Mandau, Special Weapons Dayak

In earlier times in case of war, ethnic Dayaks in general use their unique weapons, namely Mandau. Mandau is a heirloom that generations used by the Dayak tribe and diaanggap as a sacred object. Besides being used at the time of the battle Mandau is also commonly used by the Dayak tribes to accompany them in their daily activities, such as slashing or cutting meat, herbs, or other objects that need to be cut.

Usually, the layman will often confusion between Mandau and the threshold. Lay people or people who are not accustomed to seeing or even holding the Mandau will be difficult to distinguish between Mandau with a threshold because when viewed by naked eye are both almost the same. However, both are very different. But if we look in more detail it will show very striking differences, namely the Mandau are carved or inlaid with gold, copper, or silver and Mandau more powerful and flexible, because the Mandau made of volcanic rock that contains iron and processed by an expert. While the threshold is only made of ordinary steel, such as besu per car, chainsaw blades, discs vehicle or other iron rods.

Mandau or Threshold Birang Bitang Pono Adjunct Kajau should be kept and treated with either a special place to honor. Because of the Dayak tribe believes that the Mandau has a spiritual power that can protect the owner from attacks or malicious intent of his opponents. And the Mandau is also believed to be guarded by a woman, and if the owner of the Mandau is a dream to meet with women who inhabit the Mandau, then the owner will get a fortune.

Mandau except made of iron and carved volcanic rocks, returned or upstream Mandau (a place for holding) made carved using buffalo horns to the back of his black. And using deer antlers for return of the white. Making home can also use wood kayamihing. At the end of the home were given or placed animal fur or human hair. To be able melengkatkan a Mandau with a return can use the sap wood which proved to be very strong sambun kerekatannya.Setelah was then tied up again with jangang, but if jangang hard to find to use uei (rattan).

Mantikei iron used to manufacture raw materials can be found in the area Shellfish Mandau Gambir, Jangkang Karo river, a tributary of the river Mantikei Samba deviation Katingan River, and Tumbang Atei.

Incomplete presumably if the Mandau does not have kumpang. Kumpang is called glove for Mandau, Mandau kumpang Mandau is a place for the entry of the eye is usually covered with deer antlers. In kumpang Mandau given tempuser Act, namely made of woven ties uei (rattan).

At the front of the kumpang made a glove save langgei puai small place. Langgei puai is a type of small knife as a complement Mandau. Long stem about 20 cm from the eye anggei, the shape is smaller than the stalk. The function of langgei puai is to smooth or clean objects, for example rattan. Sarong or kumpang langgei always attached to the kumpang Mandau. So it can be said that between Mandau and langgei puai is a unity that can not be separated.