My first MANDAU

Valjhun · 6th June 2006, 12:47 PM

Yes, verry creepy indeed. I was always wondering ir the hilt is made from, ehm, human bone?

VANDOO · 6th June 2006, 03:47 PM

THE TWO MOST COMMON MATERIALS USED TO CARVE DAYAK SWORD HANDLES ARE WOOD AND DEER ANTLER. I HAVE HEARD THAT HUMAN BONE WAS SOMETIMES USED BUT HAVE NOT SEEN AN EXAMPLE THAT COULD BE PROVED, OTHER BONES FROM LARGE ANIMALS COULD HAVE BEEN USED AS WELL. I HAVE NOT SEEN A HANDLE CARVED OUT OF WATER BUFFALOW HORN WHICH IS SURPRIZING AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE BY TRADE IF NOT FOUND LOCALLY IN BORNEO. HORN WAS USED IN QUITE A FEW COUNTRYS IN THE REGION BUT PERHAPS THE DAYAKS FOUND IT UNDESIRABLE FOR SOME REASON.

OTHER BONES AND HORN WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN FOUND IN THAT AREA OF THE WORLD WITH BELIEVED MAGICAL POWER WOULD HAVE BEEN TIGER, ELEPHANT, RHINO,SEA MAMMALS,BEAR, CROCODILE AND POSSIBLY LARGE APES.
SOME ANIMALS WERE CONSIDERED SACRED, TABOO, BAD LUCK OR EVIL BY DIFFERENT TRIBES SO WERE NEVER USED OR HUNTED AND AVIODED ENTIRELY.

Henk · 6th June 2006, 06:30 PM

The only thing I can add at Vandoo's comment is that the hair on mandaus is human either. The hair is, mostly colored or not, from goats.

Dajak · 9th June 2006, 05:08 PM

I have one handle that is from human bone very rare but see more than one with human bone

It has also witchcraft signs on the blade I never see that before

Henk · 10th June 2006, 09:08 AM

Dajak,

Can you tell us how you can see that the bone is human? And show us some pictures of this mandau and especially the signs on it. I bet, I'm not the only one who is curious to such a piece.

Dajak · 10th June 2006, 09:56 AM

It can be see at the structure off the bone and asking an chirurg and let him take a good look at it
I will post the mandau handle in an new thread I first have to ask if I can use the other picture that is not from me if I can post it

6th June 2006, 12:47 PM	#1
Valjhun Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 692	Yes, verry creepy indeed. I was always wondering ir the hilt is made from, ehm, human bone?

6th June 2006, 03:47 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THE TWO MOST COMMON MATERIALS USED TO CARVE DAYAK SWORD HANDLES ARE WOOD AND DEER ANTLER. I HAVE HEARD THAT HUMAN BONE WAS SOMETIMES USED BUT HAVE NOT SEEN AN EXAMPLE THAT COULD BE PROVED, OTHER BONES FROM LARGE ANIMALS COULD HAVE BEEN USED AS WELL. I HAVE NOT SEEN A HANDLE CARVED OUT OF WATER BUFFALOW HORN WHICH IS SURPRIZING AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE BY TRADE IF NOT FOUND LOCALLY IN BORNEO. HORN WAS USED IN QUITE A FEW COUNTRYS IN THE REGION BUT PERHAPS THE DAYAKS FOUND IT UNDESIRABLE FOR SOME REASON. OTHER BONES AND HORN WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN FOUND IN THAT AREA OF THE WORLD WITH BELIEVED MAGICAL POWER WOULD HAVE BEEN TIGER, ELEPHANT, RHINO,SEA MAMMALS,BEAR, CROCODILE AND POSSIBLY LARGE APES. SOME ANIMALS WERE CONSIDERED SACRED, TABOO, BAD LUCK OR EVIL BY DIFFERENT TRIBES SO WERE NEVER USED OR HUNTED AND AVIODED ENTIRELY.

6th June 2006, 06:30 PM	#3
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	The only thing I can add at Vandoo's comment is that the hair on mandaus is human either. The hair is, mostly colored or not, from goats.

9th June 2006, 05:08 PM	#4
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	I have one handle that is from human bone very rare but see more than one with human bone It has also witchcraft signs on the blade I never see that before

10th June 2006, 09:08 AM	#5
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Dajak, Can you tell us how you can see that the bone is human? And show us some pictures of this mandau and especially the signs on it. I bet, I'm not the only one who is curious to such a piece.

10th June 2006, 09:56 AM	#6
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	It can be see at the structure off the bone and asking an chirurg and let him take a good look at it I will post the mandau handle in an new thread I first have to ask if I can use the other picture that is not from me if I can post it