Dayak swords a quick question from a novice

fenlander · 11th January 2007, 05:09 AM

Am I correct ?

Most Dayak swords of Borneo were made of soft steel. This means they were easy to blunt but easy to sharpen; plus they would not break so easily when hitting a hard object.

Correct ?

asomotif · 11th January 2007, 12:24 PM

Please note that dayak swords were made under very primitif conditions.
Some from local iron-ore, others from imported ore, recent blades can even have chinese makers marks

Your question suggests that there was some kind of standard quality.

Maybe Dajak or mandaukudi can advise

Dajak · 11th January 2007, 05:00 PM

There are some perfect blade s welmade

There are even laminated blade s made Latok s very wel made VVV has a nice laminated one pakayun s very wel forged Jimpul s and parang Ihlang parang sangkit these have mostly very
Blade s .

I talk here about the old stuff not the newly you see today for sale (the price for the nice forged ones starts easely at 1500.00 till 15,000.00
euro s and sometimes more just to give an indication)

So high quality stuff that s not often on the market and at least mostly before before 1900..

I will put some pics later

Michael can you post your nice Latok here to see it has one off the best blade quality that I know and from an very good collection

Regards Ben

VVV · 11th January 2007, 08:34 PM

Ben,

In my files I only have an old picture I took when I bought it and unfortunately no close up of the blade.
Look forward to see some of your examples.

Michael

Valjhun · 11th January 2007, 09:05 PM

I cannot figure why are they so bloody expensive...

I have just one parang ihlang in my collection and it has an old quality blade. I think that it was made before 1900 and I've bought it from a wife of an old deceased collector for a bargain price, together with its piso podang. Sadly no scabbard included.

Is that one of those very sought after pieces or not?

fenlander · 12th January 2007, 12:14 PM

Hi

Thanks for the information.
I am posting because my dad has a Dayak sword. It was bought in Brunei in 1968 (he was military). My comments above was basically what he said about Dayak swords.
I am trying to get a picture of it from him. It has a scabbard etc. There is also a dayak hat with lots of feathers in it that goes with the sword.

Roland_M · 9th May 2016, 02:35 PM

Dayak were famous for the quality of their blades in Indonesia! As far as I know, Dayak blades were very desired in whole Indonesia.

I have one old Mandau, made from flawless forged laminated mono-steel with a differential hardened cutting edge and this blade is of extraordinary high quality.

Roland

11th January 2007, 05:09 AM	#1
fenlander Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 62	Dayak swords a quick question from a novice Am I correct ? Most Dayak swords of Borneo were made of soft steel. This means they were easy to blunt but easy to sharpen; plus they would not break so easily when hitting a hard object. Correct ?

11th January 2007, 08:34 PM	#4
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Ben, In my files I only have an old picture I took when I bought it and unfortunately no close up of the blade. Look forward to see some of your examples. Michael Attached Images

11th January 2007, 09:05 PM	#5
Valjhun Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 692	I cannot figure why are they so bloody expensive... I have just one parang ihlang in my collection and it has an old quality blade. I think that it was made before 1900 and I've bought it from a wife of an old deceased collector for a bargain price, together with its piso podang. Sadly no scabbard included. Is that one of those very sought after pieces or not? Attached Images

12th January 2007, 12:14 PM	#6
fenlander Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 62	thanks Hi Thanks for the information. I am posting because my dad has a Dayak sword. It was bought in Brunei in 1968 (he was military). My comments above was basically what he said about Dayak swords. I am trying to get a picture of it from him. It has a scabbard etc. There is also a dayak hat with lots of feathers in it that goes with the sword.

9th May 2016, 02:35 PM	#7
Roland_M Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Germany Posts: 523	Dayak were famous for the quality of their blades in Indonesia! As far as I know, Dayak blades were very desired in whole Indonesia. I have one old Mandau, made from flawless forged laminated mono-steel with a differential hardened cutting edge and this blade is of extraordinary high quality. Roland Attached Images

11th January 2007, 12:24 PM	#2
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,221	Please note that dayak swords were made under very primitif conditions. Some from local iron-ore, others from imported ore, recent blades can even have chinese makers marks Your question suggests that there was some kind of standard quality. Maybe Dajak or mandaukudi can advise

11th January 2007, 05:00 PM	#3
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	There are some perfect blade s welmade There are even laminated blade s made Latok s very wel made VVV has a nice laminated one pakayun s very wel forged Jimpul s and parang Ihlang parang sangkit these have mostly very Blade s . I talk here about the old stuff not the newly you see today for sale (the price for the nice forged ones starts easely at 1500.00 till 15,000.00 euro s and sometimes more just to give an indication) So high quality stuff that s not often on the market and at least mostly before before 1900.. I will put some pics later Michael can you post your nice Latok here to see it has one off the best blade quality that I know and from an very good collection Regards Ben