Gunong...recent or vintage?

shayde78 · 27th December 2017, 04:31 AM

Happy (almost( New Year, everyone!

I have some time on my hands to finally post some recent additions to my budding collection.

Here is my first gunong. I was attracted to the presence of silver (a jeweler says it is silver, at least). I have looked around, and only have seen one with a similar bone hilt and scabbard. That said, the use of bone for these parts of the knife seems gimmicky, and suggests ethnographic art intended for tourists.

However, I shall let the experts here weigh in with their impressions.

Thanks!

Battara · 27th December 2017, 06:05 AM

Greetings.

I would place this in the 1950s-60s. The pommel and scabbard are made of bone and the mounts look to be brass.

Hope this helps.

Ian · 27th December 2017, 07:43 AM

I agree with Battara. This looks like a mid-20th C. piece--bone and brass fittings

Ian.

Sajen · 27th December 2017, 12:58 PM

Agree with Jose and Ian. May I ask how long this dagger is? The fittings will be from silver plated brass.

Best regards,
Detlef

shayde78 · 1st January 2018, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Agree with Jose and Ian. May I ask how long this dagger is? The fittings will be from silver plated brass.

Best regards,
Detlef

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. It measures 5.25" for the blade-8" overall.

Sajen · 1st January 2018, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shayde78

It measures 5.25" for the blade-8" overall.

Hi Shayde,

so it's one of this tiny souvenir gunongs.

Regards and a Happy New Year,
Detlef

David · 1st January 2018, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi Shayde,

so it's one of this tiny souvenir gunongs.

Regards and a Happy New Year,
Detlef

Well, such a size is pretty true to form to the original purpose and intent of the gunong so i wouldn't slight it due to its length.
I have an old one with the same exact blade length, slight longer over all and it certainly isn't a souvenir piece.

Sajen · 1st January 2018, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Well, such a size is pretty true to form to the original purpose and intent of the gunong so i wouldn't slight it due to its length.
I have an old one with the same exact blade length, slight longer over all and it certainly isn't a souvenir piece.

Hello David,

it isn't only it's length what let me think like this, compare the wormanship from your beautiful example with the one in question. Spunjer has shown once similar examples, I've looked for this thread but can't find it. I own also two of this examples, not so nice like the one in question. I have to look for to take some pictures.

Regards,
Detlef

David · 1st January 2018, 10:49 PM

Yes Detlef, there may be other factors here that led you to that conclusion, but i was responding to you response to the size and how that guided your souvenir conclusion. This is certainly not the highest quality manufacture, but in the old days we encounter many different levels of quality and it is not because the lower quality knife is necessarily meant for tourists, just for people with less money to spend. But really any modern made gunong is not really being made for native use in the field, is it? No one is actually carrying these blades day-to-day for their original intended purpose so really all these modern gunongs are made for collectors or tourists. My point about the size of Shayde's gunong is that it is actually a reasonable repro at this size to many original old models.

shayde78 · 10th January 2018, 03:03 AM

Thanks for the comments, gents.
So, it's not the size that counts!
Beautiful example, David.

David · 11th January 2018, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shayde78

So, it's not the size that counts!

Well, as i understand it this was originally intended to be a small weapon, one that could be easily concealed.
It was when colonial American powers placed a ban on swords, i believe, that we saw the gunong lengthen to compensate.

Battara · 12th January 2018, 02:07 AM

Detlef is correct. In the late 1800s the gunong was small and not well ornamented. By the 1930s they were up to twice the size and often greatly ornamented.

shayde78 · 13th January 2018, 02:04 AM

So...if the smaller ones can be either earlier functional examples OR later tourist versions...how does one tell the difference?

Ian · 13th January 2018, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shayde78

So...if the smaller ones can be either earlier functional examples OR later tourist versions...how does one tell the difference?

Hi Shayde78,

That's where a lot of reading and asking questions helps. There are general signs of wear and age that help, but seeking out high quality pieces (good workmanship and materials) is always worthwhile regardless of age. Many modern pieces are still functional.

Some recently made gunong are definitely collectible and retain their value.

Ian.

Battara · 13th January 2018, 10:15 PM

I wish Federico Malibago still had his site up. It had the most information on gunongs I had ever seen, and we have used this info on this forum.

27th December 2017, 04:31 AM	#1
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 445	Gunong...recent or vintage? Happy (almost( New Year, everyone! I have some time on my hands to finally post some recent additions to my budding collection. Here is my first gunong. I was attracted to the presence of silver (a jeweler says it is silver, at least). I have looked around, and only have seen one with a similar bone hilt and scabbard. That said, the use of bone for these parts of the knife seems gimmicky, and suggests ethnographic art intended for tourists. However, I shall let the experts here weigh in with their impressions. Thanks! Attached Images

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27th December 2017, 06:05 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	Greetings. I would place this in the 1950s-60s. The pommel and scabbard are made of bone and the mounts look to be brass. Hope this helps.

27th December 2017, 07:43 AM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,519	I agree with Battara. This looks like a mid-20th C. piece--bone and brass fittings Ian.

27th December 2017, 12:58 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,415	Agree with Jose and Ian. May I ask how long this dagger is? The fittings will be from silver plated brass. Best regards, Detlef

1st January 2018, 10:49 PM	#9
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,250	Yes Detlef, there may be other factors here that led you to that conclusion, but i was responding to you response to the size and how that guided your souvenir conclusion. This is certainly not the highest quality manufacture, but in the old days we encounter many different levels of quality and it is not because the lower quality knife is necessarily meant for tourists, just for people with less money to spend. But really any modern made gunong is not really being made for native use in the field, is it? No one is actually carrying these blades day-to-day for their original intended purpose so really all these modern gunongs are made for collectors or tourists. My point about the size of Shayde's gunong is that it is actually a reasonable repro at this size to many original old models.

10th January 2018, 03:03 AM	#10
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 445	Thanks for the comments, gents. So, it's not the size that counts! Beautiful example, David.

12th January 2018, 02:07 AM	#12
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	Detlef is correct. In the late 1800s the gunong was small and not well ornamented. By the 1930s they were up to twice the size and often greatly ornamented.

13th January 2018, 02:04 AM	#13
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 445	So...if the smaller ones can be either earlier functional examples OR later tourist versions...how does one tell the difference?

13th January 2018, 10:15 PM	#15
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	I wish Federico Malibago still had his site up. It had the most information on gunongs I had ever seen, and we have used this info on this forum.