a newly purchased barong for review

pallas · 5th June 2010, 06:15 AM

this was said to be a WW2 bringback. im not sure how old it is, or the moro tribe its ascribed to, samal? yakan? is it possible to tell what tribe this particular barong belonged to or when it was made/how old it is? the blade appears to have a (light) pattern in it and is 19 inches long and apparently still very sharp.....some of the wrap on the hilt seems to be missing..

Lew · 5th June 2010, 01:52 PM

Pallas

You are correct it is Samal and maybe older than WW2 here is one I picked up for comparison before and after restoration. The scabbard on yours seem WW2 but the sword itself seems older?

pallas · 5th June 2010, 04:49 PM

thanks! yea, i was told that it could have been made at any time between 1895 an 1930, so end of the 19th-early 20th century somewhere.

kai · 8th June 2010, 08:35 PM

Early 20th c. sounds good to me (with later replaced scabbard). For better gripping, there seem to have been usually several bands of woven fiber placed along the barung grip area; however, the thread behind the ferrule is recent and I'd remove it.

Lew's example is 19th c. - nicely carved scabbard!

Regards,
Kai

5th June 2010, 06:15 AM	#1
pallas Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 53	a newly purchased barong for review this was said to be a WW2 bringback. im not sure how old it is, or the moro tribe its ascribed to, samal? yakan? is it possible to tell what tribe this particular barong belonged to or when it was made/how old it is? the blade appears to have a (light) pattern in it and is 19 inches long and apparently still very sharp.....some of the wrap on the hilt seems to be missing..

5th June 2010, 01:52 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Pallas You are correct it is Samal and maybe older than WW2 here is one I picked up for comparison before and after restoration. The scabbard on yours seem WW2 but the sword itself seems older? Attached Images

5th June 2010, 04:49 PM	#3
pallas Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 53	thanks! yea, i was told that it could have been made at any time between 1895 an 1930, so end of the 19th-early 20th century somewhere.

8th June 2010, 08:35 PM	#4
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,215	Early 20th c. sounds good to me (with later replaced scabbard). For better gripping, there seem to have been usually several bands of woven fiber placed along the barung grip area; however, the thread behind the ferrule is recent and I'd remove it. Lew's example is 19th c. - nicely carved scabbard! Regards, Kai