Another kayan mandau

[Mytribalworld]

Originally Posted by David

So what about this blade makes it "old style"?
I am also a bit curious about material choices for mandau hilts. It seems that most of the time antler or bone is the choice material, but we do see wood ones like this occasionally that are obviously nicely carved and not a cheep tourist item. Is there some reason the maker would choose wood over antler when antler seems to be the status quo?

Hi David,

I can only guess but maybe because some hilt shapes are a little difficult to realize in horn. the carver is limited in size and model if he carves his hilt from horn.The shape of the piece of horn is of course the base for the hiltmodel and I can imagine that the hilt of Maurice's mandau wich is a old Kajan style is difficult to carve from a piece of horn
In those old hilts is the sidebranch in an angle of 90 degrees but mostly the angle of a deerhorn branch is 60-70 degrees.

Also mostly woodenhilts are bigger whats not possible in horn mostly.

I don't know if I'm rigth but I may be an explanation.

Arjan