Barung with blotchy pattern welding - Borneo?

VVV · 30th July 2008, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice

Interesting.....I hope maybe Ben and Michael can tell us more about the answers if Borneo or not.

I can't anyway.
I don't understand why "A more knowledgeable member commented that this pattern may suggest an Indonesian origin" on a non-Indonesian weapon?

And I don't understand why everything odd from this region "probably is" Borneo?

I have also seen this pattern before on other barongs.
But so far I haven't read anything about specifically these barongs being either collected, or manufactured, in Borneo/Sabah.

Michael

PS Very nice barong btw!

Battara · 31st July 2008, 03:17 AM

The hilt suggests to me Samal tribe of Moros.

Dajak · 31st July 2008, 04:32 AM

Hi nice Barong but I don t now if this one is from Borneo .

I don t think that the pattern has something to do from place off origine ,

it is more the style off Handle and scabbard . ( I think)

Ben

kai · 25th August 2020, 08:44 AM

Ok, let's try to resurrect this old thread!

The example I posted does seem to be Samal, indeed. (Unfortunately, no scabbard extant.)

From very limited information that has surfaced since I tend to believe that the hint at Borneo might be spurious. Not enough data for any decision though - and there have been Tausug and Samal settlements along the coast of northern Borneo for centuries.

I'd greatly appreciate if forumites were to add more examples to this thread - thanks a lot in advance!

Best wishes,
Kai

Battara · 25th August 2020, 10:17 PM

Here is my Samal fossil ivory barong. I made the scabbard years ago in Samal fashion.

Rick · 26th August 2020, 12:49 AM

Here's one of mine for comparison.

Ian · 26th August 2020, 02:14 AM

Lovely barung Rick. It has a really interesting blade. I'm not at all an expert in how these are forged, but it seems that the initial billet was divided in two down the long axis of the blade where the long forging line appears, then forged out from there. It seems there was a central core of (? softer) steel or iron, surrounded by a (? hardened) steel layer. I've circled what I think are the area of "blotches," but are these really inclusions like on Kai's example? Am I looking at the right area? The edge has a lot of lamination activity, and its hard to know if the circled areas are just lamination or are inclusions.

.

kai · 26th August 2020, 02:17 AM

Thanks, folks, really sweet barung examples!

I was hoping for blades with these distinct blotches, i.e. a kind of mosaic pamor though (regardless of their ethnic origin).

Rick, I suppose you referred to another barung back then (in post #4)?

Regards,
Kai

25th August 2020, 10:17 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Here is my Samal fossil ivory barong. I made the scabbard years ago in Samal fashion. Attached Images

26th August 2020, 12:49 AM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Here's one of mine for comparison. Attached Images

26th August 2020, 02:14 AM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Lovely barung Rick. It has a really interesting blade. I'm not at all an expert in how these are forged, but it seems that the initial billet was divided in two down the long axis of the blade where the long forging line appears, then forged out from there. It seems there was a central core of (? softer) steel or iron, surrounded by a (? hardened) steel layer. I've circled what I think are the area of "blotches," but are these really inclusions like on Kai's example? Am I looking at the right area? The edge has a lot of lamination activity, and its hard to know if the circled areas are just lamination or are inclusions. . Attached Images

31st July 2008, 03:17 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	The hilt suggests to me Samal tribe of Moros.

31st July 2008, 04:32 AM	#3
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	Hi nice Barong but I don t now if this one is from Borneo . I don t think that the pattern has something to do from place off origine , it is more the style off Handle and scabbard . ( I think) Ben

25th August 2020, 08:44 AM	#4
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Ok, let's try to resurrect this old thread! The example I posted does seem to be Samal, indeed. (Unfortunately, no scabbard extant.) From very limited information that has surfaced since I tend to believe that the hint at Borneo might be spurious. Not enough data for any decision though - and there have been Tausug and Samal settlements along the coast of northern Borneo for centuries. I'd greatly appreciate if forumites were to add more examples to this thread - thanks a lot in advance! Best wishes, Kai

26th August 2020, 02:17 AM	#8
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Thanks, folks, really sweet barung examples! I was hoping for blades with these distinct blotches, i.e. a kind of mosaic pamor though (regardless of their ethnic origin). Rick, I suppose you referred to another barung back then (in post #4)? Regards, Kai