Moro punal bronze guard?

Sajen · 21st March 2025, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Just a little more on the dating of these gunong. I have taken the liberty of annotating one of Detlef's pictures.

The circled areas highlight the back edge just before the first "true" luk. The lower example shows a straight edge with a sharp point immediately before the first curve. This is less obvious in the upper example. This sharp point of the lower example is also seen in the same place on Mindanao kris from the end of the 19th C and into the 20th C. It is typically found on the heavier bladed versions of Maranao and Maguindanao kris from that period. The upper example is of a style that predates this feature. That does not mean that the upper example is older, just that it is an older form.

Jeff's example at the top of this post also shows a sharp point at this area of the blade.

My (conservative) feeling is that all of these examples, mine included, likely date from no earlier than the 1890s, and most likely are from the first part of the 20th C. This is based on an analogy to Moro kris showing similar features and the assumption that the ferrule/guard style was confined to relatively few (perhaps ony one) source. The construction of the combined ferrule/guard is unusual and requires materials and some expertise for brazing/silver soldering that may have been very limited in the Moro world of swords and knives. Some of the brazing looks fairly crude.

Hi Ian,

This feature of the sharp point is also found by later examples, see the attached pic. of another gunong from my collection.

Regards,
Detlef

Ian · 25th March 2025, 01:04 AM

Thanks Detlef. Yes, that sharply defined area is seen on later examples, well into the 20th C.

Rafngard · 25th March 2025, 01:27 AM

I have at least one similar, with the brass/bronze ferrule/guard and a nicely forged blade.

I'll see if I can't takes some pics soonish, but in the mean time, here's one cropped from a family photo.

Have fun,
Leif

Rafngard · 25th March 2025, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rafngard

I'll see if I can't takes some pics soonish, but in the mean time, here's one cropped from a family photo.
f

Apparently today is "soonish"

25th March 2025, 01:27 AM	#3
Rafngard Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Minneapolis,MN Posts: 350	I have at least one similar, with the brass/bronze ferrule/guard and a nicely forged blade. I'll see if I can't takes some pics soonish, but in the mean time, here's one cropped from a family photo. Have fun, Leif Attached Images

25th March 2025, 01:04 AM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,397	Thanks Detlef. Yes, that sharply defined area is seen on later examples, well into the 20th C.