Kentucky Show Barung

DaveS · 22nd February 2016, 05:27 AM

Ron: Great Find. Yes, it always feels good when you run across something totally unexpected like this barong. I felt the same way when i decided to clean up and etch a campilon that i had for years only to discover that it was a twist-core. This barong does seem to have a somewhat strange twist-core though. It looks more like a star pattern than a twist as we are all more familiar with, although i'm sure seeing the blade in person it probably is much easier to see the pattern. Anyway, i knew there had to be one out there, and if there is one there has to be more. Congrats..........Dave.

Spunjer · 22nd February 2016, 12:21 PM

Thank you, Dave.
i believe Gavin has one as well. would be interested to see the pattern on his barung.
yeah, i'm surprised that there's not more out there, given that there's relatively a lot of twistcore krises that came from sulu...

Battara · 22nd February 2016, 03:59 PM

Folks I saw this at the show and it is truly an older piece. And then to get a twist core - SCORE!

CCUAL · 22nd February 2016, 05:23 PM

I had taken this photos my self about 7 yrs ago. This twist core Barung is 21" long 3" wide and the spine is 1/2" thick (compare to the 1/4" standard patterned Barung Blades) and it tapers a bit not much half way to the tip. Very heavy! If you have a twist-core kris in your arsenal, compare that to your regular patterned blades, twist-core blades are way heavier and robust, now, put that in Barung blades! For study purposes only.

CharlesS · 22nd February 2016, 05:57 PM

...and don't forget the lovely, finely worked hilt carving and unique copper pegged scabbard!!

AND, that's the original tight rattan...all with the lovely glossy patina we all love!!

I saw this one with Battara, Rsword, and Spunjer and it's, indeed, a lovely and interesting piece.

Sajen · 22nd February 2016, 08:54 PM

Hello Ron,

congrats for this nice find. What you don't see at the first glance is most of the time the enjoyable surprise!

Regards,
Detlef

kai · 23rd February 2016, 12:52 AM

Hello Dave,

Quote:

This barong does seem to have a somewhat strange twist-core though. It looks more like a star pattern than a twist as we are all more familiar with,

The appearance of twist core is heavily dependant on the exposure of the "core" - in addition, the blade smith seems to have opted for spreading out the pamor very much while forging the blade. This is quite unexpected since the usual Moro approach was to add additional rows of twist core to "fill empty space" as seen in tabas and kampilan (as well as the base of larger kris).

Regards,
Kai

22nd February 2016, 05:27 AM	#1
DaveS Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 327	Kentucky Show Barung Ron: Great Find. Yes, it always feels good when you run across something totally unexpected like this barong. I felt the same way when i decided to clean up and etch a campilon that i had for years only to discover that it was a twist-core. This barong does seem to have a somewhat strange twist-core though. It looks more like a star pattern than a twist as we are all more familiar with, although i'm sure seeing the blade in person it probably is much easier to see the pattern. Anyway, i knew there had to be one out there, and if there is one there has to be more. Congrats..........Dave.

22nd February 2016, 05:23 PM	#4
CCUAL Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 76	Yes, they do exist. I had taken this photos my self about 7 yrs ago. This twist core Barung is 21" long 3" wide and the spine is 1/2" thick (compare to the 1/4" standard patterned Barung Blades) and it tapers a bit not much half way to the tip. Very heavy! If you have a twist-core kris in your arsenal, compare that to your regular patterned blades, twist-core blades are way heavier and robust, now, put that in Barung blades! For study purposes only. Attached Images

22nd February 2016, 05:57 PM	#5
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	...and don't forget the lovely, finely worked hilt carving and unique copper pegged scabbard!! AND, that's the original tight rattan...all with the lovely glossy patina we all love!! I saw this one with Battara, Rsword, and Spunjer and it's, indeed, a lovely and interesting piece. Last edited by CharlesS; 23rd February 2016 at 01:42 PM.

22nd February 2016, 12:21 PM	#2
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	Thank you, Dave. i believe Gavin has one as well. would be interested to see the pattern on his barung. yeah, i'm surprised that there's not more out there, given that there's relatively a lot of twistcore krises that came from sulu...

22nd February 2016, 03:59 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	Folks I saw this at the show and it is truly an older piece. And then to get a twist core - SCORE!

22nd February 2016, 08:54 PM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,415	Hello Ron, congrats for this nice find. What you don't see at the first glance is most of the time the enjoyable surprise! Regards, Detlef