Moro Barong for comments!

[punal]

Provenance and age on this Barong please!

Over all length: 23"
Blade alone: 15"
Thick: 1/4"
Wide: 2 1/2"

Thanks,
Punal

[Battara]

For this puppy, Punal, I would say that it might be Tausug from a mid-prominant owner (but not a datu) with a very nice many layered sandwich construction lamination. I noticed the beak repair. Age? - certainly not any later than 1900.

[kino]

Good looking Barung. Excellent carving on the kakatua, with a killer blade to boot. Any ideas on the triangular cut out on the pommel.

Battara... why do you think this might not have belonged to a Datu. I would say that this is just as nice or ever nicer than the 2 Datu Barungs pictured on pg. 37 of Cato's book. I would place this Barung in the same category,IMHO.


Good catch Punal............ Here are photos of my ceremonial Ninja sword ;) .
It's a bit smaller, it has a swollen edge. Could this be considered a Shandigan blade.
Blade 11-3/4"
Width 2-14"
Thickness shy of 1/4"
Hilt 6-1/2"









'

[kai]

Hello Kino,

From your pics, this seems like a Shandigan blade to me. Nice one, too.

What's the weight of your Barong?

Any ideas on the triangular cut out on the pommel.
Battara seems to think this beak is an (old) replacement - seems to be a plausible hypothesis...

Regards,
Kai

[kai]

BTW, is that a plain iron nail holding the beak in place, Punal?

Regards,
Kai

[punal]

Hi there Kai,

Here's a close up photo of the beak!
The spike is made of wood w/ checked head.

punal