A Bolo & Barong for Comment Please

xasterix · 14th March 2019, 08:07 AM

Greetings,

Regarding your Luzon piece, I'd estimate it to be pre-WW2. The blade profile is called 'binacuco' or 'binakuko', and it's usually a utility blade. Several provinces in Luzon produce this kind of blade profile, so I can't pin down exactly where your blade comes from. I think it's one whole piece (and not re-hilted), I'm not knowledgeable on file-work but there are a lot of other examples that show the same hilt / blade profile configuration as yours.

Regarding your barung, the dents weren't likely from parrying. It's forbidden in BangsaMoro culture to do blade-on-blade contact; all attacks (or defense) were direct, there's no such things as blocks, except when holding a shield on the other hand. I'm not well-versed at estimating barung age yet, but I'd say WW2 to post WW2 is just about right.

Ian · 14th March 2019, 08:51 AM

Hello hicarbon:

Welcome to the Forum!

I think xasterix has pretty much nailed these two for you. The binakuko looks like pre-WWII manufacture (does anyone know where this particular hilt style originates?). The barung could be a little later, WWII era or thereabouts. Two nice pieces.

Ian

hicarbon · 15th March 2019, 05:33 PM

Thank you both for the the feed-back. I imagine the Barong was mistreated at some point?

15th March 2019, 05:33 PM	#3
hicarbon Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 2	Thanks Thank you both for the the feed-back. I imagine the Barong was mistreated at some point? Attached Images

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14th March 2019, 08:07 AM	#1
xasterix Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 684	Greetings, Regarding your Luzon piece, I'd estimate it to be pre-WW2. The blade profile is called 'binacuco' or 'binakuko', and it's usually a utility blade. Several provinces in Luzon produce this kind of blade profile, so I can't pin down exactly where your blade comes from. I think it's one whole piece (and not re-hilted), I'm not knowledgeable on file-work but there are a lot of other examples that show the same hilt / blade profile configuration as yours. Regarding your barung, the dents weren't likely from parrying. It's forbidden in BangsaMoro culture to do blade-on-blade contact; all attacks (or defense) were direct, there's no such things as blocks, except when holding a shield on the other hand. I'm not well-versed at estimating barung age yet, but I'd say WW2 to post WW2 is just about right.

14th March 2019, 08:51 AM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,453	Hello hicarbon: Welcome to the Forum! I think xasterix has pretty much nailed these two for you. The binakuko looks like pre-WWII manufacture (does anyone know where this particular hilt style originates?). The barung could be a little later, WWII era or thereabouts. Two nice pieces. Ian