Size Difference of Moro Spears

[zelbone]

Zamboanga,
Yes that's rattan woven around the shaft near the spear head. I guess it acts like the metal ferrules on your examples. It's woven in a way similar to the way rattan is woven on a few panabases and kampilans I've seen. It's pretty loose now so I don't handle this budiak as much as I'd like to. The pole is original as well and is made of a nice dense rattan staff with multiple nodes...I wish I could get rattan bastons this nice for my arnis training ! The whole spear stands about 5'6" and is pretty light. I'm guessing it would throw rather nicely, but I'm afraid I would mess it up and my neighbors would think I was weird ! The only thing missing is the end cap at the other end of the shaft. The sankil sounds neat after you described how to use it...I definately have to get one of those!!!

[Federico]

Pics...pics...more pics please

[zamboanga]

here is another thing i've learned about yakan budiaks. the ones intended for battle and are carried by the foot warriors have rattan poles. makes sense because their easier to make. the ones sporting wooden poles serve either a dual (ceremonial, battle) purpose or are indicators of status or rank.

the sankil is said to be the favored spear for ambush and is said to have a longer pole.

[VANDOO]

I HAVE ALSO WONDERED ABOUT THE SIZES OF BLADES AND LEGNTH OF POLES. I CAME TO MUCH THE SAME CONCLUSIONS AS EVERYONE ELSE , BUT WAS NOT SATISFIED. I HAVE A SPEAR THAT IS COMPLETE WITH A EXTREMLY LARGE BLADE AND VERY LONG POLE, ITS BALANCE IS GOOD IF YOU CHOKE UP ON THE SHAFT ABOUT 2/3 OF THE WAY TOWARD THE POINT. IT COULD BE USED FOR SLASHING AND THRUSTING BUT YOU WOULD HAVE THAT LONG SHAFT STICKING OUT BEHIND YOU AND IF IT HIT ANYTHING OR SOMEONE GOT BEHIND YOU , YOU WOULD BE UNDONE.
PERHAPS THESE WERE USED IN THE FORTIFICATIONS WHERE A WARRIOR COULD THRUST DOWN ON THE ENEMY. THIS WOULD MAKE THE LARGE HEAVY BLADE AND LONG SHAFT A ADVANTAGE INSTEAD OF A HANDICAP.IN SUCH A POSITION IT COULD SPLIT A SHIELD OR PENETRATE ARMOR EASIER THAN A LIGHTER WEAPON. I DON'T RECALL THE MORO CARYING AROUND CEREMONIAL WEAPONS MUCH AND THERE ARE QUITE A LOT OF LARGE SPEAR HEADS AROUND SO ITS A POSSIBILITY.

[Rick]

These two are both approximately 9' long when mounted on their Palmwood hafts . The hafts are iron shod at the butts .

Mandaya AFAIK .

[zamboanga]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

PERHAPS THESE WERE USED IN THE FORTIFICATIONS WHERE A WARRIOR COULD THRUST DOWN ON THE ENEMY.

a kota comes to mind...

[Federico]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

I HAVE ALSO WONDERED ABOUT THE SIZES OF BLADES AND LEGNTH OF POLES. I CAME TO MUCH THE SAME CONCLUSIONS AS EVERYONE ELSE , BUT WAS NOT SATISFIED. I HAVE A SPEAR THAT IS COMPLETE WITH A EXTREMLY LARGE BLADE AND VERY LONG POLE, ITS BALANCE IS GOOD IF YOU CHOKE UP ON THE SHAFT ABOUT 2/3 OF THE WAY TOWARD THE POINT. IT COULD BE USED FOR SLASHING AND THRUSTING BUT YOU WOULD HAVE THAT LONG SHAFT STICKING OUT BEHIND YOU AND IF IT HIT ANYTHING OR SOMEONE GOT BEHIND YOU , YOU WOULD BE UNDONE.
PERHAPS THESE WERE USED IN THE FORTIFICATIONS WHERE A WARRIOR COULD THRUST DOWN ON THE ENEMY. THIS WOULD MAKE THE LARGE HEAVY BLADE AND LONG SHAFT A ADVANTAGE INSTEAD OF A HANDICAP.IN SUCH A POSITION IT COULD SPLIT A SHIELD OR PENETRATE ARMOR EASIER THAN A LIGHTER WEAPON. I DON'T RECALL THE MORO CARYING AROUND CEREMONIAL WEAPONS MUCH AND THERE ARE QUITE A LOT OF LARGE SPEAR HEADS AROUND SO ITS A POSSIBILITY.

Depending on the fighting style, the weight of longer spears may not have been a factor negating their use in combat. I know especially after training in the style of Largo Mano, that I have found much more utility in larger heavier weapons that I could not see before. Particularly considering period pics, I have often encountered pictures of Moro warriors bearing spears that tower over their heads, that even if they were a short 4'8" (which at the time of the US arrival into PI was the average height of Tagalog males, whereas in Moroland the average height was 5'4"), would easily stand above 6-7'