Lew Waldman's Ethnographic Arms & Armour Collection Archive


1106 - Philippine Moro Punal or Gunong Dagger

This punal or gunong dagger is double edged with a flattened diamond cross-section and a narrow fuller on each side over the area of greatest thickness except towards the tip where a low midrib reemerges; the forward cutting edge is recurved, being concave near the hilt and convex into the tip and the back edge similar but much less pronounced near the hilt. Thickness at the midrib about a third of the way from the hilt is just over 0.2 inch (0.52 cm) with the blade facets being very slightly convex. The blade has a dark finish with patchy areas of darker discoloration that are associated with mild to focally moderate pitting. The guard, hilt ferrule and scabbard mounts are made of white metal, probably German or nickel silver. The wooden body of the hilt is figured and well polished and has a few very narrow cracks. The mount covering the tip is loose and removing this cap the blade may be seen to extend just beyond the wooden sides; fortunately a thick end plate is provided on the cap. The blade is just under 5 inches (12.5 cm) long with an overall dagger length of about 8½ inches (22 cm). The dagger without sheath weighs about 6 ounces (169 grams). Overall sheathed length is 8¾ inches (22.5 cm) and weight is 8¾ ounces (249 grams).


Philippine Moro Punal or Gunong Dagger

Philippine Moro Punal or Gunong Dagger

Philippine Moro Punal or Gunong Dagger

Philippine Moro Punal or Gunong Dagger

Philippine Moro Punal or Gunong Dagger



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