Barung; weapon, tool or tourist piece?

wilked aka Khun Deng · 29th August 2009, 09:03 AM

Not to turn this into a political thread, but KukulzA28 brought up a good point about culture surviving. What stuck me hard was that the Tausug culture on Sulu was really a melting pot formed by captive slaves for the bird nest and other exotic food trades who at one time outnumbered the original Tausugs. The Tausug culture survived only because it had mechanisms in it for those slaves to eventually work to their freedom and become assimilated into the society, generations later those former slaves now consider themselves Tausug.

That is a nice barong - wish they hadn't shellacked it though.

Andrew · 29th August 2009, 01:21 PM

Let's focus on the weapons, guys. In my experience, threads that have even a bit of well-intentioned political "drift" can end badly.

Thanks,
Andrew

KuKulzA28 · 29th August 2009, 02:23 PM

Will do Andrew, thanks for the early and friendly warning.

I've been told by Filipino Martial Artists that Sulu still has quite a live blade-making tradition, and the best place to acquire quality Moro blades is there. Does anyone know how the blade-making goes on over there? Is it still individual Pandays making blades? Do they have some Pandays that make mainly tourist pieces where some make only legitimate weaponry?

Battara · 29th August 2009, 07:16 PM

From what I have seen from recent pandays the blades are laminated but without a separate ganga.

wilked aka Khun Deng · 29th August 2009, 09:16 PM

Thanks for course correction Andrew - it's been edited.

Andrew · 30th August 2009, 12:00 AM

No worries, guys.

Just been around this and other forums long enough to know how quickly things can turn, particularly given the mix of ethnicity, nationality and political affiliations we have here.

Thanks.

migueldiaz · 31st August 2009, 01:03 AM

I picked up the kris below in Mindanao from a Muslim (Maranao) trader about a year ago.

I think it's an example of the fusion between two ethnic groups. My theory is that somehow a Visayan who settled in Mindanao ended up with the kris, re-hilted it using their traditional pommel design, and then used it for his everyday 'carry'.

As a remote analogy, it's probably somewhat like WW2 Germans in Russia using the much respected T-34s.

29th August 2009, 09:03 AM	#1
wilked aka Khun Deng Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Oahu, Hawaii Posts: 166	Not to turn this into a political thread, but KukulzA28 brought up a good point about culture surviving. What stuck me hard was that the Tausug culture on Sulu was really a melting pot formed by captive slaves for the bird nest and other exotic food trades who at one time outnumbered the original Tausugs. The Tausug culture survived only because it had mechanisms in it for those slaves to eventually work to their freedom and become assimilated into the society, generations later those former slaves now consider themselves Tausug. That is a nice barong - wish they hadn't shellacked it though. Last edited by wilked aka Khun Deng; 29th August 2009 at 09:15 PM.

31st August 2009, 01:03 AM	#7
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	I picked up the kris below in Mindanao from a Muslim (Maranao) trader about a year ago. I think it's an example of the fusion between two ethnic groups. My theory is that somehow a Visayan who settled in Mindanao ended up with the kris, re-hilted it using their traditional pommel design, and then used it for his everyday 'carry'. As a remote analogy, it's probably somewhat like WW2 Germans in Russia using the much respected T-34s. Attached Images

29th August 2009, 01:21 PM	#2
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Let's focus on the weapons, guys. In my experience, threads that have even a bit of well-intentioned political "drift" can end badly. Thanks, Andrew

29th August 2009, 02:23 PM	#3
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Will do Andrew, thanks for the early and friendly warning. I've been told by Filipino Martial Artists that Sulu still has quite a live blade-making tradition, and the best place to acquire quality Moro blades is there. Does anyone know how the blade-making goes on over there? Is it still individual Pandays making blades? Do they have some Pandays that make mainly tourist pieces where some make only legitimate weaponry?

29th August 2009, 07:16 PM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	From what I have seen from recent pandays the blades are laminated but without a separate ganga.

29th August 2009, 09:16 PM	#5
wilked aka Khun Deng Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Oahu, Hawaii Posts: 166	Thanks for course correction Andrew - it's been edited.

30th August 2009, 12:00 AM	#6
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	No worries, guys. Just been around this and other forums long enough to know how quickly things can turn, particularly given the mix of ethnicity, nationality and political affiliations we have here. Thanks.