Silver Mounted Barong with Swassa

CharlesS · 9th April 2014, 05:41 PM

Well, I suppose silver must become the new ivory, so here's a start with that philosophy.

This lovely old barong is likely early 20th century and sports many fine and unique features:

1. A very heavy shandigan blade with reinforced edge and easily visible heat treated zone. This is probably the 2nd heaviest barong I have ever handled.

2. A "chop" mark to one side of the blade. I believe Spunjer suggested some time ago that these marks are often fraudulent and mean nothing, but became a status symbol nonetheless. I see nothing about this blade that suggests it's anything other than Moro made. If anyone sees a unique identity to the chop mark, please let us know.

3. A silver ferrule with a swassa bolster of excellent craftsmanship

4. The top of the ferrule is mounted in a separate, but perfectly fitted swassa insert, again, of tremendous craftsmanship....look at the practically seamless fit!

5. A swassa insert into the rear of the jungayyan-esque pommel. No doubt this one was at one time as perfect as the one mentioned above, but over time an opening has occurred between the swassa and silver on one side.

Dimensions: Overall in scabbard: 26in. Complete sword alone: 24in. Blade:16in.

The scabbard here is not original to this blade, but is an old one I had that just happened to fit perfectly. I have had some very good luck with collected old barong scabbards fitting on to blades they were not "born" with.

Comments and remarks are welcomed.

9th April 2014, 05:41 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,855	Silver Mounted Barong with Swassa Well, I suppose silver must become the new ivory, so here's a start with that philosophy. This lovely old barong is likely early 20th century and sports many fine and unique features: 1. A very heavy shandigan blade with reinforced edge and easily visible heat treated zone. This is probably the 2nd heaviest barong I have ever handled. 2. A "chop" mark to one side of the blade. I believe Spunjer suggested some time ago that these marks are often fraudulent and mean nothing, but became a status symbol nonetheless. I see nothing about this blade that suggests it's anything other than Moro made. If anyone sees a unique identity to the chop mark, please let us know. 3. A silver ferrule with a swassa bolster of excellent craftsmanship 4. The top of the ferrule is mounted in a separate, but perfectly fitted swassa insert, again, of tremendous craftsmanship....look at the practically seamless fit! 5. A swassa insert into the rear of the jungayyan-esque pommel. No doubt this one was at one time as perfect as the one mentioned above, but over time an opening has occurred between the swassa and silver on one side. Dimensions: Overall in scabbard: 26in. Complete sword alone: 24in. Blade:16in. The scabbard here is not original to this blade, but is an old one I had that just happened to fit perfectly. I have had some very good luck with collected old barong scabbards fitting on to blades they were not "born" with. Comments and remarks are welcomed. Attached Images Last edited by CharlesS; 9th April 2014 at 06:37 PM.