Borneo jungle knife HMP

Royston · 31st July 2016, 11:35 AM

Here is a jungle knife, presumably from Borneo. What makes it interesting is that it is stamped H.M.P

Dimensions are shown in the photos and the blade is 1/4 inch thick at the ricasso.

What is the significance of HMP ?
The owners initials ?

Or is it His/Her Majesty's Prison ? I suppose that this is possible if it came from British North Borneo although I cannot find a reference to there being one as all the searches I tried just came up with POW camps.

All comments welcome.
Regards
Roy

Sajen · 31st July 2016, 07:44 PM

Intersting piece!

But have no clue, sorry.

Ian · 31st July 2016, 08:33 PM

What a lovely short parang. Reminds me of a baby parang latok or buko. Definitely a serviceable tool/knife. I would say this one is WWII vintage judging from the sheath with its metal (iron) bands that look as though they came from old ammo boxes.

The closest name I can think of is buko, which is the Land Dayak's equivalent of the longer parang latok. Even for a buko, the blade is unusually short. There is a brief description of the buko in v. Zonneveld's book (p. 36).

The imprint of "H.M.P." does not ring any bells for me.

Ian

-----------

Albert van Zonneveld. The Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago, Zwartenkot Art Books: Leiden, 2001.

kahnjar1 · 31st July 2016, 09:15 PM

Hi Roy,
What about HM Police??? More likely than "Prison" I suspect.,
Stu

Rafngard · 1st August 2016, 02:24 AM

The blade form looks a bit like a Lumad sangi.

Nothing else does though.

Good Luck,
Leif

Henk · 1st August 2016, 09:46 AM

Gentlemen,

Searching in dutch on HMP Dutch Army gives the result that HMP refers to the Dutch Indonesian Army

het Nederlandsch-Indische Leger (H.M.P) - KNIL Voorschrift, DvO 11-5 ...

Unfortunately i cann't figure out what HMP means.

asomotif · 1st August 2016, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henk

Gentlemen,

Searching in dutch on HMP Dutch Army gives the result that HMP refers to the Dutch Indonesian Army

het Nederlandsch-Indische Leger (H.M.P) - KNIL Voorschrift, DvO 11-5 ...

Unfortunately i cann't figure out what HMP means.

HMP = Handleiding voor de militaire paardenverplegers

= "guide for military horse care"

I don't think the letters in this blade refer to a dutch military guide.

No other clues though.

Appears to be Borneo style imho.

Would call it a parang myself.

Best regards,
Willem

Royston · 4th August 2016, 09:04 AM

Thanks everyone.
Didn't think of Police. Will have to investigate further.
Cheers
Roy

31st July 2016, 11:35 AM	#1
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	Borneo jungle knife HMP Here is a jungle knife, presumably from Borneo. What makes it interesting is that it is stamped H.M.P Dimensions are shown in the photos and the blade is 1/4 inch thick at the ricasso. What is the significance of HMP ? The owners initials ? Or is it His/Her Majesty's Prison ? I suppose that this is possible if it came from British North Borneo although I cannot find a reference to there being one as all the searches I tried just came up with POW camps. All comments welcome. Regards Roy Attached Images

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31st July 2016, 07:44 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,409	Intersting piece! But have no clue, sorry.

31st July 2016, 08:33 PM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,515	What a lovely short parang. Reminds me of a baby parang latok or buko. Definitely a serviceable tool/knife. I would say this one is WWII vintage judging from the sheath with its metal (iron) bands that look as though they came from old ammo boxes. The closest name I can think of is buko, which is the Land Dayak's equivalent of the longer parang latok. Even for a buko, the blade is unusually short. There is a brief description of the buko in v. Zonneveld's book (p. 36). The imprint of "H.M.P." does not ring any bells for me. Ian ----------- Albert van Zonneveld. The Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago, Zwartenkot Art Books: Leiden, 2001.

31st July 2016, 09:15 PM	#4
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,810	Hi Roy, What about HM Police??? More likely than "Prison" I suspect., Stu

1st August 2016, 02:24 AM	#5
Rafngard Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Minneapolis,MN Posts: 361	The blade form looks a bit like a Lumad sangi. Nothing else does though. Good Luck, Leif

1st August 2016, 09:46 AM	#6
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Gentlemen, Searching in dutch on HMP Dutch Army gives the result that HMP refers to the Dutch Indonesian Army het Nederlandsch-Indische Leger (H.M.P) - KNIL Voorschrift, DvO 11-5 ... Unfortunately i cann't figure out what HMP means.

4th August 2016, 09:04 AM	#8
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	Thanks everyone. Didn't think of Police. Will have to investigate further. Cheers Roy