Size Difference of Moro Spears

MABAGANI · 11th December 2004, 07:42 AM

Lew, I had tried test cuts with my long spearhead similar to yours in size this afternoon, Federico did a great etch job on it a few years ago, I wanted to bring out the pamor back out in the center panels, had the original brass ferrule but had to rebuild the shaft at the time, I went with a five foot oak stained black so I could practice with it in a tight space, my den. It handles like a short sword on the end of the stave, formidable weapon for thrust and cut, extra long and short range...cut/thrusts as well if not better than some swords.
I agree the size range varies depending on use, the smaller ones probably more for throwing, the larger type can serve dual purposes if needed. There is even a great variation in the length of the poles. I picked up an uncut one years ago from Farrow about 12 feet with a smaller sized spearhead.
Zamboanga, nice collection, I notice a Tausug hat on the side too, is the flag in the back a rendition of an early battle or ceremonial flag? I'd also be interested in your opinion on the distinguishing features of the different type Moro spears, Tausug, Samal, Mindanao, etc...

zamboanga · 11th December 2004, 10:03 AM

mabagani, yes that's a tausug saruk tinambigasan - a salakot to most other tribes. the flag is used in the war dance tamingan of the yakans. as to differences among spears, i'll post later a comparative picture of these budiaks (1 is tausug and the rest are yakans). i havent had the chance in seeing and possessing budiaks or sankils of the other tribes.

if it were not for security issues, i'd love to visit basilan again soon. there are a lot of questions that can be answered there plus the opportunity to take pictures of a yakan swordmaker at work.

Tim Simmons · 11th December 2004, 05:26 PM

Hi, is this a Moro spear?[IMG]http://[/IMG] The blade is 32 cm ,the total spear length is 152cm, and finnished with a rather nice small horn pommel.Tim

MABAGANI · 11th December 2004, 06:10 PM

Tim, see Malay World Edged Weapons site- http://perso.wanadoo.fr/taman.sari/ , discription under Indonesian tombak.

Tim Simmons · 11th December 2004, 08:54 PM

Hi,thank you ,Malaysia or Java thats quite a distance betwean the two.I do not know much about pieces from this area.I will collect anything that seems right at the time.Tim

tom hyle · 15th December 2004, 02:40 AM

Tim, I think that might be Sumatran. Note the small disk guard, the swelled tip, and the second ferule (that is a second ferule, isn't it?).

MABAGANI · 15th December 2004, 06:02 AM

From the Malay World Edged Weapons site- http://perso.wanadoo.fr/taman.sari/ -"The Malay Peninsula Lembing usually has a raised central ridge (ada-ada) and it is elongated. The shaft is decorated with a long ferrule with engraved silver or copper and a disk between the blade and the ferrule."
btw if we were to broaden the term from the earliest Spanish use "Moro" -interconnected groups would have included Muslim Malay kingdoms of Brunei, Makassar, Ternate, Tidore aside from Mindanao and Sulu, but classically we refer to the two later regions.

11th December 2004, 05:26 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,856	Hi, is this a Moro spear?[IMG]http://[/IMG] The blade is 32 cm ,the total spear length is 152cm, and finnished with a rather nice small horn pommel.Tim Attached Images

15th December 2004, 06:02 AM	#7
MABAGANI Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 221	From the Malay World Edged Weapons site- http://perso.wanadoo.fr/taman.sari/ -"The Malay Peninsula Lembing usually has a raised central ridge (ada-ada) and it is elongated. The shaft is decorated with a long ferrule with engraved silver or copper and a disk between the blade and the ferrule." btw if we were to broaden the term from the earliest Spanish use "Moro" -interconnected groups would have included Muslim Malay kingdoms of Brunei, Makassar, Ternate, Tidore aside from Mindanao and Sulu, but classically we refer to the two later regions. Last edited by MABAGANI; 15th December 2004 at 06:34 AM.

11th December 2004, 07:42 AM	#1
MABAGANI Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 221	Lew, I had tried test cuts with my long spearhead similar to yours in size this afternoon, Federico did a great etch job on it a few years ago, I wanted to bring out the pamor back out in the center panels, had the original brass ferrule but had to rebuild the shaft at the time, I went with a five foot oak stained black so I could practice with it in a tight space, my den. It handles like a short sword on the end of the stave, formidable weapon for thrust and cut, extra long and short range...cut/thrusts as well if not better than some swords. I agree the size range varies depending on use, the smaller ones probably more for throwing, the larger type can serve dual purposes if needed. There is even a great variation in the length of the poles. I picked up an uncut one years ago from Farrow about 12 feet with a smaller sized spearhead. Zamboanga, nice collection, I notice a Tausug hat on the side too, is the flag in the back a rendition of an early battle or ceremonial flag? I'd also be interested in your opinion on the distinguishing features of the different type Moro spears, Tausug, Samal, Mindanao, etc...

11th December 2004, 10:03 AM	#2
zamboanga Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: zamboanga city, philippines Posts: 132	mabagani, yes that's a tausug saruk tinambigasan - a salakot to most other tribes. the flag is used in the war dance tamingan of the yakans. as to differences among spears, i'll post later a comparative picture of these budiaks (1 is tausug and the rest are yakans). i havent had the chance in seeing and possessing budiaks or sankils of the other tribes. if it were not for security issues, i'd love to visit basilan again soon. there are a lot of questions that can be answered there plus the opportunity to take pictures of a yakan swordmaker at work.

11th December 2004, 06:10 PM	#4
MABAGANI Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 221	Tim, see Malay World Edged Weapons site- http://perso.wanadoo.fr/taman.sari/ , discription under Indonesian tombak.

11th December 2004, 08:54 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,856	Hi,thank you ,Malaysia or Java thats quite a distance betwean the two.I do not know much about pieces from this area.I will collect anything that seems right at the time.Tim

15th December 2004, 02:40 AM	#6
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Tim, I think that might be Sumatran. Note the small disk guard, the swelled tip, and the second ferule (that is a second ferule, isn't it?).