A really large Punal
 

Just received this Punal. The overall length is 17 1/4", with a 12" pattern welded blade. The ferrule and guard are horn, and the handle looks like banati. I haven't ever seen one this large, except for modern tourist pieces, but I've only been collecting for a couple of years. Is one this large common? It's more like a short sword than a dagger. I put a more normal 9 1/4" punal in the picture for scale. Thanks for looking.

Steve Ferguson

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...al-17-inch.jpg

Very nice piece but now I have a bad case of punal envy :eek: :( ;)

Congrats


Lew

y'all could poke someone's eye out with that thing.http://forum.ramanon.com/images/smilies/poke%5B1%5D.gif

for safety sake send it to me for safekeeping,
i'll make sure it never attacks you.

This is one of the larger gunongs that I have seen. At one time after the last of the Moro battles at Bud Bagsak in 1915, Gen.Pershing outlawed (or the US did it) the wearing of swords. Since no respectible man would be seen in public without a bladed weapon, the gunong became even more popular and I believe that some grew to the size of what you have here to replace the vacuum. This is a later piece but not a tourist piece (note the lovely lamination).

I may start calling you the "Gunong Guru". :D


kronckew - I echo your sentiments and will gladly assist you. :D

Gentlemen,
Thanks so much for your replies. :) Battara, what time period were you thinking? I guessed pre WWII?

Thanks so much,
Steve

Noice! very noice!!

Certainly pre WWII, perhaps 1920s?

Thank you Jose!
Steve

Big ones here in Cotobatu too
 

Steve, saw these the day after your post and while I've never seen any this big before they are certainly huge if not near as old as yours (or as nice). None had a decent blade and all looked made for show - but they are HUGE! This place had a mix of mostly tourist stuff with a very few real antiques.

Dan

those last punals seem a tad large for me, would have liked to see the blades tho.

bit newer, bit smaller, bit more functional. 5.25in. blade kamagong wood grip.
prob. made last year. diff. hardened & razor sharp, L6 steel, brass guard/bolster
leather covered wood scabbard with brass belt/sash hook.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...w/gunong_b.jpg
some nice user ones still being made....it's not as yet an obsolete art over there.