That is one odd and awesome piece Michael. Is that as good a cleaver as it looks, or is it a little odd to handle?

Which one of them?

The bangkris is a bit top heavy but OK for a good blow.
The Mindanao cleaver is not so well balanced (maybe because my hands don't fit the handle very well?).

Michael

haha, there's Bagoong (not Bangkung) available here, but no Kangkung

dunno if rick still has it, but he brought a pedangkris last feb. at the show. would be nice if he can post a pic of it...

Ron I was wondering, is your bangkung (not kangkung) from Palawan? The style of carving and blade look like it to me.

BTW - I do love spinach! :D

Oh yes, Kino, I love your bangkung (not spinach) and I enjoyed working on it. :D

Some amazing bangkung in this thread. Beautiful examples, all.

Here's mine. The blade's quite pitted, but I suppose that's why I could afford it.

Hello Cthulhu,

nice complete example also when the blade is pitted, would be glad when I have such an example!

Regards,
Detlef

I love this vegetable also, my wife is used to cook it with chilli and you can get it here in Germany in asia shops. :)

Not a Bangkung?
 

Charles, if the top example is emphatically not a bangkung, what is it? Here is one I acquired today, identified by the seller as a "banyal". There is strong resemblance in blade and scabbard, although your hilt is much nicer.

- Dave A.

Here's my bankung. It's brand new. It's about as utilitarian as it comes. I intend to use it to clear brush in my back yard.

Hi Blue Lander:

The hilt and scabbard look Visayan on your new one. Does it have a chisel-edge or V-edge?

Ian.

Chisel edged. The skin wrapped around the throat is goat supposedly. I think the rattan is actually plastic. It doesn't feel natural.

Agree with Ian, Visayan Binangon. :)

Good to know. I haven't given it any serious use yet but I'm not impressed with the fit and finish. The scale covered parts of the blade has some very deep pitting on it, some look like they might affect the structural integrity. It's also very top heavy and clumsy feeling.

Here's another bangkung, I am guessing from Maguindanao, based on the hilt style. It almost looks Visayan but for the grip ferrules and corded wrap. The blade is pattern welded. The scabbard is original and simply held together by only wooden pegs. There was never any rattan.

Dimensions:

Overall length: 27in.
Blade length: 20.5in.
Blade's widest point: 1.75in.

Well Charles, this is a variant I have not seen. Also rare to have the total scabbard like this.

Very nice example - thanks for posting.

Agree with Jose, very nice! Is it the one I've seen by epray? When yes; what a transformation with some maintenance! :) Congrats!

Regards,
Detlef

a very nice example, Charles! i'm with you that this particular piece is Mindanaoan; like you said Maguindanao.
it has a very strong Lumad flavor to it... similar to a T'boli Kefilan

That is a one of a kind sword Charles! Thank you for posting this one.

Thanks for the input guys. Glad to hear there is agreement on its geographical origin; always nice to hear that others see the same unique features that I do.

Detlef...yes, from Ebay, and YES, and lot of work and time consuming restoration, but nothing is better than making an old neglected, filthy and lightly damaged piece come back to life!!! :)

Agree complete with you Charles, at least for me it's one of the importants points of my collecting dependence! :D

Hope you don't mind when I post two pictures from the seller to show which transformation this great sword has received! ;)

Regards,
Detlef

Adding a Bangkung to this thread.

An old Bangkung which I initially thought was made for a child. The hilts portion that is wire wrapped is only less than 3.5in. I now believe that due to its age, construction and materials used, that its was made for a small adult.

There has been some old repair work done to the pommel. The area where the Kakatua's crest, has a matching piece of wood inserted and a dowel pinned to secure it.

Last photo show a size comparison to a kris.

Here are two of mine. The top one is a small bangkung, similar to the one posted by kino, in a mid-20th C. scabbard.

The second one is larger and was exhibited in the Macau Museum of Art's "History of Steel Exhibition" in 2006.

Ian.

Palawano Bangkung
 

Sharing mine

Interesting piece, Hefezola. The way the scabbard is held together is unusual to my eye; I've seen many instances of wrapping all the way around the sheath, but not around little inset areas. But it gives a lot more space to show off the carving, that's for sure.

It's a little hard to get an overall impression of the item without a photo showing the whole thing at once, can you post one?

Hope this helps
 

Will send more pictures soon

Just bought my first bangkung, funnily in Germany. Better pictures follow soon when I have received it. 67 cm long.
Comments are welcome! ;)

Very nice Sajen! Did the tag have a collection number on it or any other information?

Thank you Drac2k, no, sadly the tag was partly missing and nothing from the original inscription was present when I received the sword so I have removed the old tag. Remaining is sadly only a discoloration in the wood. :o

Regards,
Detlef