The longest iban's warrior sword (ilang)

Borneoartifact


Giant Parang Ilang



Origin: Iban people of Sarawak Borneo, a rare Mandau 
weapon kept for some time since the 1980s,  it is 
a lovely piece, scabbard is made from medium hardwood 
and adorn with complex tied motifs of "Buah Berinjan", 
"Surik Air", "Aso" and "Tree of life".


Hilt is also made from wood and adorn with 
"Tree of Life" motifs. 


Several carved antler pieces at Hilt, scabbard and 
ilang are decorated with several pieces of deer horn 
and possibly bone as well.


Total: 96cm / 37.8 inches
Blade & Hilt: 86cm / 33.9 inches
Casing / scabbard: 74cm / 29.1 inches
Small knife / ilang: 30.5cm / 12 inches


Weight: 2.1kg / 5.3 lb


A top quality massive Parang Ilang. A parang 
(general term) is used primarily as a chopping tool
or weapon. With a heavy blow, a parang can penetrate 
flesh or bone, while relatively little effect would 
be obtained by means of a cutting stroke.

Parang ilang:  In Mandau the ilang means double knife
and only the Parang Ilang has this characteristics, 
it has 2 blades: the main sword and a small knife 
fitted in the back of the scabbard.


Motifs and carvings: The hilt(made of large deer horn) 
is decorated with a Dayak warrior with "Buah Berinjan" 
/creeper vine motifs below it.


Along the scabbard / casing are many "Buaya" /crocodiles 
in swimming motion in a river 
(some in confronting motion), resembling lifes along 
the Sarawak rivers (where most traditional longhouses 
were built). Crocodiles are sighted til this day, 
almost everyday in the rivers of Sarawak, Borneo.

The small knife's hilt and small scabbard(back) are all 
made of deer horn.