A barong for good price - had to grab it!

[Battara]

"Samal" - well, I use and have seen Samal for the tribe and person.

Now for the scabbard - it is usually the type of detailed carving and okir used on that carving on top and bottom. What makes this difficult is that the scabbard outlines look similar from Samal and late 20th century Sulu. So I also look at the pommel with is usually shorter in dimensions with an almost 90 degree angle versus the usual 45 degree angle for Sulu hilts. Again this gets confusing for 20th century examples that seem to take on Samal characteristics.

Ok I just made it clear as mud. Sorry.

[Battara]

Here is a better explanation:

The barong on the left is Sulu and the pommel is near a 45 degree angle to the blade.

The barong on the right is Samal with the pommel closer to a 90 degree angle to the blade. Also I carved this scabbard in earlier Samal style with intricate okir.

[ThePepperSkull]

Originally Posted by Battara

Now for the scabbard - it is usually the type of detailed carving and okir used on that carving on top and bottom. What makes this difficult is that the scabbard outlines look similar from Samal and late 20th century Sulu. So I also look at the pommel with is usually shorter in dimensions with an almost 90 degree angle versus the usual 45 degree angle for Sulu hilts. Again this gets confusing for 20th century examples that seem to take on Samal characteristics.

Ok I just made it clear as mud. Sorry.

Actually this did make things a lot clearer for me, despite it still being confusing -- this is the nature of 'later' Moro Swords I guess.

Moro blade/hilt characteristics do tend to get melded together and are harder to differentiate from one specific origin to the next if we're talking about linking particular tribes to region-specific weaponry. I thought I was the only one that thought this, so to know I'm not the only one that finds that fact confusing is rather comforting I must say.


Also, the description regarding the pommel helps a lot. I notice this hilt also has wrapping on it as well as a punto. Would the style of wrap be any indicator of the origin? (i.e. did the Samal twine/vine-wrap their hilts in different patterns than the Yakan or the Tausug?) Would material coe into play as well (perhaps one tribe preferred rattan strips versus some type of twine wrap or something to that effect)?

[Lew]

I must disagree with the age. The ferrule seems well made and the patina on the hilt is very deep and rich. The scabbard seems newer probably a replacement. I would place the barongs age as 1935-40 but could be a bit older.

[Battara]

Lew I agree with you - guess I should be more specific when I say newer 20th century. In fact I too think the scabbard might be later than the barong itself.

The Pepperskull - yes to an extent. The Yakan for example do not use a punto or wrap. Samal and Sulu use woven wrap on their barongs.

[KuKulzA28]

Battara, thanks for the information, and after re-reading it once, it was no longer confusing - the picture comparison also helped, thanks! That's a really nicely carved scabbard by the way, your work never ceases to impress me.

The grip is definitely very finely woven material, so by Battara's claim, we can assume not Yakan...

an interesting world Moro blades are... full of little nuances within several well-established blade forms.

[Battara]

Thank you KulkulzA28.

Yes there are a LOT of nuances and I feel that we have only scratched the surface................

[Battara]

Oh found some of my pictures. Here are some pictures of Samal barongs with similar hilts to yours and how the scabbard top was meant to be originally.