My New Gunong
 

I just won this gunong on ePray. What do you guys think? I haven't received it yet, but i promise better images when it gets here. For now here are the auction photos.
Looks like an old laminated blade to me. The fittings look like a low grade silver that if fairly well worked and i'm hoping the hilt is ivory, though i wouldn't be completely disappointed if it is bone.
It looks like it's possible that the wood of the sheath might show some chatoyancy. I'll have to wait and see.

A nice well aged demure piece, congrats, how's Steve feel about missing this ;-)
I would say 101% the hilt is ivory, such a beaut warm aged patina too, congrats.

Gav

So far as I can see I agree with Gav that this is ivory and with you the low silver. I would even say that the style of hilt profile points to an earlier piece, perhaps 1900 or earlier. Also may not be Mindanao but Sulu, though this last part I am not completely sure until I see the top of the guard.

Congrats and looking forward to more pictures.

Does this image help with your ID Jose?

Congratulations!

Looks like nice aged ivory based on the pictures.

Michael

Hi David,

very nice catch! Agree with you and the others that it look like ivory. I have watched this gunong as well and want to bid but the seller have had a restriction that only US bidders can bid. I want to contact him but this was also not possible. Now I am happy that you get it! :) ;)

Regards,

Detlef

Congratulations!!! is very fine gunong with a fantastic hilt, seems ivory to me too!!
Best regards
Carlos

Well now i'm glad that you live Germany Detlef! I would have hated to get into a bidding war with you! :eek: :D
Glad to see that everyone also thinks this is ivory. Bad eBay photos can be deceiving, but this one looked pretty good to me in spite of the photos.
I'm looking forward to cleaning this one up and seeing if there is a nice lamination pattern in the blade. :)

David thanks for the extra picture - well I may be wrong but I am still leaning towards Sulu based on the okir of the guard and that of the rest of the piece.

Can't wait to see if it is laminated.

Hi David

I was watching that one but was swayed by a lovely Zulu staff instead. I think you picked up a real nice piece love the the ivory hilt.

Congrats

Lew

Very nice. You got a good bargain on a sweet piece.
Steve

Thanks Steve (and others :) ). Yeah, i thought it was a bargain as well. Just glad none of you guys jumped on it because my budget was low...
Jose, i'm fairly confident that it is indeed laminated. I think you can see faint lines in some of the photos. It will be fun to see if they come out well with a bit of hot vinegar.

Was wondering who was going to get this. Great piece. I should get around to posting a similar one I have that is much newer.

Well, this little gem arrived today. It is everything i had hope, ivory hilt, silver fittings, laminated blade, even the chatoyance i thought i saw in the photos on the wood of the sheath is there. Everything looks tight and original. One thing i wasn't expecting is that the blade is double edged.
Give me a few days and i'll get some better images of the cleaned up piece. :)

Oh boy, oh boy! :D

Hi David,
Did you have time to take any pictures?
Thanks!
Steve

Hi Steve...you know, i didn't yet. I have cleaned it up a bit and tried a vinegar etch on the blade which yielded no pattern. I was considering polishing the blade back again because i think it might look better that way. I will try to get some pics up in the next few days. :)

Thank you sir!