

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by kai

Thanks for posting - that's an interesting riddle!

Hello Kai,

My pleasure! And yes, it's a riddle to me as well!

Originally Posted by kai

I assume you base this attribution on the hilt only? Nice carving and age!

Yes, you are correct, I think that it's a Long Glat hilt!

Originally Posted by kai

The Long Glat were one of the last groups to perform traditional high-quality bladesmithing into the 20th century. Even if we assume this blade to be a functional user made from precious foreign steel without bells and whistles, I don't see any of the typical Long Glat features here. High quality Long Glat blades got traded pretty much over all of Borneo - maybe this is a trade from a coastal area though?

I guess that the blade could be worked everywhere on Borneo.

Originally Posted by kai

How well does the blade fit the scabbard? Nice, old scabbard with worn knots - a large bone plate of exuberant form missing at the damaged foot. Belt also looks genuinely old (and broken); less sure about the pouch.

The scabbard is made for this blade IMVHO. And yes, there seems to be something missing at the foot of the scabbard.

Regards,
Detlef

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