Is this an authentic Formosan Paiwan sword?

Sajen · 12th July 2012, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apolaki

Greetings,

Have you shipped a sword from Taiwan to another country before either by mail or in checked in luggage?

I have had many times blades in my checked in luggage from Indonesia to Germany, never have had big problems, only one time I have to open it because the Indonesian customs thought that I have a mandau inside.
Don't think that you will have problems by this in Taiwan, maybe ask before.

Regards,

Detlef

kai · 13th July 2012, 07:26 AM

Hello Detlef,

Why would a mandau have been special?

---

Regarding checked-in luggage, the airlines are only concerned with stuff that could be dangerous during the flight, e.g. explosives, poison, etc. You can check the international list of banned substances online and will have seen those posters at airports already. If not banned, you can check it in; actually this is the only economical way to ship long spears that are a pain with regular postal services.

The country of origin may have restrictions on what is allowed to take out of the country. Many countries don't allow export of antiques (sometimes only from their own cultures) but even if so, you can usually apply for exemptions if your piece is not a unique cultural icon (most run-of-the-mill antiques are often easy - just make sure to apply in advance with the respective authorities (if needed) before you go to the airport. In your case, the sword may not be antique?

Of course, you should know which restrictions may apply to the country of destination. Other than that, just make sure you pay any import taxes/fees upon arrival (report to the customs if unsure) and you're fine. (Since there are usually allowances, this is still cheaper than receiving a piece by mail.)

Regards,
Kai

apolaki · 13th July 2012, 01:58 PM

Greetings,

I am flying Eva Air from Tapei to LAX (Los Angeles) and then American Airlines..

From Eva Air website it says:

"There are items that cannot be transported onboard the aircraft in either your carry-on or checked baggage:

Dangerous goods that endanger the aircraft, persons or property onboard the aircraft:

9. Other dangerous articles such as magnetized material, offensive or irritating materials (such as knives, swords,offensive sticks,clubs,arrows,tear-gas,stun-gun etc.)"

=/

Is there another alternative, like Fed Ex?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

Hello Detlef,

Why would a mandau have been special?

---

Regarding checked-in luggage, the airlines are only concerned with stuff that could be dangerous during the flight, e.g. explosives, poison, etc. You can check the international list of banned substances online and will have seen those posters at airports already. If not banned, you can check it in; actually this is the only economical way to ship long spears that are a pain with regular postal services.

The country of origin may have restrictions on what is allowed to take out of the country. Many countries don't allow export of antiques (sometimes only from their own cultures) but even if so, you can usually apply for exemptions if your piece is not a unique cultural icon (most run-of-the-mill antiques are often easy - just make sure to apply in advance with the respective authorities (if needed) before you go to the airport. In your case, the sword may not be antique?

Of course, you should know which restrictions may apply to the country of destination. Other than that, just make sure you pay any import taxes/fees upon arrival (report to the customs if unsure) and you're fine. (Since there are usually allowances, this is still cheaper than receiving a piece by mail.)

Regards,
Kai

Sajen · 13th July 2012, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

Hello Detlef,

Why would a mandau have been special?

Hello Kai,

in Indonesia there are retrictions as well to take out antiques which are older as 50 or 70 years, I don't remember exactly but isn't realised stricly. I have taken out antiques every time I have been to Indonesia and it was the first time that they have controlled my blades visual and told me they thought I have mandaus in my luggage. I think it become harder by some things like mandaus or keris.

Regards,

Detlef

KuKulzA28 · 14th July 2012, 04:57 PM

apolaki, FYI, I had two blades I bought in Taiwan, in my luggage, and I brought it safely from Taiwan, to San Fran, and then changed flights to Boston... no problems.

Sajen · 14th July 2012, 08:38 PM

I think as well that there will be any problem by the airline but it will be one phone to know if it's allowed or not!

apolaki · 15th July 2012, 01:58 AM

wow really? did you fly Eva Air to the United States and then American Airlines to Boston?

Quote:

Originally Posted by KuKulzA28

apolaki, FYI, I had two blades I bought in Taiwan, in my luggage, and I brought it safely from Taiwan, to San Fran, and then changed flights to Boston... no problems.

yuanzhumin · 22nd July 2012, 06:31 AM

Hello Apolaki,

Sorry to deceive you: your sword is a nice souvenir but it is not the authentic piece. It is a little better than the ones made in the fifties to sell to the American soldiers stationed on the island, and that we commonly see appearing on Ebay.

Yours could have been made a little later, may be sixties or seventies. But it remains a piece made for outsiders, a folklore piece. If it was sold to you as an authentic one, the seller lied and this is a fake.

