ausfire Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 A guy came into our museum with a heap of old stuff to donate and amongst it was this large knife. No-one (including the donor) seems to know anything about it. Perhaps someone on this forum can shed some light.The blade is 500mm long and is 45 mm at the widest part. I am unsure of the material; at first sight after cleaning it I thought it looked like wrought as it has a textured look in places. The tang looks very much like the handle of a a file but I don't know if files would make good knives. It has two sets of two holes on the back edge (why?) and along the blade it has pairs of holes that seem to be filled with brass.It is decorated with dots, lines and crescent-moon shapes - quite an attractive design.The large knife fits into the wooden holder which is painted and decorated with what appear to beads and teeth. There is a smaller knife which fits into a scabbard attached to the main holder. We have a few Gurkha kukri knives which have similar small knives added.Anyone know anything about this thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 I don't know about it's origins but would take one of the teeth to a zoo vet and see if it can be identified. that should give you an idea of where it's from or made. A cultural anthropologist might recognize the designs.I'm pretty sure it was intended for brush/bush use, a working blade. Probably for someone of some status as heavily and nicely decorated as it is. I should say they are, the smaller blade appears to be from the same culture or maker.However, the blades, hafts and sheaths may have been made by different craftsmen, the decoration on the handles looks almost certainly to be by the same hand.Nice pieces, I'd love a hands on look.Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 nothing much to go on, you not sharing any known providence does not help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 I'd ask over at sword forum International Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted June 4, 2015 Author Share Posted June 4, 2015 nothing much to go on, you not sharing any known providence does not help.Yes, I wish I had the provenance. I want to make a description label for it before putting it on display. The people who donated it just said it was found amongst some junk during a shed clean out.I showed it to a guy who was knowledgeable about aboriginal art and he said he thought it was an Indonesian weapon called a penang (sp?). I can find no reference to that on the 'net. He said he'd get back to me but hasn't yet.And thanks Thomas, I might just try that link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 Maybe parang instead of penang? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 (edited) how about a Mandau? (or an Ambang) Edited June 5, 2015 by ThomasPowers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 I am going to guess that it was a decorative knife for the tourist trade. Check the scabbard for holes that line up with the ones in the blade. The scabbard made have been hanging from them at one time before the attaching cords rotted away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted June 5, 2015 Author Share Posted June 5, 2015 Thomas, I think you have nailed it! And MC you are right about the spelling - it's parang not penang.Thomas suggested 'mandau' and I googled that and found a whole heap of images, some almost identical to the item we have. I found a website which specialises in such things and they have some there that are very similar - even the small 'copper dots' and the holes in the back of the blade are there. They say the teeth are probably boar teeth. It's most likely a Dayak Mandau from Borneo. Apparently these were used by the headhunters of Borneo. I hope it hasn't got a gruesome history. I have contacted a site dealing with Asian weaponry to see if they can tell me more.Thanks Thomas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 Great call Thomas. I'm presently surfing "Mandau" images, cool viewing. Thanks.Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 I like Thomas' suggestion of a mandau better myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 I thought the sheath was rather spot on and the decoration of the blade I associate with the southeast asian island cultures then I started looking... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted June 5, 2015 Author Share Posted June 5, 2015 Thomas, I have placed a pic on sword forum international as you suggested. Perhaps they can confirm our findings.I have this thing sitting on my desk and I have to admit it gives me the creeps a bit after reading some of the stuff about Dayak mandaus. I was kinda hoping it was just a replica, but it looks genuine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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