Mandau or Parang Ilang: Usefulness of Dayak Knife

R

Return of the J.D.

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Nov 29, 2005
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I'm interested in everybody's take on this question. The inland Dayak (headhunting peoples of Borneo) apparently use a distinctive form of knife known variously as a "mandau" or a "parang ilang". For those unfamiliar with the implement, here is a link:

http://perso.orange.fr/taman.sari/swords/dayak/man03.htm

And here is a link to a somewhat-detailed description of how they are made:

http://perso.orange.fr/taman.sari/swords/dayak/mandau_forging.htm



Now, I figure that, notwithstanding its attention-getting use as a headhunters' weapon, this form of knife has got to be used much more frequently, even by the Dayaks, for jungle-utility/survival applications.
One figures that it must work very well in such non-violent use. Still, I don't exactly see manufacturer after manufacturer offering knockoffs or obvious variants of this design.

I'm wondering: what advantages (for non-combative use) do those here note for the distinctive elements of this knife? Obviously, the handle design would make it virtually impossible to lose one's grip. The blade shape will obviously put the weight pretty far forward, given the widening toward the tip. The asymmetrical grind may be about the most unusual aspect; any comments on the good, bad, or ugly of this?
 
I have one, altho less decorative. I was in East Malasysia at the time - saw some beautiful antique ones, but the price was a bit rich (around $USD150 for a damascus type one, and probably a family heirloom.)

Mine cost about $USD8.

The most amazing thing is that they are fast for their length. Its not a full tang "american style slab" knife - it has a tapered tang (as used on swords and kukris) and the distal taper makes them a very lively blade. Tang is "jungle epoxied" into the handle.

Mine is a chisel grind, but the bevel is actually convex (and the other side of the blade is flat.)

Its sharp and reasonable durable edge - but the heat treat on mine is too brittle and I cracked the tip off when it crashed into a concrete wall. Great weed whacker.

The handle as you have guessed is pure genius - provided you have small hands!! I have medium sized glove hands and it pretty much fills up the handle. Other than that, it is very secure on the swing, and there is a little wrap of vine around the top of the handle. Its not really a thruster but can easily be used that way.

I've had a few friends handle it and compared to say a USGI Machete, they're literally worlds apart in feel and performance.

If you get a chance, get one!!
 
Good observation.

I have seen the Dayak in the inner most part of Kalimantan with no other sharpie but the Mandau. So yes, it is used as a utility knife as well as a weapon of violent applications...

The way I see it, the design is primary for combat and not utility. And a secondary utility knife is a luxury not everyone can afford in the area, not to mention the hassle to carry additional stuff in the forest.

I don't see much advantage for utility work from other local designs...

The ones carried by Dayak warriors have human hairs as laynards. As they kill more enemies, they add their enemies' hairs to the lanyards. Some can be seen as a real big ornament of human hair. I don't know how many lifes taken to make it look like that, but obviously they keep track of this. In the rain forest, those ornaments can really stink up.
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Thanks for the information, Dahsyat. (I've thought with some amusement about what people in the U.S. would do in place of the "enemies' hair" decoration for a mandau--maybe the tassels from one's hats at graduation? Or locks of ex-girlfriends' hair?)
 
Return of the J.D., let me try to answer them here:

1. It's just my opinion, but I think there are many other local designs that work better for utility such as Parang, Golok (West Java), Bendo (Central Java), etc.

2. Not sure about your question, perhaps it’s for safety reasons. When used with your right hand, the blade tends to cut through the branches towards your right side, in effect protecting your left hand.

3. Most Parangs I see are carried on field-expedient belts in wooden sheaths.

I also recall some Mandaus having a utility knife piggybacked to the main wooden sheath. This knife is usually quite small with an unusually long handle. It is sometime called “Anak Mandau” which translates to "Mandau’s Child".
 
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