You can see it by yourself: the carving has been done awkwardly and the quality is not there; the more recent copper string used on the open side of the scabbard; the black/brownish slip added on the wood to make it appear like it is old and patinated; the poor quality of the wood used that already has split on the handle; the really bad quality of the blade; the use of shells (absolutely not traditional for Paiwan)...

By the way, your sword is in the Paiwanese style.

I advise you to read with attention the previous posts on this forum about authentic Taiwanese swords, check the pictures or look in specialized books to compare by yourself. I can give you some good book references if you need. But I think you will find them already mentioned on this forum if you search correctly.

If you are interested in an authentic sword, you still may find one on sale on the net or in Taiwan antique shops, but prices are high : you have to count from 800 USD to 7000 USD depending on the ethnic group (Paiwan, Atayal, Amis, Puyuma...), the quality or if it's rare or not.

Concerning the shipping, you'd better check with the airlines. Personally, I would never try in a luggage if it's something precious. Usual well known private shipping services could do perfectly as they have done well in the past for me with my Taiwanese knives, but I have to say frankly that i'm getting more and more problems with the customs.

Concerning the exportation of antiques, IN TAIWAN, there is no laws limiting it.

Best regards,

Yuanzhumin

apolaki · 9th August 2012, 06:53 PM

Is this a more authentic piece, do you have an idea of which tribe made this?

Thanks

KuKulzA28 · 18th August 2012, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apolaki

wow really? did you fly Eva Air to the United States and then American Airlines to Boston?

I think it was EVA air and then United to Boston, but no hassle whatsoever

9th August 2012, 06:53 PM	#9
apolaki Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 160	What do you think of this Taiwan Aboriginal sword? Is this a more authentic piece, do you have an idea of which tribe made this? Thanks Attached Images

13th July 2012, 07:26 AM	#2
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Detlef, Why would a mandau have been special? --- Regarding checked-in luggage, the airlines are only concerned with stuff that could be dangerous during the flight, e.g. explosives, poison, etc. You can check the international list of banned substances online and will have seen those posters at airports already. If not banned, you can check it in; actually this is the only economical way to ship long spears that are a pain with regular postal services. The country of origin may have restrictions on what is allowed to take out of the country. Many countries don't allow export of antiques (sometimes only from their own cultures) but even if so, you can usually apply for exemptions if your piece is not a unique cultural icon (most run-of-the-mill antiques are often easy - just make sure to apply in advance with the respective authorities (if needed) before you go to the airport. In your case, the sword may not be antique? Of course, you should know which restrictions may apply to the country of destination. Other than that, just make sure you pay any import taxes/fees upon arrival (report to the customs if unsure) and you're fine. (Since there are usually allowances, this is still cheaper than receiving a piece by mail.) Regards, Kai

14th July 2012, 04:57 PM	#5
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	apolaki, FYI, I had two blades I bought in Taiwan, in my luggage, and I brought it safely from Taiwan, to San Fran, and then changed flights to Boston... no problems.

14th July 2012, 08:38 PM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,212	I think as well that there will be any problem by the airline but it will be one phone to know if it's allowed or not!

22nd July 2012, 06:31 AM	#8
yuanzhumin Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex-Taipei, Taiwan, now in Shanghai, China Posts: 180	Hello Apolaki, Sorry to deceive you: your sword is a nice souvenir but it is not the authentic piece. It is a little better than the ones made in the fifties to sell to the American soldiers stationed on the island, and that we commonly see appearing on Ebay. Yours could have been made a little later, may be sixties or seventies. But it remains a piece made for outsiders, a folklore piece. If it was sold to you as an authentic one, the seller lied and this is a fake. You can see it by yourself: the carving has been done awkwardly and the quality is not there; the more recent copper string used on the open side of the scabbard; the black/brownish slip added on the wood to make it appear like it is old and patinated; the poor quality of the wood used that already has split on the handle; the really bad quality of the blade; the use of shells (absolutely not traditional for Paiwan)... By the way, your sword is in the Paiwanese style. I advise you to read with attention the previous posts on this forum about authentic Taiwanese swords, check the pictures or look in specialized books to compare by yourself. I can give you some good book references if you need. But I think you will find them already mentioned on this forum if you search correctly. If you are interested in an authentic sword, you still may find one on sale on the net or in Taiwan antique shops, but prices are high : you have to count from 800 USD to 7000 USD depending on the ethnic group (Paiwan, Atayal, Amis, Puyuma...), the quality or if it's rare or not. Concerning the shipping, you'd better check with the airlines. Personally, I would never try in a luggage if it's something precious. Usual well known private shipping services could do perfectly as they have done well in the past for me with my Taiwanese knives, but I have to say frankly that i'm getting more and more problems with the customs. Concerning the exportation of antiques, IN TAIWAN, there is no laws limiting it. Best regards, Yuanzhumin