Barung; weapon, tool or tourist piece?

Bill · 7th July 2009, 02:49 PM

From a clip on the BBC internet news titled "Philippines police rescue hostage".
Near the end of the clip, they show some stock footage of some Abu Seif, one who has a small barung in his belt. If the barung was posted here, most would agree that it was a tourist piece & I'm sure one could find it in the shops in Manila.
It is being worn by a heavily armed man & the Abu Seif are know to decapitate prisoners. Guess, just by being recently made, doesn't make it a tourist piece.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8005805.stm

David · 7th July 2009, 03:07 PM

Bill, if you are talking about the barong that the guy all the way on the left is carrying (i assume you are, but it's not actually in his belt, but hung over his shoulder) i would not be willing to pass any judgement on it's age based on this view. It could be new or it might have belonged to his grandfather.

That being said, you are absolutely right. Just because a barong is newly made does not mean that it is not a fully functional weapon. These weapons are still traditionally made in the Philippines. They are not all cheap tourist items.

Lee · 7th July 2009, 04:14 PM

For when the video disappears from the BBC website...

Emanuel · 7th July 2009, 04:20 PM

Looks like he's carrying a gayang http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8261

hideyoshi · 7th July 2009, 08:00 PM

it rather resembles to this newly made barongs, i think....

Lew · 7th July 2009, 08:23 PM

Looks recent to me also with a small blade. You can sever a head with a 9-12" as long as its sharp and is heavy enough but that blade is recently made looks nothing like the older barungs. Btw an weapon could be a janap and not a barung?

VVV · 7th July 2009, 08:25 PM

I have seen captured swords, barongs and kris, from a friend in the Force Recon of the Filipino Marines.
All of them seems to be late 20th C.
It´s interesting that the one on the picture is a shorter version.
The ginunting of the Filipino Marines is also shorter than the one that the instructors of Pekiti-Tirsia Kali got in the 90´s.
I was told that the reason why is for it to be easier to carry and that it´s only used for closed quarters.
I still prefer the old one that was individually measured for each instructor.

Michael

David · 7th July 2009, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hideyoshi

it rather resembles to this newly made barongs, i think....

Actually the only similarity i can see is perhaps the color of the wood. The hilt form is definitely not the sam as these. The curve of the hilt looks much more pronounced and the back crest of the kakatau comes right off top of the pommel, not attached to the back of the hilt like the ones you show. The sheath form is also completely different. This is not to say that this isn't a recent blade, just that it is not the same as these ones you show.

7th July 2009, 02:49 PM	#1
Bill Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chicago area Posts: 327	Barung; weapon, tool or tourist piece? From a clip on the BBC internet news titled "Philippines police rescue hostage". Near the end of the clip, they show some stock footage of some Abu Seif, one who has a small barung in his belt. If the barung was posted here, most would agree that it was a tourist piece & I'm sure one could find it in the shops in Manila. It is being worn by a heavily armed man & the Abu Seif are know to decapitate prisoners. Guess, just by being recently made, doesn't make it a tourist piece. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8005805.stm

7th July 2009, 04:14 PM	#3
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 891	For when the video disappears from the BBC website For when the video disappears from the BBC website... Attached Images

7th July 2009, 08:00 PM	#5
hideyoshi Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 58	it rather resembles to this newly made barongs, i think.... Attached Images

7th July 2009, 03:07 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,026	Bill, if you are talking about the barong that the guy all the way on the left is carrying (i assume you are, but it's not actually in his belt, but hung over his shoulder) i would not be willing to pass any judgement on it's age based on this view. It could be new or it might have belonged to his grandfather. That being said, you are absolutely right. Just because a barong is newly made does not mean that it is not a fully functional weapon. These weapons are still traditionally made in the Philippines. They are not all cheap tourist items.

7th July 2009, 04:20 PM	#4
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Looks like he's carrying a gayang http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8261

7th July 2009, 08:23 PM	#6
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Looks recent to me also with a small blade. You can sever a head with a 9-12" as long as its sharp and is heavy enough but that blade is recently made looks nothing like the older barungs. Btw an weapon could be a janap and not a barung?

7th July 2009, 08:25 PM	#7
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	I have seen captured swords, barongs and kris, from a friend in the Force Recon of the Filipino Marines. All of them seems to be late 20th C. It´s interesting that the one on the picture is a shorter version. The ginunting of the Filipino Marines is also shorter than the one that the instructors of Pekiti-Tirsia Kali got in the 90´s. I was told that the reason why is for it to be easier to carry and that it´s only used for closed quarters. I still prefer the old one that was individually measured for each instructor. Michael