Punal, Gunong with and unusual blade

drac2k · 26th March 2017, 05:05 PM

I just acquired this punal which appeared to me, in my limited experience to have a very large and unusual blade.I have encompassed larger blades, but not as substantial; it measures almost 11.75" long, 2.25"wide and 3/8" thick at the base of the medial ridge (in the middle).It is razor sharp.

Sajen · 26th March 2017, 06:27 PM

Very, very nice! There are others with similar length, see for example here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=gunong

Regards,
Detlef

Rick · 26th March 2017, 07:05 PM

And the handle looks like tridacna (sp?) shell.

That's really a beautiful example.

Ferguson · 26th March 2017, 07:14 PM

Very nice! I have a couple that large but NICE large ones are fairly unusual. Another is at
Large gunong

Steve

drac2k · 26th March 2017, 07:21 PM

Thank you both for the compliments ;Detlef, thanks for pointing out an earlier post on these punals.I agree that mine is very similar, yet I can not stress how heavy the blade is.
Rick, I was wondering what the material was.It didn't feel like resin, or bone or ivory; I never considered shell.Do they grind it up and reform it into the shape of a handle?

drac2k · 26th March 2017, 07:23 PM

Thanks Steve, they sure do look like a match .

Sajen · 26th March 2017, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drac2k

Do they grind it up and reform it into the shape of a handle?

Yes, look for example here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=tridacna

kai · 26th March 2017, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drac2k

I was wondering what the material was.It didn't feel like resin, or bone or ivory; I never considered shell.Do they grind it up and reform it into the shape of a handle?

These are giant shells - the material is more like finely layered lime stone than MOP and can be carved; it's quite brittle and usually shows some inclusions/irregularities.

If it is cold to the touch and feels more like stone than ivory, then giant clam is the best guess.

Regards,
Kai

drac2k · 26th March 2017, 08:40 PM

I think you and Rick are correct ; even at room temperature, if I put the handle on my face, it feels very cool.

Battara · 26th March 2017, 11:39 PM

Ones like this nice one with it's blade size, pistol grip style, and embellishments (bling - which I like

), indicate to me that this piece may come from the mid to late 1920s. Obviously this once belonged to a datu (or at least datu class). Based on the okir on the silver mounts, this might be perhaps Maranao in origin.

drac2k · 27th March 2017, 03:58 AM

Thanks for the information.

F. de Luzon · 27th March 2017, 02:32 PM

Very nice gunong!

David · 27th March 2017, 03:53 PM

Larger gunongs tend to be the new post WWII blades, but i agree with José that this on is certainly pre-WWII and the 1920s seems a fair enough assessment. So for its age i'd say that the length of the blade is indeed unusual.
Also, as Rick noted, the hilt looks like tridacna, which from my experience tends to be rarer than ivory for such use. It's giant clam shell Drak, so they carve it whole. It is not ground up and reformed.
Nice score and a great addition to your collection!

drac2k · 27th March 2017, 06:18 PM

Thanks for the imput.I got lucky on this one as it wasn't even on the table, but the guy recognized me and said "you are the guy that likes that funny stuff, right?"); we went to his car and I ended up with it .

26th March 2017, 05:05 PM	#1
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,174	Punal, Gunong with and unusual blade I just acquired this punal which appeared to me, in my limited experience to have a very large and unusual blade.I have encompassed larger blades, but not as substantial; it measures almost 11.75" long, 2.25"wide and 3/8" thick at the base of the medial ridge (in the middle).It is razor sharp. Attached Images

26th March 2017, 06:27 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,487	Very, very nice! There are others with similar length, see for example here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=gunong Regards, Detlef

26th March 2017, 07:05 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,262	And the handle looks like tridacna (sp?) shell. That's really a beautiful example.

26th March 2017, 07:14 PM	#4
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Very nice! I have a couple that large but NICE large ones are fairly unusual. Another is at Large gunong Steve

26th March 2017, 07:21 PM	#5
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,174	Thank you both for the compliments ;Detlef, thanks for pointing out an earlier post on these punals.I agree that mine is very similar, yet I can not stress how heavy the blade is. Rick, I was wondering what the material was.It didn't feel like resin, or bone or ivory; I never considered shell.Do they grind it up and reform it into the shape of a handle?

26th March 2017, 07:23 PM	#6
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,174	Thanks Steve, they sure do look like a match .

26th March 2017, 08:40 PM	#9
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,174	I think you and Rick are correct ; even at room temperature, if I put the handle on my face, it feels very cool.

26th March 2017, 11:39 PM	#10
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Ones like this nice one with it's blade size, pistol grip style, and embellishments (bling - which I like ), indicate to me that this piece may come from the mid to late 1920s. Obviously this once belonged to a datu (or at least datu class). Based on the okir on the silver mounts, this might be perhaps Maranao in origin.

27th March 2017, 03:58 AM	#11
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,174	Thanks for the information.

27th March 2017, 02:32 PM	#12
F. de Luzon Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 184	Very nice gunong!

27th March 2017, 03:53 PM	#13
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,024	Larger gunongs tend to be the new post WWII blades, but i agree with José that this on is certainly pre-WWII and the 1920s seems a fair enough assessment. So for its age i'd say that the length of the blade is indeed unusual. Also, as Rick noted, the hilt looks like tridacna, which from my experience tends to be rarer than ivory for such use. It's giant clam shell Drak, so they carve it whole. It is not ground up and reformed. Nice score and a great addition to your collection!

27th March 2017, 06:18 PM	#14
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,174	Thanks for the imput.I got lucky on this one as it wasn't even on the table, but the guy recognized me and said "you are the guy that likes that funny stuff, right?"); we went to his car and I ended up with it .