Go on... show us your Barung!!!

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by Royston

Here is my contribution

Amazing collection! One of the best I've seen so far. May we inquire for more info regarding the 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th samples? The 6th sample seems extra interesting as it has provenance note.

[Royston]

Hello Xasterix.
Can't tell you too much about them as I find Barung nomenclature somewhat confusing.
However, #5 is slightly hollow ground but it does not have a pronounced rib so I don't think it could be called shandigan.

The inscription on #6 is hard to read. I can only make out:-
From (somewhere) village
I cannot read the second line at all
Bought by Col Bird ?
April 4 1900

Cheers
Roy

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by Royston

...
The inscription on #6 is hard to read. I can only make out:-
From (somewhere) village
I cannot read the second line at all
Bought by Col Bird ?
April 4 1900...

I enlarged it, and sharpened it a bit. I still can't make out anything on that second line. The rest would make a good example for a doctor's handwriting, it's so obscure. Maybe someone else can try?

[Ian]

Originally Posted by kronckew

I enlarged it, and sharpened it a bit. I still can't make out anything on that second line. The rest would make a good example for a doctor's handwriting, it's so obscure. Maybe someone else can try?

Wayne, as a physician let me translate this early 20th C "doctor's handwriting."

From Moro Village
the(?) Island of Jolo
Bought by Col Bird(?)
April 4 1900

[kino]

Originally Posted by Royston

The inscription on #6 is hard to read. I can only make out:-
From (somewhere) village
I cannot read the second line at all
Bought by Col Bird ?
April 4 1900

(somewhere) could be “Moro”

2nd line, 1st word crossed out “Sul”, as in Sulu, 2nd word looks like “Island”
3rd word, the last 4 letters looks like”jolo”

[xasterix]

Adding another barung to the thread...partially restored, had to plug holes and cracks on the c-horn. I'll be restoring the blade to full functionality soon. Taking a mugshot before it's fully live again

[Ian]

Originally Posted by xasterix

Adding another barung to the thread...partially restored, had to plug holes and cracks on the c-horn. I'll be restoring the blade to full functionality soon. Taking a mugshot before it's fully live again

Hi Xas. Very nice old barung. The hilt looks Yakan to me--would you agree?

[Battara]

I agree - Yakan

[xasterix]

Thanks for the assessment, Ian and Jose. I neglected to take a picture of the opposite side; here are post-restoration pics already. There's a Chinese chop-mark on that side. It supposedly translates as "to lead" or "leader," but further research is being done by a Chinese friend to confirm.

Because of the chop-mark I'd agree that it's Sulu archipelago, but not necessarily of Yakan make.