Barong

kai · 6th July 2017, 02:22 AM

Hello Miguel,

Etching the blade would certainly be interesting!

Could you please post close-ups of the hilt?

Regards,
Kai

Miguel · 6th July 2017, 03:33 PM

Thanks everyone for your replies they are much appreciated.

[I]Indicating the thickness of the blade and whether it is sharp or not, might also help in forming a more educated opinion.

You are quite right Marius and I will rectify this as soon as I am next in my loft. The photos are what I took some time ago when I started to catalogue my collection. I omitted to include the thickness at the time so will have to root it out of its storage box. From memory the blade is robust and sharp.

[I]it's a post WWII barong, it could be worked for local use but also as tourist barong. The clipped point is indead very unusual. Like Marius said, the lamination is a good sign but seems worked very coarse.

Thanks Detlef, your age estimate seems to agree with Marius.

interesting blade shape. Looks similar to the one in Cato's book (pg. 23), but not as graceful. Could it have been done as an afterthought?
4th July 2017 06:18 PM.

Thanks Kino, I don't know whether the clip point was added or not. Will try to get an idea when I root it out.

Etching the blade would certainly be interesting!

Could you please post close-ups of the hilt?

I have never etched a blade yet but I may have a try as a number of my weapons may benefit from it. Regarding the photos I will gladly take some when I have rooted it out.

Thanks again.

Miguel

Ian · 7th July 2017, 08:36 AM

Hi Miguel:

Interesting barung. I agree with Sajen, probably second half of 20th C. The clipped point may have been an alteration to remove a forging flaw. There are other flaws showing as "gaps" in the blade as a result of partial delamination.

Ian.

Miguel · 7th July 2017, 03:47 PM

Hello Ian, thanks for your comments. Knowing very little about these weapons I was unaware that the clipped blade was an unusual feature and think that your observation may be correct. I will take and post some pics of that area when I root it out from storage to enable a better assessment.
Regards
Miguel

Miguel · 24th July 2017, 08:07 PM

Hi folks, sorry for the delay but better late than never as they say.

Marius the blade is laminated and 4mm thick tapering to nothing at the point.

Kai, photos of the hilt as promised.

Ian, photos of the clipped point, I think you were correct in that the clipped point was done to remove forging flaws although I don't think the photos are clear enough, for which I apologize.
Miguel

Sajen · 24th July 2017, 08:30 PM

It's an intersting piece and I think the blade is thought to be like this, I think 1940-1960 would be a good age guess, still a rather nice banati pommel, ferrule simple from brass and the scabbard let me think like this. Also the rather rough worked and finished but laminated blade is a good sign for this guess.

Regards,
Detlef

CCUAL · 25th July 2017, 02:36 AM

Nice barong.

Here are two may be? older blades.

Miguel · 25th July 2017, 02:34 PM

Hi Detlef & Ccual, thank you for your comments and photos which have made me think you are correct in your opinions that the blade was meant to have a clipped point and was not clipped to remove flaws as suggested by Ian which is a very valid suggestion but the photos swung it for me. Whatever I like it, I think barons have a very pleasing shape and must be a formidable weapon as well as a useful working tool. Thank you again.
Miguel

Ian · 28th July 2017, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CCUAL

Nice barong.

Here are two may be? older blades.

Hi CCUAL,

The one you show in the case on the bottom rack is called a gayang. It is a rare Moro blade form. AFAIK, the clippped section is always curved in the manner of the example you have shown. A stylized version of a gayang can often be found on those tourist plaques showing The Weapons of Moroland.

In more than 30 years of collecting Philippine weapons, I have seen only three examples.

Ian.

24th July 2017, 08:07 PM	#5
Miguel Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 584	Hi folks, sorry for the delay but better late than never as they say. Marius the blade is laminated and 4mm thick tapering to nothing at the point. Kai, photos of the hilt as promised. Ian, photos of the clipped point, I think you were correct in that the clipped point was done to remove forging flaws although I don't think the photos are clear enough, for which I apologize. Miguel Attached Images

25th July 2017, 02:36 AM	#7
CCUAL Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 76	Nice barong. Here are two may be? older blades. Attached Images

6th July 2017, 02:22 AM	#1
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Miguel, Etching the blade would certainly be interesting! Could you please post close-ups of the hilt? Regards, Kai

6th July 2017, 03:33 PM	#2
Miguel Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 584	Thanks everyone for your replies they are much appreciated. [I]Indicating the thickness of the blade and whether it is sharp or not, might also help in forming a more educated opinion. You are quite right Marius and I will rectify this as soon as I am next in my loft. The photos are what I took some time ago when I started to catalogue my collection. I omitted to include the thickness at the time so will have to root it out of its storage box. From memory the blade is robust and sharp. [I]it's a post WWII barong, it could be worked for local use but also as tourist barong. The clipped point is indead very unusual. Like Marius said, the lamination is a good sign but seems worked very coarse. Thanks Detlef, your age estimate seems to agree with Marius. interesting blade shape. Looks similar to the one in Cato's book (pg. 23), but not as graceful. Could it have been done as an afterthought? 4th July 2017 06:18 PM. Thanks Kino, I don't know whether the clip point was added or not. Will try to get an idea when I root it out. Etching the blade would certainly be interesting! Could you please post close-ups of the hilt? I have never etched a blade yet but I may have a try as a number of my weapons may benefit from it. Regarding the photos I will gladly take some when I have rooted it out. Thanks again. Miguel

7th July 2017, 08:36 AM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,399	Hi Miguel: Interesting barung. I agree with Sajen, probably second half of 20th C. The clipped point may have been an alteration to remove a forging flaw. There are other flaws showing as "gaps" in the blade as a result of partial delamination. Ian.

7th July 2017, 03:47 PM	#4
Miguel Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 584	Hello Ian, thanks for your comments. Knowing very little about these weapons I was unaware that the clipped blade was an unusual feature and think that your observation may be correct. I will take and post some pics of that area when I root it out from storage to enable a better assessment. Regards Miguel

24th July 2017, 08:30 PM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,214	It's an intersting piece and I think the blade is thought to be like this, I think 1940-1960 would be a good age guess, still a rather nice banati pommel, ferrule simple from brass and the scabbard let me think like this. Also the rather rough worked and finished but laminated blade is a good sign for this guess. Regards, Detlef

25th July 2017, 02:34 PM	#8
Miguel Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 584	Hi Detlef & Ccual, thank you for your comments and photos which have made me think you are correct in your opinions that the blade was meant to have a clipped point and was not clipped to remove flaws as suggested by Ian which is a very valid suggestion but the photos swung it for me. Whatever I like it, I think barons have a very pleasing shape and must be a formidable weapon as well as a useful working tool. Thank you again. Miguel