Parang Nabur (other names also include Belabang or Beladah, while older variants are called Pacat Gantung or Pacat Bagantung) is a sword that originates from Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Most of these swords were made during the Banjarmasin Sultanate period in the 19th century.

Parang Nabur
An unsheathed Parang Nabur from South Kalimantan.
TypeSword, Cutlass
Place of originBorneo (South Kalimantan, Indonesia)
Service history
Used byBanjarese
WarsBanjarmasin War (1859 – 1863)
Specifications
Length50 to 90 cm (20 to 35 in)

Blade typePartial double edge, convex grind
Hilt typeBuffalo horn, bone, wood
Scabbard/sheathWood

Description

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The Parang Nabur is a kind of sabre with a curved blade[1] broadening towards the point, with its widest section at the curvature.[2] The edge is convex, while the back is concave. It has a double edge for about 0.66 to 0.375 in (16.8 to 9.5 mm) of the blade from its front tip. The edge may bend towards the back or the back may bend towards the edge at the point. The hilt is usually made of horn or bone, sometimes of wood, and often has protection for the hand and fingers made of brass or iron. The hilt is furnished with a knuckle guard[1] and parry are made similar to European models, strongly influenced from the naval cutlasses carried by the Dutch sailors, and shows a blend of European and Islamic styles. The scabbard is usually made of wood. It is built in two parts held together by bands of metal, and it follows the blade's shape.[3] The Parang Nabur is also not to be mistaken with the Niabor.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Claude Blair & Leonid Tarassuk, ed. (1986). The Complete Encyclopedia of Arms & Weapons: The Most Comprehensive Reference Work Ever Published on Arms and Armor. Bonanza Books. p. 358. ISBN 9-780-51748-7761.
  2. ^ Nick Evangelista (1995). The Encyclopedia of the Sword. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0-313-27896-2.
  3. ^ Albert G Van Zonneveld (2002). Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago. Koninklyk Instituut Voor Taal Land. ISBN 90-5450-004-2.

Further reading

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